User Comments - RJ
RJ
Posted on: Funny Rice
May 25, 2009 at 9:42 AMyumilamps
you are not alone :-) I see no humor in this. I get the pun but what do peanuts have to do with the original question? How is it that flowers are the mother of rice? No connection. Am I missing something?
Posted on: Lao Wang's Office 11: Wang in the Doghouse
May 25, 2009 at 2:16 AMPete
in the lesson itself Jen and John do translate 去去去 as "get out of here" but they leave it kind of vague.
to me this is simialr to your "go on" which is as you say dismissive. I believe it is short for go on, get out of here, which really means "bullshit". In the sense of get away from me with that nonsense. Dont try to tell me that.
Posted on: Lao Wang's Office 11: Wang in the Doghouse
May 25, 2009 at 1:58 AMThanks Raygo. I do enjoy that melting pot. As for the fur coat, at least I had the right place. And you are right about cpod being an invaluable resource. Look around, they are still head and shoulders above the rest, and then some. No question about that.
btw - thanks for the transcript. Very helpful.
Posted on: Lao Wang's Office 11: Wang in the Doghouse
May 24, 2009 at 11:21 PMSebire
Rubbish would be understood but it is not real common to use it that way. Bollocks we dont say.To answer your question, we write like we talk. The intros on the site are written to be entertaining, hence the word play. Sometimes the translations are a bit folksy too as you have noticed.
Posted on: Lao Wang's Office 11: Wang in the Doghouse
May 24, 2009 at 5:07 PMsebire
Bollocks. You too have your share. :-) Pete could have said "all fur coat and no knickers" instead of "all hat and no cattle". I think you're right that more americanisms are used on the site perhaps. To me it seems that the Aussies have the most and I do enjoy learning them as well as various British expressions. Any time you have an americanism question feel free to ask. I will explain it if I can.
Posted on: News of Improvements and Last Week of May Promo
May 24, 2009 at 3:03 PMThanks for the lesson list improvement. Much easier now. You might even consider allowing the list to accomodate 100 lessons or even "all" on one page as a selection. Anyway, great improvement.
Posted on: Lao Wang's Office 11: Wang in the Doghouse
May 24, 2009 at 1:02 AMPete
I am happy as long as the literal remains available in the pop-up roll-overs. Both translations are useful. I know its akward to translate only literally because then you are writing improper english and that may be misunderstood. Im sure there would also be complaints about that. I understand your dilemma, I only disagree with your premise that we should ignore the literal.
Posted on: Lao Wang's Office 11: Wang in the Doghouse
May 24, 2009 at 12:22 AMHenning,
"in the doghouse" was used by my parents generation. You dont hear this so much any more. It implies of course that you are sleeping in the dog's house (which is usually in the back yard) because wify has temporarily barred you from her bed due to some misdeed. Out of favor with the wife is the best definition I guess.
I am surprised at the confusion caused by "cathouse" though. I thought this was a universal euphemism for brothel. 妓院 in Chinese.
Posted on: Podcast Language 1
May 23, 2009 at 12:36 PMUseful and overdue lesson, the need for which is further proof that listening over and over does not magically teach the language from context alone.
Posted on: Funny Rice
May 25, 2009 at 9:53 AMPete
yes, I get that, but to work, "peanut" would also somehow have to answer the question and it does not. Maybe I am expecting too much.