User Comments - emberswift

Posted on: Sound Check

Hi there,

I'm a professional musician and I never hear the full form of "sound check" as you have defined it: "jiancha shengyin." On stage or when we're talking about other musicians and what we're up to, it's always "tiao(2) yin(1)." Just thought I'd mention this quicker way of saying it, considering we musicians are all so lazy (!)

All the best to all of you. You're wonderful!

- Ember

Posted on: You Can and Will Use 会 (huì)!

Hi there,

I was wondering about the difference between "bu hui de!" and "bu hui ba!"? I use this when I'm trying to say "no way" in a "that-won't-happen" kind of context. I guess I should also be asking if I'm using it correctly! Thanks!

- Ember

Posted on: Beauty Pageant: It's a Mess

just a few quick questions! * is 没人 the same as 没有人？Can I stop saying the full phrase when I'm saying "no one"? * if you were arguing with someone and you wanted to say "stop talking out yer butt" (to be polite!): can you say: "别乱说吧！“ Is that sort of like saying "别费话吧” ？ * 别这么想？ － I would have said "别这样想“！ Is that the same? * finally, can you use 放弃 in other circumstances, like in sports: 继续跑步吧， 别放弃了！” or in a relationship "别分手了， 别放弃了！“ ？ Thanks, 一个加拿大人在北京！ Ember

Posted on: What is a Chengyu?

Yikes, one more question! 不会成语不影响沟通 buhuı chengyu bu yıngxiang goutong. How does the translation change when you put another 会 in there? I often limp on this as the future of "will" or "won't". I see here in the translation that it wasn't necessary. Or else, without it, perhaps it just simultaneously communicates the "won't" as well as the "doesn't"? EX: 不会成语不会影响沟通 Curious about how this might change the translation or just be redundant?!? Or else, does it force the sentence to only have the future sense? Thanks! - Ember

Posted on: What is a Chengyu?

Amber, You're amazing. Thanks for the comprehensive response! Thank you Thank you XIE XIE! XIE XIE!

Posted on: What is a Chengyu?

Questions! ＊ 结果... this is an awesome piece of learning for me, because I would normally put "最后“ here, like "in the end,..." but "it turns out" is what I'm after most of the time. But, I was wondering if that would work here too, or if I make things more confusing when I use 最后!!? ＊ 词组 and 词句: is one "saying" and the other "expression"? Would 词句 work here too? ＊ what is the difference between 好多 and 很多？ I limp on the latter, but I want to know the distinction because I hear the former quite often! ＊ Also, I would have said: 很多成语都是从。。。” Why does the subject go first in this case? 他们好多都是从。。。？ Okay, that's all! Sorry to bunch them all up like that... but any answers would be appreciated! Thanks so much, Ember

Posted on: Scandal in the Pageant

P.P.S. If they're not man's hands, a super huge 不好意思!! (突然我很尴尬！）

Posted on: Scandal in the Pageant

P.S. Pretty sure that picture above is of man's hands and those breasts are definitely not breasts. In fact, on closer inspection, they're starting to creep me out. Too long and WRONG WRONG WRONG! ;-)

Posted on: Scandal in the Pageant

这是怎么一回事。。。"What's this all about?" How does this compare with the more casual "怎么回事？“ My friends told me this means "what's up?" or "what the?!" Is the above just a more elongated version of the same thing, thus making it more formal? Thanks! I think the next episode needs to expose those conniving other girls as the evil-photoshop-doers! What about having the next lesson be about ISP addresses and how those internet photos could be traced to the other girls' personal computers and how China is well-wired in the "who's who and who's doing what online" department?? Maybe get the sponsor's lawyer involved and we can have some legal language to work with!

Posted on: Buying Batteries

估计 ＝ to estimate, guess What about the English saying "I'll bet..." For instance, your boyfriend has just ravaged the kitchen and emerged with a series of thrown together food items and you want to say "hhm, I'll bet there's a mess in the kitchen and I'll bet you're not planning clean it up anytime soon!" (At which point he smiles sheepishly and you make a mental note to not clean it up yourself no matter how crazy it makes you...) Can 估计 be used in this case? 我估计厨房现在特别乱，而且我也估计你不打算快收拾我们的厨房，对不对？