User Comments - bodawei

Posted on: Kinds of Nuts

This lesson made me wonder again about the topic : Do ChinesePod lessons have a western attitude? (subject of a Group discussion that petered out mid-2007.)  Of course they do, but sometimes you are taken to a very strange world, where Chinese people are heard discussing things that Chinese people would never discuss, or saying things in ways that Chinese people would never use.  I don't want to overstate the case, but sometimes these lessons are quite surreal.  Entertaining, but surreal.  I think living in China I prefer topics and situations that are authentic; at least things that are culturally relevant. ChinesePod has to find a 'middle way' between authenticity and entertainment.  Entertaining AND authentic is best. :) Sometimes ChinesePod errs on the side of entertainment. I don't expect ChinesePod to just cater to my taste of course.  

Don't worry ChinesePod: poddies are here to keep you on the straight and narrow as much as possible. 

Posted on: These Napkins Ain't Free

You are lucky if it is two ply in China. 两层的 liang3ceng2de (层 is a measure word so 两 is used)

Posted on: These Napkins Ain't Free

At the 'toilet paper' places you refer to the 'napkins' as 卫生纸 wèishēngzhǐ (toilet paper).

Posted on: These Napkins Ain't Free

包括的 bāokuòde (included)

这是包括的吗？ (Is this included [in the price]?)

But I may have given you the wrong impression - these things are always written separately on the bill. There is not much 'hiding' in Chinese bills. It is typical Chinese behaviour to closely examine the items in a restaurant bill - if you are in a fancy enough place to have given you a bill.

Posted on: These Napkins Ain't Free

啊？餐巾纸不是免费的吗？(Huh? Napkins aren't free) 

Nothing much is free in this life .. they usually just add it on to the bill.  Many places add the cost of the plates, bowl and kuazi as well.  Some places charge for tea!  

My 'local' restaurant has free soup and 泡菜 (pickled vegetables) - you just go and help yourself to as much as you like.  And the 'napkins' are 'free' - you pull as much as you need from a roll of toilet paper.

On the subject of 'free', there is a place near my work that has 'as much as you can eat' 粥 zhou (rice porridge) for 3 RMB.  There is a choice of about six different varieties - a 粥吧 zhouba (porridge bar.)  :)   

Posted on: Kinds of Nuts

I received an invitation yesterday that starts:

各界友人.. (Dear friends from all walks of life..)

I think it is very cool, friendly and embracing, but it suggests to me that the word 'friend' is not a very accurate translation for the Chinese expression. The writer has never met any of the people receiving the invitation. What do you think?

Posted on: Kinds of Nuts

Good point John, and thanks for your good natured response to the debate. Fascinating stuff watching languages develop and deal with foreign terms, As a Queenslander by origin I would like to see 昆士兰坚果 used - you didn't test that. But, I think that anyone who has followed this thread now knows at least three Chinese terms for Macadamia AND knows about the Sunshine State (Queensland)! I thought you might like that as it is where a lot of Australians go to retire. Like Florida, I mean. :) Not suggesting that you personally are ready for retirement.

Posted on: Kinds of Nuts

Keep up the good work, Zhong_bide. I used to love my Black Wattles.

Posted on: Kinds of Nuts

This is rather like New Zealanders pinching 猕猴桃 míhóutáo (Chinese gooseberry) from China and marketing them as the Kiwi fruit?  Although, the difference is that everyone has heard of the Kiwi fruit; I have never heard or read of the Hawaii Nut. Would any American poddies like to comment on whether they have heard this name before?  It is a curious word for ChinesePod to use.  It is not in my admittedly modest dictionaries. I wonder if this is Shanghaihua?  Or are they just having a lend of us?

Posted on: Kinds of Nuts

在巴布亚新几内亚他们一般槟榔和石灰(lime)一起吃。

The betel nut (buai), lime (kambang) and a mustard seed (daka) are chewed together (the step by step process is available on the Internet) and the physical result is mild euphoria. It is a kind of substitute for smoking and serves a similar social purpose. Your teeth go red, then the ground/footpath goes red also as the fibres of the nut are spat out (they say swallowing the fibres gives you a stomach ache.) The practice is linked with cancer. I wonder if this is what they do in Taiwan?