User Comments - andrewm

Posted on: The Final Show

Dear Amber,

Thanks for teaching us poddies Chinese Mandarin, along with the happenings of everyday life in China. There are many funny, interesting, and sweet memories. For example: "别摸我!" from the Saturday Show. Starting from a guest on the Saturday Show until now, your last Dear Amber Show (from Shanghai? The verdict may still be out.), I always been a fan of yours. I wish you the very best in your future endeavors.

P.S.- 我也很想你.

Posted on: Regional Accents Part II

Thank you Sushan and Amber for clearing that up for me. That was like a thorn stuck in my foot. I usually say 下次再见 xià cì zài jiàn, so now I can see that I have interpreted "次 cì" as "再 zài". However, it's already too late. Now every time it rains I ask myself where is Amber. I just remember that little avatar picture with her name beside it. ;-)

Posted on: Regional Accents Part II

This is really good stuff. This helps me to confirm the various pronunciations that I been hearing. I've been hearing the Taiwanese Mandarin accent quite often, so that the Taiwanese fellow's voice sounds somewhat familiar. However, I don't usually here the word "扔 rēng" as often as I hear the word "丟 diū". I also notice Taiwanese Mandarin that the initial "sh" very often sounds more like the initial "s" and the initial "ch" sometimes sounds like the initial "c" or "s". However, the initial "z" sometimes sounds more like the intial "zh" and the initial "c" sometimes sounds more like the initial "ch". I heard this immediately when the fellow said the word "gōngzuò" which sounded more like "gōngzhuò" to my ears. Whenever I speak I try not to speak this way but it is always fun to switch out to this pronunciation when talking to the teacher. Of course, when it's time to take an oral exam I wound not do this. Off topic, but I was wondering how you would say something that you eat is "chewy" in Mandarin? I just know how to say "Q" or "kiū" which is the Taiwanese-Mandarin word for "chewy". Also why does Amber keep saying "下雨再見 xià yǔ zài jiàn" "See you the next time it rains" at the end of the podcasts?

Posted on: Taipei

At the Taiwanese - Chinese Restaurant in Rockville, Maryland, USA called "Bob's 66 Noodle" I usually order the oyster pancake by saying "蚵仔煎 hé zǎi jiān".

Posted on: More than 50 kuai!

You can replace 多 duō with 几 jǐ for a come back question, can't you? That is if you need a more specific answer. Although, in Amber's case, it probably wouldn't have helped her get the bargain that she got. In Clay case I think it's more likely that he'd say 这个是过分的价钱 zhè ge shì guòfèn de jiàqián or even stronger 这个是切脖子的价钱 zhè ge shì qiē bózi de jiàqián (use at your own risk). ;-) Does Amber and Clay use Chinese when speaking to each other? :-) That would definitely be a site to see.

Posted on: Beauty Pageant: It's a Mess

I believe that ChinesePod is succeeding in resolving the Elementary-Intermediate gap issue. I have moved up to the intermediate level and have been downloading a lot of the upper-intermediate lessons as well. Thank you ChinesePod.

Posted on: Chinese Music Taste and Registering with the Police

伍佰 Wǔ Bǎi & China Blue rocks! 伍佰 Wǔ Bǎi!, 伍佰 Wǔ Bǎi!, 伍佰 Wǔ Bǎi!

Posted on: Pearl Tea

"珍珠奶茶 zhēnzhū nǎichá" and/or "波霸奶茶 bōbà nǎichá". Both of these names are used here, on the east coast of the US. I often drop the "奶 nǎi" because I prefer to drink the fruit flavored varieties of bubble tea such as passionfruit or mango, with green tea and no milk. There's some good information about bubble tea on the wikipedia site at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pearl_Milk_Tea . There are plenty of places in the Washington, D.C. area that sell bubble tea such as 天仁Tiān rén, 好客来 Hǎo kè lái, for example. They're bubble tea shops or stands in most of the large indoor shopping malls that I have shopped in. Many Chinese restaurants also sell bubble tea.

Posted on: Diet Coke

I found a promotional website for Slurpee in Taiwan. The website is www.slurpee.com.tw .

Posted on: Diet Coke

I like to thank Jenny for pointing out the marketing aspect of Chinese words. About one year ago my Chinese teacher disagreed with me when I told her about the translation of "Diet Coke", so for some time now I doubted what I had previously read. 一听可乐 (yī tīng kělè) a can of cola Another great tidbit. Thanks John and lujiaojie.