Special Effects

A video parody adapted from a shampoo commercial featuring kungfu star Jackie Chan went viral online, leading Internet users to coin a word “Duang”, an onomatopoetic word which doesn’t correlate with any particular Chinese character and refers to special effects.
一段恶搞功夫明星成龙代言的洗发水广告视频在网络上走红,并由此诞生了一个热门词语duang. Duang 是一个拟声词,不对应任何汉字,指的是“特效”。

The video begins with Chan flashing his black, sleek(有光泽的) hair, which would have been flawless(完美的) except(除…外) that it was not his real hair, to the tune of online hit, “My Skating Shoes”, known for its coarse melody and the singer’s strong southern Mandarin dialect(很重的南方口音).

Next, a smug Chan confesses(承认), to the repetitive, rhythmical sounds of “Duang”, “I refused to endorse(代言) this product when they first came to me because of my thin hair, but the director insisted, saying special effects(特效) could be used to make my hair look healthy on the screen. Now you see. It’s all special effects. It’s not real.”

The original advertisement became the target of regulators’ crackdown(打击) for overhyping(过度宣传) the effects of the shampoo after it was broadcast in 2004.

重点词汇 Key Words:

特效 tè xiào
special effects

n.  Eg.

  •          这部新的系列剧将会是一场特效和舞美的盛宴。
    This new series promises a feast of special effects and set designs.
  •           这部电影的特效未能出彩。
    The movie’s special effects fail to dazzle.

承认 chéng rèn
confess/admit/recognize

v. Eg.

  •           我立刻就想承认我错了。
    Right off I want to confess that I was wrong.
  •           我承认这把我难倒了。
    I admit it’s got me baffled.

除…外 chú …wài
except/except for

Eg.

  • 星期天,我们每天都工作。
    We work every day except Sunday.
  • 下了一阵大雨,天气还是很好的.
    The weather was good except for an occasional shower.