Intermediate - Using Excel - Poddies collaboration

Jenny (3): 就【用】脑子 - Not sure, but I think it might be 只要脑子

【想】出来 - Yes, I think that's right.

Jenny (final): 今天来课 = 今天的课

Of course that should be pi. I must've been hungry. Looks like it's back to the text books for me too :)

haha, you're absolutely right. I get so in the Chinese zone that sometimes I miss it when Jenny switches back to English! In my defence, my last maths exam was over 15 years ago now...

Hi Chris - time to brush up on your maths? :)

【pie/pai扣sai】- I haven't had chance to listen again but I'm pretty sure it's gonna be pie (π), and cosine (cos). Hehe.

You polished that one off pretty quickly. I'll have a look through when I get the chance. 周末愉快！

08:07

John: But if I wanted to ask a co-worker, like...

Jenny: 怎么算什么【pie/pai扣sai】

John: 这个用Excel怎么算，can I say that? 怎么计算

Jenny: 可以的

John: OK

Jenny: 啊，然后我们就【用】脑子会【想】出来

John: Alright, or I could ask, like, 你用了什么公式

Jenny: 啊，你用什么公式算，对吧

John: 好的

Jenny: 嗯，好，那我们今天来课就到这儿这里是chinesepod下次再见

John: 再见

08:35 THE END

Yep, that one was a definite pinyin typo on my part. Must remember to double-check what character is popping up.

Jenny (final) - 什么多 = 什么都

07:30

John: OK, so Jenny in this dialogue we learned the word for formula, right?

Jenny: 公式，公式

John: So if I need to know what, like, a formula is for calculating something, how would I ask that?

Jenny: 就是你要知道一个东西的计算公式

John: So you can ask someone

Jenny: 对，就是你能告诉我这个的计算公式吗

John: OK

Jenny: 嗯，啊那其实这个计算和公式呢对中国人来说我们很熟悉因为我们在学校里学数学，啊，就是老师都不让你用calculator什么多要自己算自己的脑子算

08:07

07:00

对话

07:30

I think you're right on the "lei" - I just couldn't find the right character in my pinyin tool, so went for 类. It sounded somewhat Shanghainese.

【问讲】- I can only here 讲 here.

【类】- I suspect this is some kind of 语气词 - perhaps 嘞？

06:29

John: So the 一 emphasises the simplicity

Jenny: 对

John: Alright, so that’s basically all there is to Excel apparently

Jenny: 啊，是的

John: Done

Jenny: 其实我们还，还有很多没有【问讲】不是嘛Excel很复杂的【类】

John: Well this is probably enough for the beginner

Jenny: Newbie Excel

John: Yep

Jenny: 嗯，那我们再听一遍对话

06:46

对话

07:00

【家要】= 只要

06:00

John: So, what is this 一 doing?

Jenny: 一般就是一些如果我们想要突出这个动作是很快很简单的，one click那种这一怎么样

John: Like all you’ve got to do is drag it down

Jenny: 对，比如说你用什么ipad然后iphone这是一个home button,你【家要】一按

John: You can return home

Jenny: 对

John: So this 一 kind of emphasis that it’s simple, you can actually omit it here and it doesn’t change the meaning, right?

Jenny: 啊，也可以说往下拉就都算出来了

John: OK

Jenny: 嗯

06:29

Jenny (3): 发什么东西来下 = 把什么东西"拉"一下. (I think Jenny was trying to explain the word 拉 here without actually using 拉 - not easy!).

05:26

Jenny: 嗯，好，那老板说你也在这个Excel表格里输入公式然后就算出来了啊，然后呢他说还可以往下一拉就都算出来了，像magic一样，对吧

John: So, 往下一拉

Jenny: 嗯

John: We’re talking about dragging the corner of the cell, right?

Jenny: 对，拉就是发什么东西来下

John: Pull, ah?

Jenny: 啊，对，然后往下就是这个方向，对吧，是往下拉，那这里还有一个一，往下一拉

06:00

Jenny (1): 你 is 我们

I didn't mean to imply there would be a difference in meaning - I'd understand it simply as using a variant charecter to write the same word.

