User Comments - jennyzhu
jennyzhu
Posted on: Recovering a Cell Phone Number
September 25, 2008 at 8:15 AMxuchen,
补办is commonly used for doing something for the second (or even more) time, but in cases where the first one has become invalid and that some procedure is involved. For example, 补办SIM 卡，补办护照（passport). 再办一张 means getting another one (additional).
Other common collocations are 补票(for example, a bus or subway ticket. You lost it, and have to do a another one.)
Posted on: Recovering a Cell Phone Number
September 25, 2008 at 7:15 AMHenning,
The key in 你什么时候跟我说的？is 什么时候/when. If it's 'when was the last time you spoke with me?', it would be 你上次什么时候跟我说的？
说means both to talk or speak in general (说中文） and talk about something.
Posted on: Recovering a Cell Phone Number
September 25, 2008 at 7:12 AMalexyzye, 丢了 genreally means to lose something by accident. 丢掉 means to throw away. And you usually use it with 把。我把垃圾丢掉了/I threw away the trash. However, 丢了could get confusing even for a native speaker. But we generally try to figure out whether it's lose by accident or throw away depending on the context. For example, with a cell phone, it's more likely that you lost it than throwing it away. 密码是多少 and 密码是什么 are both correct. 理解 means to understand, in the sense of comprehend or sympathise with. 了解 means to know something thoroughly.
Posted on: Recovering a Cell Phone Number
September 25, 2008 at 2:50 AMI once had my cell phone stolen. As soon as I realised it, I experienced an intensely disorientating panic, feeling like my whole social life and contacts were gone. I was in the same situation as the person in today's dialogue, on a unregistered SIM card and having lost my password card. That wasn't fun. Thank God for email.
Posted on: Recovering a Cell Phone Number
September 25, 2008 at 2:45 AMcheckingoutchina,
You can say "小偷！我看见你偷我的东西。还给我!”We actually have an ele lesson on the very same topic.
http://chinesepod.com/lessons/i-see-a-thief/discussion
Posted on: Recovering a Cell Phone Number
September 25, 2008 at 2:22 AMsfrrr,
My motto is it never hurts to keep a childlike sense of fun.
tcheung,
Really glad you 'love' it here. Keep on coming, and you'll love it more!
bababardwan,
Yes, China Mobile is the largest operator, which also has the broadest and most relaible coverage. For foreigners, I recommend getting a local China Mobile SIM card as it's convenient, cheap and reliable. Of course, roaming works here too.
Posted on: Farm Animals
September 24, 2008 at 4:44 PMfrances,
So well explained re the use of measure of words.
Posted on: Farm Animals
September 24, 2008 at 5:23 AMReally glad you guys like the lesson. We hope the use of sounds help make the words stick better.
I love mimicking the sounds of animals, although I don't have the talent. But I am always up for a good laugh.
Posted on: Buying on Taobao
September 23, 2008 at 4:07 AMSpeaking of making expensive purchases, I recently bought an Appletv on taobao, but it turned out to be out of stock. A bit of oversight on the seller's part, but he approved my refund request and Alipay gave me my money back in no time. And even if the seller doesn't approve your request, taobao will release the money after 7 days. Quite good for the buyer.
Posted on: Riding the Subway
September 26, 2008 at 2:01 AMThe tedious subway ride now has a new meaning. Connie and Jiao Jie did a wonderful job in helping us remember the key words.