User Comments - bodawei

Posted on: 飞机怎么了？

Ha ha. Yes, I think they're pretty cosy with the Government. It's not France.

Posted on: 飞机怎么了？

有。

Posted on: Trick or Treat!

I was pretty sure that 'lolly' would get you roiled up. :)

Actually that stuff you call chocolate I'm not sure is technically chocolate. Uh oh, I've gone past the line again! And before you fire back, I admit I probably don't know what I'm talking about. I'm referring to the chocolate brands in China (Dove, Hershey) that I'm told are from the US and made to a US formula. They seem to have a lot of sugar in them.

Posted on: Trick or Treat!

I think we're the only ones here so we have got away with it. :)

Posted on: Trick or Treat!

A hard man. Just the sort of guy you want in your team for the next State of Origin. A real Sammy Thaiday. :)

Posted on: Trick or Treat!

'This day we pray for the children who died before they were baptized and so not could go to heaven.'

I was raised in the radical anti-Government aid sect The Baptists, and because they believe in adult baptism they have a bit of a problem on their hands, My recollection is that they found a verse in the Bible that gave innocent kiddies (and heathens who were never given the choice) a 'go straight to Heaven' pass. Otherwise they would have trouble filling the pews. But I always had a problem with the theology - it seems a bit harsh on those of us that have to get into Heaven the hard way.

Incidentally, in your tradition, what happens to those kiddies after you have prayed for them? Does the prayer alter their prospects? Purgatory does sound an unpleasant payback for being born.

PS. I welcome any corrections from Baptist poddies - I certainly do not put myself out as an expert on this - just my recollections from childhood.

Posted on: Fasten that Safety Belt

Hi Mark

没事，我穿纸尿裤 - I like that, haven't seen it before. :)

'Persistent cough' - sounds awful, but I know the pollution in parts of China can cause this kind of problem. Also the winters in certain cities? (We won'g mention any out of respect for ChinesePod.) You should come and enjoy the glorious climate in Yunnan!

Posted on: Trick or Treat!

Chinese people I meet are keen to celebrate foreign (usually foreign = American) festivals; Christmas is a good example.  Often, unsurprisingly, they have little idea how to celebrate the festival.  Like foreigners and Chinese festivals.  In the case of 万圣节 I also have no idea.  :) 

It is not unusual to receive SMS greetings, including for 万圣节. But I have not seen any trick or treating yet. That would be just too weird where I live.  (BTW - thanks ChinesePod for a commentary sensitive to the rest of China on this point.)  

The other night on prime time Chinese TV we had Blinky Bill's Christmas, which they said was made in 德国 (Germany)。Despite the fact it features a koala, a platypus, a crow and a kangaroo.  It has lots of Christmas references, particularly about it being the middle of summer.  As is the case with most dubbed films, all the songs were in Australian (the original soundtrack.) 

On an English point from the lesson, I too assumed 'candy' and 'chocolate' are different - I didn't know that chocolate is a subset of candy.  I think the closest Aust. English translation is lollies - this could not refer to chocolate.  The word 'sweets' could possibly be used, but this includes things like desserts.   

Posted on: 出租白人

只不过他们还是缺少中国人独有的中庸之道

A telling phrase, but it seems to suggest that 'it' is all the foreigner's fault. It would be good to understand this a little better. Maybe ChinesePod could do a lesson on the 'Doctrine of the Mean'?

tgif - I am unclear where this came from. The first part seems to be an actual invitation (I have received this kind of thing myself) but what is the commentary from?

Posted on: A Short Haircut

I don't think that you would call it slang. The dictionary suggests a colourful origin:

传说中的仙童 ， 前额垂着短发，骑在蟾上 ，手里舞着一串钱

A legendary child, riding along on a toad, hair flopping down over her forehead, a string of money in her hand.

The expression 前额垂着短发 means hair flopping down over the forehead, a fringe. (Bangs in the US.)

The character 刘 by itself is the family name Liu. (Maybe you read it as 戈 gē meaning axe?)