User Comments - bodawei

Posted on: Thank You Note

@Changye

Ha ha, that's very funny. But in a way the story contradicts your argument that Westerners cannot appreciate Chinese characters. I think that there is a great deal of appreciation for the pure aesthetics of Chinese characters; it is just that most Westerners cannot divine their meaning.   

Ellen - you are not at all 'rusty' - your writing is very clear.  My teachers in Australia also always pleaded with us to make our writing 'beautiful'.  I think that writing can reveal your personality - but more so if you adopt a particular style.  If you write exactly as your teacher demanded then you suppress your personality. 

(Sorry for all the 英语 but I am too slow in Chinese, even on the computer!)   

Posted on: Thank You Note

There is an article on the mistakes made by Chinese children writing characters here.  (Hmmm - I need another short course in inserting links.)  

Simon

My writing is the equivalent of printing too - looks like maybe 3rd or 4th year primary school.  (And I may be flattering myself.)  You have to keep reading examples of Chinese cursive to move from printing to cursive.   

Posted on: Thank You Note

@hazel

I hope that 亲爱的 is not only used with your spouse or your mother.. I recently wrote to my landlord just so!  We are friendly, though.  And then shortly after that he asked me out for dinner.  Hmmmm.   

Posted on: Thank You Note

@matt

I had a discussion on these boards recently with the Skritter guys asking whether they could help!  I would like to think that there are a finite number of acceptable or 'correct' styles. We can add yours in if you like, :-)... I would like to learn to read at least some of the common cursive styles that have evolved.  Maybe not Chinese doctors.  

But you are right, some of the 'rules' we learnt are commonly broken in everyday writing.  I find it hard to break the rules because it interrupts the stroke order I learnt.  

PS. I still say that Ellen's style is not so much 'beautiful' as functional - but I am clearly out-numbered.  And no-one wants to see my style.. 

Actually I would say that the letter posted by Jenny is far more beautiful .. (no offence meant Ellen) .. but beauty is in the eye of the beholder. 

Posted on: Visiting a Friend at the Hospital

@Cornelia

Thanks for the run-down on German health care .. sounds more like Australia than China, although there are some similarities.  If you want Western medicine you generally consult a doctor at a hospital. 

@pinkjeans

have you ever noticed how Chinese people take ages skimming the fat off the top of soups?  It always seems bizarre to me because there is so much fat in the other dishes.  

Posted on: Thank You Note

I think the hand writing (in the 'lesson' letter posted by Connie) is nice and clear and easy to read, but I would not describe it as 'beautiful'!  Perhaps this is a difference in our cultures, or the broad meaning of 票亮!  My daughter's hand writing is beautiful, (but I am biased, of course.)  Reading her writing is a joy.  

This writing to me suggests a warm, open and strong personality ... :-).  Are there people who interpret personality traits from Chinese hand writing, as there are in the West?    

Posted on: Getting a Driver's License

@ousijia

You don't need a drivers licence for a 电动车 (I assume this includes what you call a 'moped') - but I think that in my city there is a height limit for the rider!  And some laws you have to comply with.  but you can ride through red lights.  Scary!  

Posted on: Getting a Driver's License

@welhome

I understand that this has changed recently, and that it varies from place to place.  It is not that easy to get your licence out here in the wild west.  The regulations are now quite onerous with compulsory driving lessons (yes, in a car, on the road) costing I'm told in the order of 6,000 RMB.  In other words the experience and cost is not that different to driver education and testing in the West.  Although, the actual driving test here where I live is still off-road. 

I am not sure if you can still 'translate' your foreign licence. And do the knowledge test. Possibly.  I wonder if it will become reciprocal?   

Posted on: Where are you from?

@rb

I can't see the clip (is it YouTube?) Probably a regional thing.  I was intrigued by her turning professional in mid-teens! 

There is a novel I enjoyed called 'The Girl Who Played Go'.  Written in French by a Chinese-born author, translated into English.  

Posted on: CPod Comings and Goings

Matt

All the best with the new ventures - sounds like you might be candidate for new Young Entrepreneur of the Year.  Glad you will keep a hand in at ChinesePod - always appreciate your contact on the boards, 因为我的家乡和你的家乡一样 （布里斯班）(because we have the same home town, Brissie.)