User Comments - Kyle
Kyle
Posted on: Table Manners and Tipping
October 13, 2007 at 8:31 AMChicken necks have super tender / juicy meat as well, but it's just too much work to chew around all those bones. I typically don't eat most fish in China either because they often don't filet them and the meat is too boney.
Posted on: Speaking and Writing
October 13, 2007 at 6:05 AMThey generally refer to individual words (that they can or can't write) as just 字 without the 汉.
Posted on: Table Manners and Tipping
October 13, 2007 at 2:27 AMWe're looking at this from within our own culture--and in this case I think that's a problem. Many Chinese consider tipping a sign of the master-slave relationship. They refuse to accept tips because it, in a way, reinforces the (false / elitist perpetuated) idea that their social position is below that of the tipper. Now, don't get me wrong here. I'm totally for tipping in a society where people are working 60+ hours a week and still living paycheck to paycheck. However, out of respect for the culture, I don't tip unless on extreme occassions. It should also be noted that Shanghai seems to be much different from cities like Harbin because it sees and hosts foreigners that aren't familiar with the tipping culture and therefore don't know better. It can be assumed, then, that the service industry in Shangha has become accustomed to tipping, and probably expects it from foreigners. So, perhaps the ask-all-end-all question would be: What do the Chinese do in Shanghai? Do most Chinese in Shanghai (or other cities) tip? We should, by all means, 入乡随俗, or shouldn't we?
Posted on: Table Manners and Tipping
October 12, 2007 at 3:47 AMCCTV少儿 is great for pre-intermediate / intermediate learners. The night before last they had "My Little Pony" reruns. I'm waiting for He-Man and Thundercats.
Posted on: Describing Athletes
October 12, 2007 at 3:18 AMI sense that by the time the Olympics actually come and pass I'll be drawing similar feelings between them and mooncakes.
Posted on: Finding a Supermarket
October 11, 2007 at 1:31 PMYou can find a lot of lessons using that sentence pattern here: http://labs.chinesepod.com/?q=node%2F4&search=%E9%99%A4%E4%BA%86
Posted on: Studying Japanese
October 11, 2007 at 1:27 PMThey also seem to be the reason why Chinese gets a bad rap for being a difficult language to learn. IMHO, the speaking part is quite easy. It's the memorization of characters and stroke order that is so time consuming.
Posted on: Studying Japanese
October 11, 2007 at 12:36 PMI, as well, was/am certainly drawn to the challenge.
Posted on: Describing Athletes
October 11, 2007 at 12:18 PM壮 is also a nice way of saying your fat....
Posted on: Describing Athletes
October 14, 2007 at 2:23 AMThe English tend to favor "fit" over other adjectives to describe someone in good shape / "buff".