User Comments - light487

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light487

Posted on: Just a Flesh Wound
April 25, 2008 at 2:59 PM

Great lesson.. so much more content than the title suggests. I will be listening to this one a few times, that's for sure.

Posted on: Skateboarding and Biking Across China
April 25, 2008 at 1:55 PM

Don't say the answer in the main conversation. :) Send Amber a private message with the answer. :)

Posted on: Not on purpose
April 25, 2008 at 1:09 PM

shenme 什么 what? who? something, anything 时候 time, length of time, moment, period I see what you are saying.. but I think that this is the way of the Chinese language. Not all things will be equal to the way we "think" as non-Native Chinese speakers. The Chinese language is as much a way of thinking as a way of speaking and writing.. there's a different linguistic logic to it. I don't claim to understand this logic by any means.. but saying "what time did you break up?" is no different than saying "when did you break up?" in the wording of the sentence.. but the "context" makes it mean what the dialogue/expansion is saying. Chinese is an extremely implied spoken language.. Take ta1 as an example: 他，她， 它。 Yes there are different characters when you write it, to distinguish the 3 things.. but when you are speaking it, the only thing that distinguishes between whether it is a HE, SHE or IT, is the implied context..

Posted on: Skateboarding and Biking Across China
April 25, 2008 at 12:10 PM

Wow.. lots of hills in Tibet, yes? :) I can understand riding "around" China.. but to ride all the way from Europe to China.. that's a big thing to decide to do. Amazing! Congratulations to you, Maria! :) A pity there is no bridge from China to Australia. However you can ride all the way down to Laos and then catch a boat and ride through Indonesia, then another boat to Australia. :) Just get an exercise bike for on the boat! :) Ahh.. another easy limerick :) I'll send you the answer visa your personal message link, Amber :)

Posted on: The Monks in the Temple on the Mountain
April 25, 2008 at 11:28 AM

Star Wars: 座从前在远方星系。。。 zuo4 cong2qian2 zai4 yuan3fang1 xing1xi4 A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away... Would that be correct?

Posted on: The Clogged Toilet
April 25, 2008 at 11:09 AM

我来试试 In this phrase of the expansion it is saying: I'll give it a try. The lai 来 portion is meaning what here?.. Really enjoyed this lesson as well. I always like the lessons where we can have a laugh while learning and it's not all serious and boring.

Posted on: Valentine's Day
April 25, 2008 at 10:00 AM

I asked my cousin, who lived in Taiwan for 4 years, about what to buy my new friend for her birthday. He asked me a couple of questions to find out how "native" she was to China. Then he simply said, "Chinese girls like three things: shiny, new and clean.: :) How unhelpful! :)

Posted on: Not on purpose
April 25, 2008 at 9:52 AM

You're just jealous of my new-found cuteness! :) Speaking of risk.. many Chinese people I have known over the years have spoken about "expectations" and "risk". Without risk, there seems to be a lack of "substance" to the things they do, for many of them. I am often asked by them how I deal with failed expectations.. and also I get confused looks when I discuss certain activities that I enjoy participating in that do not involve any real level of risk. This is one of the more intriguing things I have discovered about the Chinese culture.

Posted on: He's Not In
April 25, 2008 at 9:40 AM

Is there a reason for that Amber? Is it perhaps a westernised tonal thing, where the person answering is using the western tonal form of a question where you rise at the end of a sentence? Or is it just another of those "Eastern Mysteries" that we westerners will never understand? :)

Posted on: Getting Dressed
April 25, 2008 at 9:34 AM

Can someone help me fix my grammar on this sentence? 中文: 我喜不着领带在办公室 pinyin: wo3 xi3 bu4 zhuo2 ling3dai4 zai4 ban4gong1shi4 literal translation: I like not wear neck-tie at office Actual meaning: I like not wearing my tie when I am at work Also what are the Chinese terms for: boots slippers and also for "velcro"?