它 was sometimes used in this sense of 'other' in some older writings, but so was 佗. Basically, classical writings were a mess of variant charecters. But this was rare compared to using 他, and so entering the modern age this usage got assigned to 他 and stripped from the others. And no one really generally would use 它 over 他 in this sense, ie writing 它日 would be really weird, most everyone will write 他日.

So I think the use of 其它 by some people is not really harkening back to the old flexibility of use (ie, 其它 does appear less commonly is some old writings, but this is not the source of present use). Rather, it must be the confusion I pointed to in what is meaning 'they' here, else one would see 它日 used.

So if I saw 其它 and wanted to interpret the use as logical, I would say 它 is being used as 'other' as a variant of 他. But again, the correct interpretation is probably just a confusion on the part of the speaker, or just not thinking about it. anyway, I don't think I would notice this if reading.

But yah, I wouldn't criticize anyone for this, I'm not a grammar or usage police type - but if someone wanted to know the reason for the technical correctness of 其他, it's that the meaning of 'other' got given to 他 over 它. Which was a very legitimate choice, because it was much more common to use 他 for this in classical Chinese.

To answer the last question, you should always use 其他, nothing favors the other.;)

tingyun

Thanks a lot - again I learned something new. That is cool that 其 means they, and 他 means other - I had not analysed the word before but my guess would have been that the 他 contained a sense of 'they'. But does a preference for 其他 over 其它 follow from the original meanings of 其 and 他? 其它 broken down would be 'they' 'it'? Is there no sense of 'other' in 其它? Is that why you favour (if that is indeed the case) 其他?

The things we are talking about, input methods, are of course genderless anyway - I thought that 它 carried a sense of genderlessness.

I am also unclear about where that leaves 其它. I see it written often enough; can you tell us what uses favour the use of 其它?

It's actually rather natural. 他 was used to mean 'other' before it was used to mean 'he', and is quite common in this meaning in classical Chinese. Plenty of modern words came from this (他日 他乡 他人 other day, other land, other person), in all of these words 他 is being used in this sense of 'other', with no implications of the derivative and later meaning 'he'.

其 here means 'they' or 'their' or 'its'. Thus, 其他 means 'its other' or 'what is outside of it' or 'what is outside of them' etc. a similar word with slightly different usage is 其余.

Thus, it is 其 that is really filling the straight pronoun role here, so if you wanted to add a 女 radical to something, it would be 其 and not 他, but of course that isn't done....and 其 is already genderless so no need to figure out an analogue to the 他 它 difference.

So really, it would be very odd to write it as 其它 or 其她, as it is essentially failing to recognize the role of 其 in the word, and creating a new meaning and usage for 她 or 它 that they don't possess.

Rich - I think it's always good to ask these questions, as there is usually a very logical reason for such things...but people vary in classical Chinese background and interest in such analysis, so it takes asking the right kind of nerd to get you the right answer.

I usually only use 其他, yet even my Input program shows 其它 as an option. Ah, this brings back memories...I still remember in my 一对一 class in Tianjin when I first learned 其他 and I just couldn't get how "he" 他 was in the word... I probably asked at least three times if I was saying like "the rest of the women" if I use 其她...the teacher was so confused...haha. Eventually she just said it is like how 吉他 (guitar) has it in the word...just use 他 always and go with it, is what I was told to finally stop asking.

其它 rather than 其他 ?

I'm not sure about this but the ren radical in the latter always makes me think of people. Dictionary says it can be things as well as people so it is probably either/or. Right?

You guys working on these transcripts - it is getting me interested in subscribing again, even though I never worked on transcripts before. It's a nice part of ChinesePod now, an institution.

04:59

John: So，输入，means input, right?

Jenny: 对，啊那其实用电脑的时候你要做很多的输入，对吧，输入

John: So, 1st tone, 4th tone

Jenny: 对

John: Ah, is that the same word for like a, like an input method, like pinyin input method on your computer

Jenny: 嗯，对，那个就是拼音输入法，比如有谷歌拼音输入法还有其他的拼音输入法，对吧

John: 输入法，alright that’s input method

05:26

Haha, yes I thought I'd take the liberty of correcting it. An easy mistake for our American friends to make....

dare I open up the math vs maths debate again? :)

Anyway, good to see you've corrected John on this :)

04:32

Jenny: 公式，公式

John: OK, 1st tone, 4th tone, 公式 refers to a formula

Jenny: 对

John: So this is like a maths formula?

