User Comments - Toddsqui

Posted on: Buying Train Tickets

In this lesson, "nan," means difficult, but in other lessons, "nan" is an article meaning "a" as in "ta you y ge NAN pengyou." 

Which definition of nan is more prominent, and is it just context that people can know whether a person means "difficult," or "a/an?"

Very curious.

Posted on: Wireless Internet

This is a very good lesson, but I'm just wondering why "Zheli," is used instead of "zher." What's the difference between these two words? Couldn't you say "Zher you wuxianshangwang ma?"

Posted on: Asking for a Phone Number

Hi Toianw!

Thanks for the reply! I was sort of laughing to myself after reading what you wrote. I guess I was hoping for something a little more exotic, perhaps something harking back to some ancient folk tale about nothingness and death (as opposed to reusing characters to add vocabulary). Oh well, I suppose the simple truth isn't so bad either.

Thanks again!

-Todd

Posted on: Key Card

Thanks Veronique and DavidXuzhou for answering my questions! Looking forward to this week's Qing Wen! Many many thanks!

Posted on: Asking for a Phone Number

Weird question: Why does the "0" look the way it does? It's so much more interesting to look at than the other digits in the telephone number series; it sort of resembles a person smiling or laughing. Is there any history behind this?  

Posted on: Key Card

In this lesson, "na ge" means "which." But what's the difference between "na ge" and "ji?" I ask because in a previous lesson on finding one's bus stop, "ji" was used as "which." My brain wants to resolve this break in the pattern. Any help is much appreciated!

Posted on: The Second Tone

Thanks for clarifying, Right-Wingnut. :)

Posted on: The Second Tone

I have a really naive question, although I'm sure it has been asked before somewhere else on CP or on the internet.

When Chinese pop stars are singing... 

do they incorporate the second tone in their words? Or do they just... disregard it? And more importantly, are there any songs on iTunes that I can listen to with a nice long second tone in it??

The second tone is really challenging for me, and any help would be great.

Thanks,

-T

Posted on: Coffee Shop

Wow, Rebecka! Didn't expect such a lengthy and informative response! Your recommendation has helped me a lot!

Thanks so much!

Posted on: Coffee Shop

I noticed "Deng" missing from the lesson notes. What is the character for "deng." It means "to wait," ...right?