User Comments - orangina

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orangina

Posted on: Introduction to Pinyin
June 26, 2009 at 10:43 PM

John's site sinosplice has the best explanation I've come across for how to make chinese sounds correctly... so I am very much looking forward to his and Jenny's help in this program. Thanks!

(sinosplice also has most invaluable junkfood reviews)

Posted on: The Pinyin Program Will Be Unleashed
June 24, 2009 at 6:12 AM

the last two lessons I listened to wouldn't play from the web page, but did from amazon... 

Posted on: What's Your Surname?
June 12, 2009 at 3:31 AM

thanks! now if I could just remember to say it when I need it and not just when I am sitting in front of my computer! ;-）

Posted on: What's Your Surname?
June 12, 2009 at 3:15 AM

谢谢 shenyajin!  Very helpful.

As to why ask for their surname at all, I usually use the names and titles in conjunction: 王先生， 王阿姨。 

Posted on: What's Your Surname?
June 12, 2009 at 2:29 AM

 

alexyzye,

I might start with X先生 and X太太, then ask 我该怎样称呼你?  Wǒ gāi zěn yàng chēng hū nǐ? I should how address you? Maybe with an apology for not knowing the proper address, which could be a nice icebreaker even if you do know the correct words. 

Have fun on your trip! I am so jealous... 

 

Or, you know, just listen to shenyajin.  I actually have a similar question, now that I think of it... Would you address a much older person as 爷爷 or 奶奶 if you have just met them?  It seems so informal and familiar to my western brain.

 

 

Posted on: What's Your Surname?
June 12, 2009 at 2:24 AM

alexyzye,

I might start with X先生 and X太太, then ask 我该怎样称呼你?  Wǒ gāi zěn yàng chēng hū nǐ? I should how address you? Maybe with an apology for not knowing the proper address, which could be a nice icebreaker even if you do know the correct words. 

Have fun on your trip! I am so jealous... 

Posted on: Hot Pot
June 9, 2009 at 6:43 AM

@bodawei

I am glad to hear there is vegi hot pot... I was afraid it only came with animal broth. Perhaps I will go try my local hot pot place soon. And steal a menu. If it won't harm the waitstaff to do so. Also, I have never heard of 'steak and chips'. Fish and chips, burger and fries, just a huge bag of fries by itself (with ketchup and malt vinegar)... but never steak and fries. Not that I am an expert on steak.

Posted on: Who are You Looking For?
June 7, 2009 at 5:07 AM

@raygu

I now have the biggest crush of my life on Robert Newman (sorry Pete).

Posted on: Consoling the Bereaved
June 7, 2009 at 1:56 AM

What a great lesson! It is hard enough to know what to say when you have all of the words at your disposal... 

When I look up jie2 as in jie2ai1shun4bian4 the closest it gives me to "control/restrain" is "economise".  I like that better than "control your grief"... "economise your grief" there is enough sadness in this world, leave yourself enough strength for the next heartbreak.

Posted on: Introducing Shen Yajin (Helen)
May 31, 2009 at 4:36 AM

热烈 Shen Yanjin!

While I am sad Poems with Pete is to be no more, I think that it must have been a lot of work to put togther... nice work, but quite the effort nonetheless. So thank you Pete for sharing Chinese poetry with us in such an engaging way. Thankfully, I am a late comer to PwP so I still have a few to enjoy!