User Comments - brianhz

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brianhz

Posted on: Do I Need To Learn Chinese Characters?
November 09, 2014, 02:32 AM

i think you can start studying chinese without learning how to write and read chinese characters but you get to a point where you really need to do this to be able to understand how the language goes together or works. I first started writing in a book by hand, but having said that, i can only write a very small amount by hand. I can write using pinyin on my computer or phone and similar to Mark that is one way that i practice, ie sending and receiving text messages and emails. I can recognise the characters but if I have to write them from nothing I can't remember where to start. I don't see that there is much point learning to write by hand these days but using a phone and computer is a must, and more useful. I also have Pleco on my phone which is great. 

Posted on: Heat Stroke
August 24, 2013, 12:58 AM

wotingyu I really don't see why you have a problem waiting 12 hours anyway. Go look at another lesson for a while. There are a couple of others there you can look at. Right-Wingnut is correct that the tech guys are in Shanghai so they are not working during US daytime. This string started by him telling you this because you did not seem to get it. He also makes many many good contributions to this forum and while he didn't actually say it, it is correct that many people living in the US tend to think the world revolves around them. That is not bashing Americans, it is just a statement of fact.

Posted on: A Complicated Cab Ride
April 22, 2012, 02:04 AM

in hangzhou it has got more difficult to get a taxi. The theory I have been told is that the roads are more busy so each trip now takes longer so it is like having less cabs on the road. I've at times had to run and slam my hand onto the taxi to "take possession" before the other guy running to it can.

Posted on: Discussing Graphs
March 26, 2012, 02:23 AM

in this sentance which is describing something that has happened in the past, why is 再 used and not 又?

空调的销量也还好,是先升后降再升

Posted on: Visiting the Metropolitan Museum of Art
January 09, 2012, 02:02 AM

John, I though 还是 is use as "or" in a question and 或者 is used when making a statement but here we have 或 (者) in a question. What is going on here?  还是 is just used in questions and 或 can be used in either or did I just mis-understand something?

Posted on: The Depth of 深
September 02, 2011, 12:50 AM

is 厚 also used to mean deep and if so when and how?

Posted on: I'm gonna be Late
July 14, 2011, 04:32 AM

BBC English is probably not keeping up with everyday English usage as far as this type of thing goes, ie they are a little conservative. On the ABC in Australia even on the news I hear many swear word that I would not have heard only a few years ago. In Australian English pissed mean drunk. I was really pissed - I was really drunk.

Posted on: Which Hilton?
April 09, 2011, 05:13 AM

can someone tell me what is the difference between 定 and 订 as when used in reference to booking something. 预定 and 预订

我想订。。的位子

the expansion has this sentance

预定房间

is 我要预订两个房间 the same?

Posted on: Old China Hand
February 28, 2011, 11:14 PM

being an old hand at anything just means you have been doing it for a long time and know a lot about it, experienced at it.

Posted on: No Hot Water
February 24, 2011, 10:28 PM

in this expansion sentance

你怎么不给我打电话

why is 不 used and not 没 like 你怎么没给我打电话。