User Comments - go_manly

Posted on: Interview with an Athlete

Thanks Jason, but I'm still not sure I get how 'already' applies here.

In English, 'already' is a time-word which suggests "it was going to happen sometime, but (despite your expectation or assertion) it happened before now".

I can't see how that applies here, because I can't see 已经 adding any meaning connected to 'time' to this sentence.

Is there any way 已经 can carry the "despite your expectation or assertion" part of the 'already' meaning, without carrying any suggestion of time? Then it would make sense to me.

Posted on: Introducing One's Children

CPOD, shouldn't this be re-classified as a Newbie lesson?

Posted on: Interview with an Athlete

In the last sentence of the dialog:

不，我已经很满意了。(Bù, wŏ yĭjīng hĕn mănyì le.) No, I'm very satisfied.

does 已经 actually mean 'already' here? 'Already' doesn't seem to make sense in this sentence. What does it add to the sentence?

Also, in the Expansion sentence:

拿到这块金牌太不容易了，大家都很激动。(Nádào zhè kuài jīnpái tài bù róngyì le, dàjiā dōu hĕn jīdòng.) Getting this gold medal was an amazing feat, everyone is so excited.

does saying something is 不容易 (not easy) really translate to "amazing"?

Posted on: Instant Noodles

Regarding the Expansion sentence:

这个用起来很不方便。(Zhège yòng qĭlai hĕn bù fāngbiàn.) This is not convenient to use.

Usually, I understand the nuance added to a verb by 起来. Here though, I don't understand the difference between 用 and 用起来. Could someone help out.

Also CPOD, in the Expansion sentence:

我喜欢吃巧克力口味的冰激淋。(Wŏ xĭhuan chī qiăokèlì kŏuwèi de bīngjīlíng.) I like to eat chocolate flavoured ice-cream.

haven't you mixed up the 2 different words for ice-cream? I thought ice-cream was either 冰激淩 (bīngjīlíng) or 冰淇淋 (bīngqílín), but not 冰激淋.

Posted on: In a Moment

Another 了 question. In the 3 consecutive Expansion sentences:

我马上就来。(Wŏ măshàng jiù lái.) I'll come very soon.

马上就开始了。(Măshàng jiù kāishĭ le.) It's going to start immediately.

别急，马上就好。(Bié jí, măshàng jiù hăo.) Don't worry, soon it will be fine.

Only the 2nd sentence has a 了. What is the difference in meaning?

Posted on: Illegal taxis

In the last line of the dialog, you have 哎 written with the 4th tone. But all dictionaries show the 1st tone for this character. Is there a reason for the change?

Posted on: How Long?

After looking at a number of sample sentences, it seems to me that 需要 is typically followed by a noun. That is, "to need something". It seems to give the meaning of "needing to possess".

It also seems that 要, when meaning 'need', is typically followed by a verb. That is, "to need something to be done". When it is followed by a noun, there doesn't seem to be the same feeling of 'needing' to possess something, but more of 'wanting' to possess it.

Perhaps someone can confirm this.

Posted on: I can't find my glasses!

Regarding the Expansion sentence:

风大着呢。(Fēng dàzhe ne.) There is heavy wind.

Does that mean 大 acts as a verb here? Does 着 only follow verbs? If it does act as a verb, how would it be translated?

I found 大风 in the dictionary meaning 'gale'. If 大 is a verb above, does that mean 大风 could also be a verb meaning 'to blow a gale' ?

Also, apparently the measure word for 大风 is 场. Is there any logic to that?

Posted on: You Sing Terribly!

I'm surprised the Anglo-Saxon contribution is that low. I'm also very surprised about how low the Scandinavian (Norse) contribution is. Most of the French words would be Latin-based, so it seems more than half our vocabulary comes from Latin.

Have you come across a percentage breakdown that is weighted according to usage?

Posted on: You Sing Terribly!

I think you are taking bodawei's comment a little too seriously. You're from Aus, aren't you. You should know how loosely we use 'bastard' and 'bastardised'.