A Humid Summer in the Park
IntermediateWeather
Two elderly neighbors chat on a park bench, comparing how much more humid this summer feels than in past years and discussing how the weather affects their health.
W
WangL
LiW
老李啊，你觉得今年夏天怎么样？我感觉特别闷。
Lǎo Lǐ a, nǐ juéde jīnnián xiàtiān zěnmeyàng? Wǒ gǎnjué tèbié mèn.
Old Li, what do you think of this summer? I feel it's especially stuffy.
L
可不是嘛！今年的湿气比往年重多了，衣服晾三天都干不了。
Kě bú shì ma! Jīnnián de shīqì bǐ wǎngnián zhòng duō le, yīfu liàng sān tiān dōu gān bù liǎo.
Isn't that the truth! The humidity this year is much heavier than in past years—clothes won't dry even after hanging for three days.
W
就是啊。以前虽然热，但还算干爽，现在这黏糊糊的，真难受。
Jiù shì a. Yǐqián suīrán rè, dàn hái suàn gānshuǎng, xiànzài zhè niánhūhū de, zhēn nánshòu.
Exactly. In the past, although it was hot, it was still fairly dry, but now it's all sticky and clammy—really uncomfortable.
L
对，我这老寒腿一到潮湿天气就疼，晚上觉都睡不好。
Duì, wǒ zhè lǎohántuǐ yí dào cháoshī tiānqì jiù téng, wǎnshang jiào dōu shuì bù hǎo.
Right, this bad knee of mine aches the moment the weather turns damp—I can't even sleep well at night.
W
你腿也这样啊。我老伴儿也一样，她说这种天气胸口发闷，喘不上气。
Nǐ tuǐ yě zhèyàng a. Wǒ lǎobànr yě yíyàng, tā shuō zhè zhǒng tiānqì xiōngkǒu fā mèn, chuǎn bú shàng qì.
Your legs are like that too, huh. My wife is the same—she says this kind of weather makes her chest feel tight and short of breath.
L
哎哟，那可得注意了。这么潮的天，家里最好开开除湿机。
Āiyō, nà kě děi zhùyì le. Zhème cháo de tiān, jiā li zuìhǎo kāikāi chúshījī.
Oh dear, then she really needs to be careful. On such damp days, it's best to run a dehumidifier at home.
W
是啊，我们上个月刚买了一台，开着确实舒服多了。
Shì a, wǒmen shàng ge yuè gāng mǎi le yì tái, kāi zhe quèshí shūfu duō le.
Yeah, we just bought one last month, and with it running it really is much more comfortable.
L
那我也回去考虑考虑。不过我觉得还是得多出来走走，出出汗对身体好。
Nà wǒ yě huíqù kǎolǜ kǎolǜ. Búguò wǒ juéde háishì děi duō chūlái zǒuzou, chūchū hàn duì shēntǐ hǎo.
Then I'll go back and think it over too. But I still think you've got to get out and walk more—sweating a bit is good for your health.
W
话是这么说，可这么闷的天，走两步就一身汗，衣服全湿透了。
Huà shì zhème shuō, kě zhème mèn de tiān, zǒu liǎng bù jiù yì shēn hàn, yīfu quán shī tòu le.
That may be so, but on such a muggy day, you take a few steps and you're covered in sweat—your clothes get soaked through.
L
所以啊，得趁早上凉快的时候出来，这个点儿太阳一出来就受不了了。
Suǒyǐ a, děi chèn zǎoshang liángkuai de shíhou chūlái, zhè ge diǎnr tàiyáng yì chūlái jiù shòu bù liǎo le.
That's why we have to come out in the cool of the morning—around this hour, once the sun's out, it becomes unbearable.
W
对对对。天气预报说下周还有几场雨，到时候可能更潮。
Duì duì duì. Tiānqì yùbào shuō xià zhōu hái yǒu jǐ chǎng yǔ, dào shíhou kěnéng gèng cháo.
Right, right. The weather forecast says there'll be several rains next week, and by then it'll probably be even damper.
L
唉，那咱们还是早点儿回吧，别在外头晒着了。改天再聊！
Āi, nà zánmen háishì zǎo diǎnr huí ba, bié zài wàitou shài zhe le. Gǎitiān zài liáo!
Ah, then let's head back a bit early and not stay out getting scorched in the sun. Let's chat again another day!