建敌台 & other questions

[82riceballs]

For my AP Chinese class, my teacher said to pick a dynasty to read about it on 3lian.com, so I picked the Ming Dynasty. >> 明朝详细介绍

Since it was quite a difficult reading for me, I have a few questions:

"此外，张居正还撤裁了冗余的官员，在山海关至居庸关之间建敌台三千余座，加强了北方的防务。"

-----1) What does 关 mean here?

-----2) Also, what does 敌台 mean? Is it a structure on the Great Wall?

"其中以武宗时的刘谨及熹宗时的魏忠贤最为甚之。"

-----1) Are all the characters in red names of people?

-----2) What does 甚之 mean? I couldn't find it in dictionaries.

Thanks!

[studentyoung]

"此外，张居正还撤裁了冗余的官员，在山海关至居庸关之间建敌台三千余座，加强了北方的防务。"

-----1) What does 关 mean here?

-----2) Also, what does 敌台 mean? Is it a structure on the Great Wall?

关 here means “关隘”, i.e. a pass usually on national boundaries or some very important military areas.

敌台 here means outlook towers on the Great Wall to watch enemy’s action

1.城墙上用于防御敌人的楼台。 明 姚士粦 《见只编》卷下：“相去约有三里，周围水遶数重，拆取民舍板片沿墙起盖敌臺。” 清 魏源 《城守篇•守备上》：“城之外则敌臺，宜备堞垣，宜备牛马墙，宜备喑门。”

http://www.zdic.net/cd/ci/10/ZdicE6Zdic95Zdic8C285069.htm

"其中以武宗时的刘谨及熹宗时的魏忠贤最为甚之。"

-----1) Are all the characters in red names of people?

-----2) What does 甚之 mean? I couldn't find it in dictionaries.

武宗 here is 明武宗 whose name is 朱厚照, while 熹宗 is 明熹宗，朱油校. 魏忠贤 was the most powerful eunuch in 熹宗’s days.

http://www.cxcn.net/luw/huangdi.htm

甚之 usually means some condition/s is/ are even worse or better.

这样一来，使此后历代的皇帝身边宠信的宦官的权利大大超出朝臣的权利，明朝的统治几乎落在他们手中。其中以武宗时的刘谨及熹宗时的魏忠贤最为甚之。

http://www.3lian.com/zl/114/5000/h21.htm

Because of such a condition, after that, eunuchs who won the emperors’ trust had more power than court official did. Therefore, the rule of Ming Dynasty was almost controlled in eunuchs’ hands. Among them, 刘谨 in武宗’s days, 魏忠贤in 熹宗’s days are the more powerful. (i.e. Among them, 刘谨 in 武宗’s days, 魏忠贤 in 熹宗’s days are the most powerful eunuchs in Ming Dynasty.)

Cheers!

[calibre2001]

Can we see a simple example on how 甚之 is used? Thanks!

[studentyoung]

Can we see a simple example on how 甚之 is used? Thanks!

A Chinese saying goes “上有所好，下必甚之 If one fancies something, his subordinates must fancy it even more severely than he does ” .

Cheers!

[THESHADOWAN]

i have a question, about the word 精彩， my teacher saied that cant not use 精彩天 together!!! but i dont undesrstand, is true or not !!!!!!!!!!!! tell me please

i said 精彩天， she said that is wrong

[studentyoung]

i have a question, about the word 精彩， my teacher saied that cant not use 精彩天 together!!! but i dont undesrstand, is true or not !!!!!!!!!!!! tell me please

We don’t say 精彩天 in our daily life, but say, “精彩的一天”. 精彩 isn’t used singly to act as an attribute, but it can be use as a predicative. For example, 这一天真精彩 This day is so great.

精彩的 can be used as an attribute. For example: 精彩的演讲 an excellent speech, 精彩的故事 a great story, 精彩的表演 great performance.

i said 精彩天， she said that is wrong

Cheer up! I wish you a great day! 祝你今天过得精彩啊!

Cheers!

[HashiriKata]

i said 精彩天， she said that is wrong

After telling you that you were wrong, did your teacher explain to you why you were wrong and offer a correct version?

(By the way, if what you'd like to ask is not related to the on-going thread, it'd be better to start a new thread for the new topic.)

Great explanation you gave, studentyoung! It's certainy helped me understand the word better!