Jenny: 嗯，对，不是baby formula

John: Like, uh, haha, OK, not baby formula，so like a2 + b2 = c2, that’s a 公式

Jenny: 对，这就是公式

John: And in Excel these are all 公式

Jenny: 对的

John: OK, so if you need to put in a formula, how do we say that?

Jenny: 输入，输入

04:59

Jenny(1): Missing a 就是 - （算就是比较...)

然后计算比较正式类个词 = 然计算是比较正式的一个词。

Jenny(2): 那个对话『里』

03:58

Jenny: 对，计算和算的意思是一样的，啊，那么算比较口语然后计算比较正式类个词

John: OK, so 计算 is pretty formal and 算 is more casual

Jenny: 对，然后后来那个对话还有说算出来，对吧，算出来

John: So it you 算出来 there’s some kind of result

Jenny: 对，一个结果

John: Like it has calculated and returned some information

Jenny: 对，所以你要先计算然后你想要的结果就是能算出来

John: OK, so if you want to 算出来 then you need…

04:32

03:31

Jenny: 对

John: And there’s no X in there，S-H-U J-U, two 4th tones

Jenny: 数据，啊，数据很多然后有很多东西要计算，也是两个第四声，计算

John: So, 计算, means to calculate, right?

Jenny: 嗯，对

John: Isn’t there like a formal word for computer that’s related to this word?

Jenny: 计算机

John: Is that the same 计算?

Jenny: 一样的

John: OK, but then later we see just the word 算 by itself, so are these the same thing or what?

03:58

03:00

John: So this 两天了 what is being expressed exactly with this 了？

Jenny: 就是已经两天了

John: So it’s already been two days

Jenny: 对

John: And you still haven’t finished it

Jenny: Yes.

John: OK, got it

Jenny: 嗯，那小赵说数据很多有很多东西要计算，数据很多

John: So, 数据, this refers to data

Jenny: 对，是两个第四声，数据

John: So, note that this is S-H-U J-U

03:31

02:32

Jenny: 对，但是这个语气是有一点生气，好像你在责备blame

John: Like, why not? Like, what’s up with that?

Jenny: 对的

John: So it’s a little bit different from 怎么了

Jenny: 诶，不太一样，怎么了语气就是比较neutral然后怎么回事就是你有点不高兴

John: OK, so it’s not really concerned, it’s more like accusatory

Jenny: Yes

John: 好

Jenny: 嗯，然后老板说两天了还没做完，两天了

03:00

Jenny (final): 就『有』一点生气

02:00

John: That might be useful

Jenny: 没错

John: OK, so the tones on 表格 are what again?

Jenny: 第三声和第二声，表格

John: OK, 3rd, 2nd, it’s not the same as like a male cousin, right?

Jenny: 表哥，不一样的

John: Alright, different tone

Jenny: 好，那老板呢他问这个员工他说小赵表格做好了吗，然后员工说还没有，然后老板就一点生气，他说怎么回事，怎么回事

John: So, 怎么回事 means why, like what happened

02:32

Tingyun - thanks for the explanation. You are lucky to have received such good advice.

A Chinese friend in Kunming asked us to provide an English name for her young son. We chose something not too unusual, yet meaningful - it was a big responsibility. The boy will probably have a lot of interaction with the English-speaking world. His father is a Chinese-English interpreter and his mother also did languages (Arabic) - yet they still asked our advice.

Yep on English last name starting with a b.

My first Chinese teacher at Harvard gave it to me, she said 班 was mainly to name me after the Han dynasty general 班超。 廷筠 was mainly to keep the classical feel of the name and to approach my English name, Tim, pronunciation. She teaches the fourth year course there, and so doesn't get to give names often, so she put some thought into it.

Both the surname and given name are fairly rare in modern times, but I like the older feel to it. At any rate, I prefer having no choice in names, instead leave the decision to a trusted teacher.

I like to look at the meaning and origins of names ... so I hope you don't mind me speculating whether 班 was chosen because:

Your English names starts with B (that's a question)

班 suggests your suitability as a student, or worker for that matter

Or even your suitability as a 班长 ... :)

It could be a random family name but these things are rarely random when you are forced to choose something.

