User Comments - John

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John

Posted on: Back in the Day with "当"
January 11, 2011 at 1:54 AM

tingyun,

Technically the examples you gave can be 4th tone (according to dictionaries), but most Chinese people still use 1st tone for 当 in all those examples.

Actually, it also depends on the dictionary... Wenlin gives the both 4th and 1st for 当天, but only 4th for 当晚 (even though you definitely hear 1st in spoken Mandarin).

In words like 当作, 当 is 4th tone even in typical spoken Mandarin.

Posted on: Dialing a Nonlocal Phone Number
January 11, 2011 at 1:43 AM

And the interesting thing is that we do this in English too (and it's also nonstandard)...

"Whatcha doin'?"

"Eatin' Dunkin' Donuts."

Posted on: Dialing a Nonlocal Phone Number
January 11, 2011 at 1:39 AM

That is correct!

Posted on: Dialing a Nonlocal Phone Number
January 11, 2011 at 1:39 AM

Keep in mind that the lesson content is not strictly for the purpose of understanding a recording. There have been plenty of times for me, personally, when knowing what 外地手机 meant and how to deal with it has been helpful in my human interactions.

That said, we can certainly also use your suggestions! Thanks for those.

Posted on: Where's the soap?
January 6, 2011 at 9:32 AM

Did you try to wash your hands with it? :D

Posted on: First Snow of the Winter
January 6, 2011 at 4:04 AM

You want to say:

我第一次去北京……

Posted on: First Snow of the Winter
January 6, 2011 at 3:52 AM

It has multiple pronunciations, and what people actually say (frequently xue, 3rd tone) doesn't necessarily match the dictionary.

Sorry... sometimes the truth can be messy!

Posted on: First Snow of the Winter
January 6, 2011 at 3:49 AM

Yes it did snow in Shanghai this year. The weather has been strange in recent years...

Posted on: Discussing Divorce
January 6, 2011 at 3:48 AM

Glad to hear it. Let us know if there's anything in particular you'd like to learn about.

Posted on: Discussing Divorce
January 6, 2011 at 3:48 AM

It's Upper Intermediate... these lessons are designed to make you stretch. :)