Late Night Street Musician
IntermediateNightlife
After midnight, a street performer packs up his guitar when a woman who tipped him stops to chat and ask about his routine.
L
LinW
WeiL
不好意思，你唱得真好听，我刚才往你琴盒里放了点钱。
bù hǎo yìsi, nǐ chàng de zhēn hǎotīng, wǒ gāngcái wǎng nǐ qínhé lǐ fàng le diǎn qián.
Excuse me, you sing really well. I just put some money in your guitar case.
W
谢谢你！这么晚了还有人愿意停下来听，真的很难得。
xièxie nǐ! zhème wǎn le hái yǒu rén yuànyì tíng xiàlái tīng, zhēn de hěn nándé.
Thank you! It's rare that someone's still willing to stop and listen this late.
L
你每天晚上都在这儿演出吗？
nǐ měitiān wǎnshang dōu zài zhèr yǎnchū ma?
Do you perform here every night?
W
差不多吧，只要不下雨，我基本上都会来。
chàbuduō ba, zhǐyào bù xiàyǔ, wǒ jīběnshàng dōu huì lái.
Pretty much. As long as it's not raining, I usually come.
L
那你一般唱到几点呀？现在都过半夜了。
nà nǐ yìbān chàng dào jǐ diǎn ya? xiànzài dōu guò bànyè le.
So how late do you usually sing? It's already past midnight.
W
看情况吧，人多的时候多唱几首，今天没什么人，所以我准备收摊了。
kàn qíngkuàng ba, rén duō de shíhou duō chàng jǐ shǒu, jīntiān méi shénme rén, suǒyǐ wǒ zhǔnbèi shōutān le.
It depends. When there's a crowd I sing a few more songs. Not many people tonight, so I'm getting ready to pack up.
L
这么晚一个人在街上唱，你不觉得辛苦吗？
zhème wǎn yí ge rén zài jiē shàng chàng, nǐ bù juéde xīnkǔ ma?
Singing alone on the street this late—don't you find it tough?
W
说实话是有点累，不过我挺喜欢晚上的气氛，安静，听的人也更认真。
shuō shíhuà shì yǒudiǎn lèi, búguò wǒ tǐng xǐhuan wǎnshang de qìfēn, ānjìng, tīng de rén yě gèng rènzhēn.
Honestly it is a bit tiring, but I really like the nighttime atmosphere—it's quiet, and the listeners pay closer attention.
L
也是，白天太吵了。你的歌是自己写的吗？还是唱别人的？
yě shì, báitiān tài chǎo le. nǐ de gē shì zìjǐ xiě de ma? háishì chàng biérén de?
That makes sense—daytime is too noisy. Do you write your own songs? Or do you sing others'?
W
大部分都是我自己写的，偶尔也唱几首经典老歌，看大家喜欢听什么。
dà bùfen dōu shì wǒ zìjǐ xiě de, ǒu'ěr yě chàng jǐ shǒu jīngdiǎn lǎogē, kàn dàjiā xǐhuan tīng shénme.
Most of them I write myself. Occasionally I sing some classic old songs too, depending on what people like to hear.
L
真好，希望以后还能再听到你的歌。太晚了，你也早点回家吧。
zhēn hǎo, xīwàng yǐhòu hái néng zài tīngdào nǐ de gē. tài wǎn le, nǐ yě zǎo diǎn huí jiā ba.
That's wonderful. I hope I can hear your songs again sometime. It's very late—you should head home soon too.
W
谢谢你！你路上小心，说不定下次还能碰到你呢。
xièxie nǐ! nǐ lùshang xiǎoxīn, shuōbudìng xià cì hái néng pèngdào nǐ ne.
Thank you! Be safe on your way—maybe I'll run into you again next time.