So that's what your username stands for! Oh, for completion my 姓 is 班。

廷筠

I will never remember 愧不敢当 (I'm hopeless with 成语)

but cool that I now know your Chinese name. :)

柏大伟

Well I'm honored to join their ranks! 得此荣誉，廷筠愧不敢当

Yep, and an indication of laziness about proof reading. Wordy and lazy.;)

Note at least two 'finally's in your original post, signature of the wordy. :)

Ha ha - I could tease you by suggesting that I cut a bit of it out and still had to divide it into two. In fact I think I added a little overall.

Never mind, it's all quality stuff.

'I'm honored you would save my post!'

You should be honoured ... :)

First, let me say I save some material because it is impossible for me to find later - I think it is possibly two or three years since I called for a working search function. Google is still your best bet, but you have to know what you are looking for.

I have mainly saved some stuff (when I like the look of it) from Changye, remember Changye, a couple of the teachers, and now yourself.

I'm honored you would save my post! Wow, and I thought the current me is wordy, apparently I hit the posting charecters length limit and had to divide that one up...

I must've missed that gem. Thanks for reposting bodawei.

Outside of literary texts, Handian does have two special uses - 1st use - automatic looking up of words by selecting with mouse on any internet page (Nciku only lets you do it on their website, and its buggy and only links to the english dictionaries). For Handian, just go to any webpage and after it loads, navigate to this link (paste whole thing in browser, not just highlighted part)

javascript:void((function()%20{var%20element=document.createElement('script');%20element.setAttribute('src',%20'http://www.zdic.net/tools/zih.asp');%20document.body.appendChild(element);})())

Or create a shortcut with that link...anyway, you'll stay on the same page but it will load a little program, and by highlighting characters or words it will pop up a dictionary textbox. Sometimes saves time, when the website is not lagging.

2nd use - tracing history of words. Ever wondered how 涕ti4 means both 'snot' and 'tears'? Which came first? http://www.zdic.net/zd/zi/ZdicE6ZdicB6Zdic95.htm (link goes to the 详细 tab, could also have just looked it up and then went to that tab) And follow the story... (from the first line) In 先秦 (first Qin dynasty) meant tears, and it was only later that the charecter 泪lei4 was born...and then we could follow it further down to where it picks up the 'snot' meaning...Sometimes I find this sort of thing really fun。 Or, for words, like when we were discussing the meaning of 功夫 in that other thread ..you could go to http://www.zdic.net/cd/ci/5/ZdicE5Zdic8AZdic9F76755.htm (again its just a matter of going to the detailed tab) and you can see, organized by the 5 different meanings, historical examples of its use. The source text name of the quote is in blue and in brackets...and unless they note the date these are generally rather old texts (ie, the number 1 entry is from 三国志 records of the three kingdoms), whereas for the number 5 特指武术te4zhi3wu3shu4 (specially refers to martial arts) meaning, we just have some newspaper articles from the 1980s. But note in number four meaning, last use example, as meaning ability or skill 功夫 is used to mean martial arts while being modified by 武艺 (this is where I got the example for you in the other thread). Thus, it is reasonable to speculate that 功夫 wasn't widely used to specifically refer to martial arts previously, instead being skill in general (though could be modified by words or context to mean martial arts skill), and only in the modern era has its meaning heavily migrated (though I’m sure there are examples before the 1980s). Of course, we don't have that much data so we are speculating a bit, but I think its really fun to play with language in this way. ;)

A quick tutorial on using Nciku or Chinese dictionaries in general: pay attention to the little symbols before the Nciku definitions. For example, the definition of 与yu3 has 4 meanings, with the 2nd meaning listed as

2. 2. 动 [文] 交往；亲近

the 【文】 symbol means this is a literary use, while a [口] symbol means a colloqual use, and no symbol means a neutral use. You are unlikely to encounter the 【文】meanings outside of very formal writing, and so you can focus which meanings you are looking at by this.

