User Comments - John

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John

Posted on: A Stroll through the Hutongs
October 9, 2010 at 2:47 AM

I'm glad you appreciate it. I'll keep doing it!

Posted on: A Stroll through the Hutongs
October 9, 2010 at 2:45 AM

There is a little bit of overlap. 不 can also imply "never" (rather than just referring to the future), whereas 没 could mean "didn't" (one time), or "haven't" (for all this time), which is much more similar to "never."

Posted on: City Districts in Shanghai
October 9, 2010 at 2:39 AM

You're very welcome!

Posted on: City Districts in Shanghai
October 9, 2010 at 2:39 AM

The accent marks are part of the font. We've chosen Arial, a font which supports accent marks, is supported by nearly all browsers and computers, and is quite easy to read. If its still not clear enough for you, I recommend you increase the font size of the page. On a PC, simply hit "CTRL +" while in your browser, or on a Mac hit "Command +". You can do it multiple times.

Matching properly displays zhi3 (zhǐ) for 只 now.

Posted on: City Districts in Shanghai
October 9, 2010 at 2:29 AM

Our pleasure!

Posted on: City Districts in Shanghai
October 9, 2010 at 2:26 AM

Nice sum-up.

I use 公交车. Good compromise between convenience and precision.

Posted on: Mudslide
October 9, 2010 at 2:05 AM

Simongrant,

I definitely agree that "more lessons with topical events set in a social context" would be great. Any specific suggestions?

Posted on: Mudslide
October 9, 2010 at 2:04 AM

Thanks, Bill. It goes to show that you really do get better and better the more you do something.

This lesson was a bit different from most; we weren't going for anything irreverent, obviously. It seems to have struck the right chord. I'm glad you find it useful.

Posted on: Too Many Food Allergies
October 9, 2010 at 2:01 AM

Yes, 爸 and 妈 are the normal terms of address after you're married. There are other terms like 岳父/岳母 and 丈母娘/老丈人 (丈母/丈人) for your in-laws, but you wouldn't use those to their faces.

Posted on: Too Many Food Allergies
October 9, 2010 at 1:56 AM

It's not nearly as clear-cut as one might hope. You frequently don't know the person's age, so you have to guess. In China, the elderly have traditionally been respected, so there's a link between perceived age and titles you use to address people. You have two choices:

叔叔 (shūshu): less polite, for younger men

伯父 (bófù): more polite, for older men

You just go with what seems right.