User Comments - bodawei

Posted on: Possible, Possibly, Possibility

what about:

可能 (possible)

很可能 (probable)

Not precise, but it is often a question of degree isn't it, even in English?

Posted on: Of Kings, Emperors, and Presidents

演讲人的头在水桶里，对吧？

Posted on: Of Kings, Emperors, and Presidents

Favourite expression of the Chinese teacher：作业复习预习

Very succinct.

Posted on: I Want an Electric Scooter!

A few years ago I used to see them starting new for around 2000 RMB. (Your US$2000 doesn't look so hot.)

But .. are you saying that you can buy them in the US? Can they be ridden legally on the streets?

Posted on: One-Way Street Scuffle

Ha ha - yeah, that's very quaint. There are probably a few variations on the theme. An old English guy I knew used to say the 'Claude and Eustace' routine. In fact I associate it with English manners. I'm not quite a septuagenarian either .. :)

Posted on: Blind Massage

I used the term because I was talking with azzote; I stayed with the term they chose.. I am not sure where they are from but I don't think their first language in English.

Posted on: Toothache

or are you talking about chemical spills such as this:

http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2010-07/29/content_11063582.htm?

'The biggest problem with Chinese tap water' suggests something other than chemical spills .. which happen in lots of places including the US? I guess you are talking about something else, but I can't find anything on Google.

Posted on: Toothache

RJ

What happened in the US about flouride? Is it usually added to the water supply?

Can you explain a little about 'chemical contamination'? What is the problem/impact? Is it the same all over China? What are they doing about it? I would like to know a bit more about it.

Posted on: A Member of the 'Moonlight Clan'

He he, nicely observed Baba. I think my contract says that I will be paid in the middle of the month, and this is common from what others tell me. Contractually speaking. I am usually paid right at the beginning of the month (early). I hear quite a few instances where people are paid late, on the lamest excuses. Some say 'I can give you 2000 now and the rest early next month.' That is when you start looking for a new job. When you see the boss and the accountant disappear for a couple of hours to work out if the staff can be paid.

I am fortunately on a direct credit system but from what I can work out this is quite new, and the banks do not handle English names happily (speaking from experience.) The only time there was a hiccup it was because my name had gone on record at the bank in upper case - upper case was rejected and I wasn't paid. I was alerted to this as though it was my fault. (It makes some sense in a system where each name is seen as a picture rather than as a letter?)

Posted on: Getting a Tattoo

Not everyone wants traditional 书法 - actually I watched some 书法 last night at a show - beautiful, but I couldn't read it. Even after I was told what it said I still couldn't see it, and I doubt that most of the young Chinese audience could either. But I guess that raises the question of aesthetics - I actually like a standard presentation of characters. That's just me. No, it is not my arm! But thanks for the comment - a fair philosophical point. On a technical level, it is not possible to tattoo 书法, except by a kind of trace and colour in method. It will never look exactly like the real thing, will it?