Hmm, what else might be useful for just starting out using Chinese dictionary - the grammatical role of the particular meaning is listed first, in the above 动dong4 stands for 动词 verb, others include 副fu4=副词 adverb 形xing2=形容词 adjective 名ming2=名词 noun， 介jie4=介词 ah I don’t know English grammer words well – but the meaning is this introduces the purpose, or target, or some other noun which the action is about or done by, like 为wei4 tells you ‘why’, or read as 为wei2 introduces the person doing the action in a passive sentence, both would be 介, 连lian2=连词 conjunction

Also, consider the meaning 3 for 与

3. 介 引进动作行为有关的对象，相当于"跟""同"

Alot of entries are like this - a complicated grammatical explanation in the first clause, followed by a second clause that makes it simple by a comparison. Here, 相当于xiang1dang1yu2 means 'basically equivalent to' and then you've got "跟"gen1 "同"tong2 which you probably recognize. So you know in this meaning it functions pretty much the same as the words 跟 and 同. Knowing this might make it easier to understand the first clause (or even skip it) -引进yin3jin4 draw in 动作dong4zuo4 action行为xing2wei2 behavior 有关you3guan1 involved, related 的 对象dui4xiang4 target, object

Finally, at the final entry you'll often be told what pronunciations not to use, or what other characters you shouldn't write in place of it. This is generally done when a lot of people are either writing it or pronouncing it the other way. usual language for this is something like 不宜写作 (not appropriate to write in the following way。。。) ，不要误读为 (don't mistakenly read as。。。）。

Finally, sometimes you will see something like (taken from 蜕化tui4hua4）跟"退化(tui4hua4)"的适用范围和对象不同。meaning the scope of 蜕化 use and appropriate targets for use are different from 退化, but also indicating to you the meanings are close. Sometimes you will see something like (taken from 因缘yin1yuan2) 参见"姻缘(yin1yuan2)"的提示 - 参见can1jian4 means 'consult, refer to‘，and if you then go to the definition you are directed to consult you will be given an explanation of the difference in the terms (taken from 姻缘）跟"因缘"不同。"姻缘"专指夫妻的缘分；"因缘"泛指人与人之间的一切缘分和机缘。( 姻缘specially refers to (专zhuan1 specially 指 zhi3 refers to) husband wife fate, while 因缘 broadly refers to (泛fan4 broad指) all (一切yi2qie4 = all) fate between people. Speaking of which, here are a bunch of different words for ‘all’ you might encounter – 都 dou1皆jie1 均 jun1 . And 称 cheng1 means ‘called’ , 通称 tong1cheng1 ‘usually/often called’ 通=通常tong1chang2 ， 统称 tong3cheng1 means ‘all of the before mentioned things are known by the common name of….‘ 统=统一tong3yi1 unite.

There are alot of terms and language use to get used to - dictionary entries veer pretty formal in their language, and have their own ways of indicating things. The above is my attempt to give a basic tutorial, you should be able to pick the rest up as you go along. One great thing is looking up the word itself becomes a learning experience - I'll sometimes look up a word I don't know, discover another new one in the definition, look it up, then discover another...and follow a long train that I think is rather productive in learning results, as the whole time you are practicing Chinese.;) And also – you’ll get used to a formal way of writing, ie using single characters in place of the two character compounds, use of a wider variety of grammar particles, a more formal structure to the grammar， like saying A不同于B (formal) rather than A跟B不同 (less formal) (you’ll soon find 于yu2 is just about an all purpose grammar particle, it can be 在，从，跟, etc)…all things that will be very useful in your language studies. In China, you can’t even read a ‘don’t enter’ sign without encountering formal language – if its not闲人免进 then its闲人莫入 or some other highly formal variant…;)

It doesn't matter whether you go to the Chinese or English Nciku website. I use the English one, that may be out of habit, but I think the Chinese one's format is more geared to Chinese speakers trying to find the English definition of a word.

Here's a link to 所在 in the english website - http://www.nciku.com/search/zh/detail/%E6%89%80%E5%9C%A8/1314655

(Yes, I picked this word for how comically unhelpful the english dictionary entry is). "Collins Chinese-English Dict" is automatically opened/expanded, but there are two other dictionary entries that currently appear as unexpanded bars. Click to Expand "Contemporary Chinese Standard Dictionary" and you are good to go.

