User Comments - pchenery

Posted on: The Person Component

John,

As far as I'm concerned, this was a great introduction to the new "radical" video series.

Since joining CPOD from its birth in 2005, I have focused only on the listening / comprehension and speaking skills. I have only now decided to study the characters and so the explanation of the "ren" radical was just right for my level. Once you explained that the character appears on the left and somewhat bent, it was one of those moments in language learning that suddenly became clearer. I've seen this common component many times, but it never occurred to me what it really was.

And so as a Newbie hanzi learner, it met my expectations. But I can see why more advanced learners of the written language would not be too impressed. As others have noted, a bit more time spent on the actual radical itself would be good.

I hope you continue with this series.

Posted on: Fat Camp

Here's a success story on CNN about a Chinese fatty training camp that is helping an obese American:

http://www.cnn.com/2008/HEALTH/12/11/china.weight.loss/index.html

Posted on: What's your (animal) sign?

你快看我的图像，猜我属什么

Posted on: 长征

Here's my rough translation:

Recalling the tiring, painstaking Long March of the 25,000; recalling the political revolution of an older generation, who climbed snow-capped mountains, passed through meadows and who ate tree bark. Looking inside the revolutionary years of the older generation, there was a firm belief and conviction, they marched free and unrestrained on a very long and endless trip towards final victory. In an age of peace, we probably find it difficult to imagine those kinds of conditions and passion, but mention the Long March, and that kind of spirit causes profound respect. Actually, what is the significance of the Long March of the Red Army ? Let's listen together to today's Advanced Lesson.

Posted on: London

I use this mnemonic to remember the tones for "Lun2dun1":

Lun2 = imagine the London bridge raised at an 45 degree angle

Dun1 = the Thames River flowing beneath the bridge  

Posted on: The Surname Code

wjefferys,

thanks !  very useful information !

Posted on: The Surname Code

I have never really focused my language learning on Chinese characters, but this lesson sort of peaked my interest and I may start now.

Is there any rule to determine which part of a character is the radical or do you just have to learn all of the radicals first ?

Thanks !

Posted on: Battling Internet Addiction

Every so often a lesson such as this one comes along that is especially interesting and meaningful in terms of vocab and phrases. Thanks CPOD !

Posted on: Birth by Chinese Zodiac

The world is complex and so we need creative methods to explain it. Survival mechanisms drive us to place people and things into neat categories, such as zodiac signs.

I've had Chinese gals refuse to date me because "My sign was not compatible with their sign". I hate evolution. 

Posted on: Counterfeit Money

light487,

验 yan4 - I keep hearing this pronounced as "y-ien"

When I first started learning, I also pronounced yan4  as "y-ahn", until a Chinese friend finally corrected me. 

This is a good example of how pinyin rules do not necessarily follow English pronunciation rules.