User Comments - bababardwan

Posted on: Gone Fishing

zhen,

I can see how this could work and be funny as well but respectfully I don't think I agree.

Seems to me like Rabbit realizes carrots probably aren't the best bait

...how can we know this? After all it's just a rabbit. I thought this was part of the cute appeal of it. Sacrificing it's precious carrot which surely the fish couldn't resist [and 突然...the sudden surprise appearance of the fish and it's suprising announcement..a revelation to the rabbit no doubt]. Also the rabbit is determined enough to fish all day so it doesn't seem too likely that it's just not bothering getting a better bait. I think the joke relies on the folly of the rabbit rather than it's lazyness. I could be wrong though and it is good and interesting to see a different interpretation, so thanks zhen :)

btw I also benefited from your 拿。。 当 pattern explanation so thanks heaps for that.

I guess it's one of those jokes that can work in a couple of interpretations and in the end I guess whatever works for you ..amuses you is all that's important. Anywhichway 胡萝卜 is the key word in the joke...funny that it's being used as bait.

Posted on: Gone Fishing

I agree dunderklumpen, 糊弄 was the one bit that I found difficult to fit nicely in the translation.

Posted on: Football and Dragon Boats

ma1942,

不用谢【bùyòngxiè ....no need for thanks=you're welcome]

hehe, yeah,I think many would agree with you and I see your point too. Sorry about that.The thing is Catherine has been working tirelessly this last week to start sorting out some of the tech problems on the site and it is much appreciated and I find it hard not to express that. Guess you could call it a fault. I wouldn't say I agree with everything here,but you're pretty close to the mark ,I do agree with the vast majority of it and think it's great and those things I see differently are trivial and are just about expressing my thoughts on minor potential improvements.

Interesting comment about my avatar...hadn't thought of it that way. The thing is ,I am in no way trying to suggest that any of my avatars demonstrate any of my qualities,but rather they often contain some quality that I think is admirable in some way. So if anything they are demonstrating qualities I lack but aspire to. I did have one of an ugly dog once but there were protests,haha. Also, if I do change my avatar you may be caught off guard not realising it's that guy you should just scroll past and waste more of your time. I am interested in your avatar though btw...it looks familiar but I can't quite place it. What's it mean ?

Posted on: Gone Fishing

I didn't interpret it that way. I would translate the joke as:

A rabbit went fishing from sunrise to sunset and there wasn't even a bit of activity [all quiet,no bites]. Suddenly a fish leaped out of the water and shouted angrily "you're again using a carrot as bait to try and deceive me? I'll cook you!"

I think DK is right in that part of the humour lies in the fact that the rabibit has used a carrot as bait [presuming erroneously that because it's his favourite food the fish will also find it irresistable]. Yeah DK I don't think it would have therefore worked with a bird and a worm. The fish could be complaining that he was trying to be deceived with bait,but I don't favour this interpretation. Rather I think the rest of the joke is that the fish is complaining that it's a carrot [which is not appetising to a fish] that's being used and not something appetising like a worm [with the implication that the fish has the skill to take the bait as it knows what's going on all along and how to get it off the hook without getting caught....which is also part of the joke...outwitting the fisherperson/fisheranimal/fisherrabbit] and thus counters that unless the offerings on the hook don't improve it'll have to be the rabbit itself on the menu next time [which is also thumbing it's nose at the fishermans lame attempts at deception]. I think it's a cute joke.....you might find it improves after a couple of beers RJ or telling it to kids ,hehe :)

Posted on: World Cup and Diamonds

we're getting a thrashing from Germany currently. Now how to say that in Chinese? I think a direct translation would be very wrong. Anyhow thanks for the comic relief...hilarious :)

Posted on: Football and Dragon Boats

zongzi:

Posted on: Football and Dragon Boats

btw good to see you over here Daini. The Shanghainese lessons have been great.

Posted on: Football and Dragon Boats

I'm surprised that a lesson search for dragon boat festival only seems to bring up this advanced lesson:

http://chinesepod.com/lessons/%E6%B0%91%E9%97%B4%E6%96%87%E8%89%BA

..which at a quick glance only seems to mention it. It'd be great to have a lesson dedicated to the dragon boat festival at Intermediate or UI.

Posted on: World Cup and Diamonds

Interesting comment xiaophil. What's Rupert been up to? What influences do you want to stop? ps... I'm not disagreeing btw. With the media there is no doubt in my mind that there can be too much power in too few hands. I'm really just not abreast of what's going on over there.

Posted on: Football and Dragon Boats

Definitely think the technical problems on the site group has been an awesome idea that has been working really well.Great to have it all in one spot. Just want to thank Catherine [and the team] for all the great work done there.