1 day ago from web. Reply

百度百科

百度百科, (if the website is slow) they often have the same entries as 汉典just pasted and formatted badly. If looking up compound words, neither can be trusted for the pronunciation, as they are pretty random as to which pronunciation of 多音字 they use, I think they have some auto program that jut grabs one pronunciation or something. But good for charecter pronunciations and meanings.

Some time ago Tingyun gave us a lengthy run-down on dictionaries and I cannot give you a web address, but I did copy and paste to a Word doc (an edited version combining this and the earlier post follows in a few tranches because of the character limit on this site):

PLECO

现代汉语规范词典 xian4 dai4 han4yu3 gui1fan4 ci2dian3

Chinese Chinese Pleco dictionary. I think the Nciku Chinese Chinese dictionary uses the same one actually, but it's been awhile.

NCIKU

Nciku's chinese-chinese dictionary is great - comprehensive, accurate on pronunciation, and when you encounter close synonyms, if there is a difference, one of the two entries will usually have an explanation (ie 以致yi3zhi4 and 以至 yi3zhi4, or 谋取 mou2qu3 and 牟取mou2qu3), so you can delve as deep as you like into subtle differences. Also, every meaning in the definition is accompanied by example uses. Its usually my first choice when reading modern texts

HANDIAN

If I want a good comprehensive dictionary for classical Chinese or rare meanings, I use 汉典, easily found online with a google search,

Sometimes Handian is a better choice than NCIKU - http://www.zdic.net/zd/zi/ZdicE6ZdicB1ZdicA4.htm . It has the advantage of being more comprehensive, so sometimes Nciku will be missing a Chengyu or older word that Handian has. However, this is rare for words in wide modern use - Handian's primary advantage is being more comprehensive in including older uses. Ie, the link I gave is the definition for 汤 - look it up on Nciku and you will only get Tang1, but Handian also includes the pronunciation Shang1 which is used to describe the look of rapidly flowing water. 趋 qu1 in Handian also includes the ancient use of the character in the pronunciation of cu4 to replace 促cu4。This advantage is of course also a problem - you are going to generally be hit with a great many more meanings than Nciku would give you, and generally most of the additional ones are exceedingly rare or nonexistent in modern use. Generally then it would be better to use Nciku for most modern writings, where the possible definitions are already narrowed down for you, and you don’t spend hours debating between 20 definitions…

Thanks. Tingyun. I hadn't noticed the Chinese-Chinese section of nciku before. Looks like a useful resource.

Hi toianw,

This time I pasted from the chinese Chinese pleco dictionary, I think it's called 现代规范汉语词典 (or some scrambling of the word order of those four words). I think the nciku Chinese chinese dictionary uses the same one actually, but it's been awhile.

If I want a good comprehensive dictionary for classical chinese or rare meanings, I use 汉典, easily found online with a google search, or if the website is slow, then 百度百科, they often have the same entries as 汉典just pasted and formatted badly. If looking up compound words, neither can be trusted for the pronunciation, as they are pretty random as to which pronunciation of 多音字 they use, I think they have some auto program that jut grabs one pronunciation or something. But good for charecter pronunciations and meanings.

As to the second question, no I just gleaned it from the examples. But since we are dealing with a highly colloquial word, then really announcing anything as a rule is just a statement of what usually happens, and doesn't really preclude someone using it another way. But really the usual repeated nature of using it as a verb, ie saying 说道说道 is probably the most distinguishing characteristic.

At any rate, I should stress that I think this 说道 colloquial word seems relativly rare, there are probably some regions where it is used regularly, but I almost never hear it, and it's not the sort of thing that belongs in written language. Really, it's the 说到 说道(full tone) that are what you fairly regularly encounter and should be worried about using yourself.

Incidientally, this reminds me of the 言语full tone 言语second charecter neutral tone distinction, the first is fairly common noun, the second a highly colloquial verb meaning 'to speak'...though you do run across that second word somewhat regularly....

The bing dictionary on the web http://dict.bing.com.cn typically gives dozens of example sentences (at least 40 for 说道). The nciku app for the iPod/iPad is also good.

Hi Tingyun,

Thanks so much for helping us out. I have a couple of follow-up questions if you don't mind:

1. What dictionary are you using? Is it an online one or something you paid for?

2. You say that 说道 when used in the sense of 条论/商量 does not get followed by the subject of discussion. I wondered about this when I looked it up myself as none of the examples had a topic following them. Am I missing something in the dictionary entry you pasted that indicates this (perhaps the 说说??）? Or is it just something you know?

