User Comments - go_manly

Posted on: Haggling Like a Local

Please stop posting the same message all over the site. Once is plenty. If you want to send this message to different individuals, then send them a private message.

Posted on: Welcome to ChinesePod

What exactly would you like to know? How to use this site?

Posted on: Requesting a Fork

That's basically what I was saying, but it was only a gut feeling from observation, so please don't take it as an expert opinion.

Posted on: Requesting a Fork

Barring a precise definition, which perhaps isn't possible, the only way to learn is to acquire as much information, as many points of view, and as many examples as possible, and to try to distill a picture from this information. So perhaps you did add to the confusion. But that is a positive, not a negative. It provides me with a different viewpoint and a slightly greater understanding, even if it does open up even more questions. Of course, I will keep questioning everyone's explanations until I'm sure I've got it right.

Posted on: Beyond Or: Another Use of 还是 (háishi)

OK - got it. You know I've still got time to delete my comment!

Posted on: Beyond Or: Another Use of 还是 (háishi)

I think it means something like "It would be preferable to learn American English".

Posted on: Requesting a Fork

By "still" do you mean "as well" or "in addition" ? I have copied the following sentences containing 也 directly from Elementary lessons. Admittedly, the first 2 sentences have 而且, which conveys the meaning of 'in addition'. But the last 3 don't. They all seem to fit your description of "There is still another item to mention". I'm assuming 还 be used here as well, but I'm not sure.

太危险，而且也太吵了。 (Tài wēixiăn, érqiĕ yĕ tài chăo le.) They're too dangerous, and too noisy.

这种鞭炮不危险，而且也很好玩。 (Zhè zhŏng biānpào bù wēixiăn, érqiĕ yĕ hĕn hăowán.) This kind of firecracker isn't dangerous, and is also a lot of fun.

他很自私，也很懒惰。 (Tā hĕn zìsī, yĕ hĕn lănduò.) He is selfish and lazy.

这个菜有点酸，也有点辣，很好吃。 (Zhège cài yŏudiăn suān, yĕ yŏudiăn là, hĕn hăochī.) This dish is a little sour, and a little spicy. It's delicious.

当然，北京是中国的首都，也是中国的政治中心。 (Dāngrán, Bĕijīng shì Zhōngguó de shŏudū, yĕ shì Zhōngguó de zhèngzhì zhōngxīn.) Of course. Beijing is the Capital of China, and the political center of China.

Posted on: Requesting a Fork

Can I offer my own feelings on the use of 也 and 还. Its only a feeling, so I am expecting to be corrected.

In English, 'also' presents an alternative. That could be an alternative subject, or alternative object.

If I said "I also like to swim', the meaning is not clear without context.

If someone else had previously said 'I like to swim', and you followed with "I also like to swim', it is the object that is changing - it should be parsed:

[I also] like to swim.

But, if you had previously said 'I like to jog', and then followed it with 'I also like to swim', the object of the sentence has changed:

I [also like to swim].

In Jiaojie's last comment: "你去，我也去。" (Nǐ qù, wǒ yě qù.) - an alternative object is presented - I instead of you. I believe that in this case we can only use 也.

The other examples here involve an alternative subject, and it seems that, in general, we have a choice between 也 and 还. Would I be correct in assuming that the reason we can only use 还 in:

你们要包子和饺子，还要别的吗？ Nǐmen yào bāozi hé jiǎozi, háiyào bié de ma？

is simply because 还要 is a common collocation - they always go together?

Posted on: Taxi to the Airport

Nciku's definitions:

# 1. master worker (a qualified worker as distinct from an apprentice);master

# 2. a respectful form of address for a skilled worker

# 3. "a form of address for any stranger"

Posted on: Invitations to Eat (original)

Yes, I picked that up too. Its lower, but its not a falling tone. I wonder if anyone else has noticed patterns in discrepancies between the pitch of supposedly identical tones (any tones, not just first).

I understand the changes that happen in words that contain 2 third tones and those that contain 2 4th tones. But has anyone noticed changes in words with 2 first tones (like the one noticed here) or 2 second tones?