User Comments - GregE
GregE
Posted on: Lao Wang's Office 9: Wang Plans Revenge
February 3, 2012 at 5:43 AMThanks for the catches! They're both fixed.
Posted on: 坑“妈”的防辐射服
February 1, 2012 at 8:08 AMGrambers,
Sorry about the delay! Regarding your questions:
1) Chinese often gives objects agency when the people who make/control them are in fact responsible for the action. Examples:
- 我的手机丢了! My cell phone was lost! (The cell phone didn't lose itself, a person lost it).
- 篮球以街头文化为卖点. Basketball uses street culture as a selling point. (Basketball isn't selling itself, the NBA is).
2) I think conceptualizing 包装 as "to package" or even "to present as" might help you wrap your head around it a bit better. Additionally, 外衣 can be understood here as an "exterior" or "appearance" rather than a literal cloak.
You could translate the sentence as: "When many so-called 'radiation-proof clothes' are using science as a magnificent cover with which to package themselves, why aren't real scientists standing up to object?"
Let us know if you have any other questions!
Posted on: Birthday on the Lunar Calendar
January 31, 2012 at 3:27 AMThe previous sentences suggest that she celebrates her lunar birthday because it's the one she displays on her QQ publicly. The above sentence is translated correctly.
Posted on: New Year's Well-Wishes
January 29, 2012 at 8:18 AMYou're correct, 背得出 is to be able to recite from memory. Thanks for the catch!
Posted on: New Year's Well-Wishes
January 28, 2012 at 1:20 PMIf you're looking for more 成语, there's an excellent blog entry from the Fluentflix Chinese language-learning blog with more dragon-related idioms not necessarily related to the New Year:
http://www.fluentflix.com/blog/2012/01/09/chinese-idioms-year-dragon/
Posted on: That's Not Your Food
January 5, 2012 at 2:50 AMThanks for the catch, fixed!
Posted on: Traditional Food During the Spring Festival
December 20, 2011 at 1:15 AMThe endless importance that Chinese people place on 谐音字 during traditional festivals is so interesting to me. Thanks for the link! And yes, I've also read that in certain regions people do save a portion of the fish they eat during the new year due to the similar sound of 鱼 (fish) and 余 (surplus).
Posted on: Preparing for Pain
December 19, 2011 at 3:03 AMAfter listening to Dilu's explanation I think you're right. Good catch and fixed!
Posted on: Red Envelopes During the Spring Festival
December 15, 2011 at 8:11 AMChinese kids don't usually get hong bao from their teachers so I'm sure they'll love you for it! I think a dollar would be sufficient for each of them (the number one also doesn't represent any bad luck!) Try to give brand new bills if possible as they are especially auspicious. ;)
Posted on: International Currency
February 4, 2012 at 4:54 AMExcellent points. I suppose I was approaching it simply from the perspective that more currencies = even more language points to learn :)