User Comments - pearltowerpete

Posted on: Dealing With Depression

Hi isthatme

We'll miss you. Here's wishing you good luck in turning these hard times around.

Your last comment reminded me of a picture:

Posted on: The Brocade Zither -- 锦瑟

I take it back. I just found a picture of the brocade zither.

Posted on: The Brocade Zither -- 锦瑟

Hi jimijames, bill, orangina and bababardwan

Thanks very much for all of your eloquent comments. It's touching to see modern people grappling with this poem.

One note about the title-- as mentioned in the podcast, this poem, like many of Li Shangyin's works, is untitled -- 无题. You will see it translated as "The Inlaid Zither,” “The Painted Zither." There are other variations.

锦 literally means "brocade." We can see the metal radical 金 on the left side, and the cloth radical 巾 at the bottom right. In the photo below we can see some samples of brocade, cloth with metallic designs. I looked for a "brocade zither" but couldn't find a picture. Now it exists only in our minds.

Posted on: Heading Home

Hi gary,

Thanks for a good question about a subtle distinction.

The sentence 你知道他是谁? means "Do you know his name/position?"　whereas in 你知道他是谁吗  the question is not what the person's name or role is, but rather whether you know what it is.

Posted on: Sweet and Sour Spare Ribs

Hi alexyze

Sure! I have had dim sum brunch a couple of times. It's a lovely way to start a lazy Saturday.

Posted on: Heading Home

Hi rich,

不能 implies an objective fact-- you can't go back because something is preventing you.

不应该 is also not the best way, as this seems as if there's a reason you shouldn't go back-- for instance, an outbreak of 猪流感 （swine flu） in your home country ;-0

Posted on: Pain and Suffering 伤心, 难受，郁闷 ,不爽，难过

Hi jinpusa108,

It's my pleasure.

You can say 请讲文明 (this doesn't mean "please talk about civilization" but rather "please be serious about acting civilized") which is a kind of new and funny way of saying it. It often appears in propaganda as well.

You can also say 多为别人考虑 meaning to think of or be considerate of others.

Posted on: Sweet and Sour Spare Ribs

Hi dahouxiaohou

You're not a 土包子 in our eyes! 冷菜 does seem to be more common in Shanghai, but 凉菜 is also acceptable. 甜品 and 甜点 are also interchangeable.

Hi marco,

I have submitted this video to the Academy. Monica Bellucci has already picked out her gown and she is waiting to be your date at the awards show. You better not tell your girlfriend!

Posted on: Going to Church

Hi sydcarten

Thank you for your consideration. This site does operate under the watchful eyes of Big Brother. 

For the sake of keeping the site going, we must reserve the right to delete posts that could get us blocked.

The group you mentioned was originally embraced by the highest leaders of the government. Its current difficulties are due not to its ideology but rather to its power as a social force independent of Party control.

As Tvan mentioned, religions in China in general used to be anathema on the basis of ideology. Now, they are tolerated (or crushed) as a result of their social power.

Totalitarian governments have a much easier time permitting incense and fancy robes than protest marches and sit-ins.

Posted on: The Brocade Zither -- 锦瑟

Hi thinkbuddha

So glad to hear you found the poem as beguiling as I did.

Hi christian

Thanks for sharing the Rilke poem. It is impressive in English. A shame I can't enjoy the German.

Hi tage,

I can't remember who said it, but the standard for a great book (or poem) is that "the smarter you get, the smarter it gets." This poem 耐人寻味 -- it bears repeated consideration.

Hi bill,

Now you've got me sold on Douglas Adams. How sad that such a talented guy died so young.

Hi jubilee

Thanks for an interesting and quite faithful rendering of the poem.

Hi anneolga

poetry is the number one motivation to study a language!

I agree!