Thanks...

I agree with toianw, it should be 说到。 说到 does mean to 'talk about' or to 'discuss' the following subject. It is not really a word, rather the 到 is just indication your discussion 到 arrived at the topic listed. Similar expressions abound, 讨论到。提到。论到 etc, in all the 到 is followed by the subject the discussion reached.

Then there are two other words. 说道 with the 道 having a full fourth tone. Here, it means said, and just be followed by quotation marks and the exact words said. In this use, it is really just using two words that mean the same thing, as 道 means 'to say', though it is not commonly used in this meaning in modern spoken Chinese. But in 道别。道歉, to say farewell and to say sorry, are examples though. At any rate, in novels and such some writers like to use 道 "quote" structure, some like to use 说道 "quote", sometimes this choice is based on the rhythm of the sentence.

But 道 in this use, whether or not accompanied by 说, should be followed by the words actually said, and is not properly used to list a topic discussed...though confusing the two is probably one of the more common mistakes native speakers make.

There is a third word, again 说道, this time with 道 neutral tone. It is a very colloquial word, and should not be confused with the above rather literary usage written the same way, which has a full tone. I haven't encountered this third use enough to say much, so I'll just cut and paste a dictionary entry, and paraphrase the entry in English.

This version of 说道 is similar in use to 说说 or 讨论, but it does not get followed by the subject of discussion, and is liked saying 'we conversed a bit' or something. As a verb, it is very often repeated, ie 说道说道, similar to 说说. It can also act as a noun, meaning something like 名堂 or 道理, and as a noun it often is 儿化。

说道[說-]

shuōdao

〈口〉 ❶ [动] 说说 ▷把你的想法给大伙儿～～。 ❷ [动] 讨论;商量 ▷咱们几个先～～,再和大伙儿说。 ❸ [名] 名堂;道理 ▷这里面肯定有～。☛ ㊀作动词时一般要重叠使用。㊁作名词时后一音节常儿化。

Note that you probably won't find either 说到 or 说道（full tone) in most dictionaries, as I mentioned they aren't really one word combined word but rather are each composed of two one charecter words.

Hi Chris, You could be right. It does have this definition in the dictionary, but unfortunately the online dictionaries I looked in don't have any useful examples.

I've only ever come across 说道 being used like the English word "said" in this kind of sentence: "Hello," she said.

I think of "说到..." as "talk about..." in this kind of sentence.

(Not that it matters too much in the context of understanding the lesson discussion though :)

Doesn't 说道 mean to discuss, similar to 讨论, i.e. Jenny is saying we just discussed the word 表格?

Jenny (1): I think the 说道 should be 说到.

01:30

对话

01:34

01:34

John: So I’ve run into this situation a couple of times, like someone doesn’t realise that there’s more to Excel than just manually entering information into individual cells

Jenny: 嗯，没错，那我们刚刚说道表格这个词，啊，表它其实有点这种一个graph的意思

John: Uh huh

Jenny: 对吧，然后格其实就是一个一个的box小格子

John: Yeah, in Excel each little cell is called a 单格，is that right?

Jenny: 嗯，对的

02:00

01:00

对话

01:30

Jenny(1): Just missing a 你 (你要用的语言)

00:29

Jenny: 嗯，没错，那今天的对话呢会说到一些非常常用的做表格做Excel表格时候要用的语言

John: OK, so you’re going to hear the word 表格 and a few others. The situation is that there’s a boss showing an employee how to properly use Excel

Jenny: 没错，好那我们赶快听对话

00:51

对话

01:00

Jenny (final): 在今天 - I think the 在 is a sneaky 所以

00:00

Jenny: 同学们好我是Jenny这里是chinesepod

John: Hey guys, I’m John. This is an Intermediate lesson

Jenny: 今天我们要说一个我非常怕的东西

John: 数学

Jenny: 数学加上表格

John: OK, so 表格 not meaning table but spreadsheet, right?

Jenny: 对，在今天我们的课说的是怎么用excel

John: OK, so Excel is important software in this day and age still, but it seems like a lot of people don’t really know how to use it.

00:29