User Comments - pearltowerpete

Posted on: Which Finger?

Hi azzote,

得 is a 多音字, a word with multiple readings. When it is pronounced děi, it means “to have to, must."

Posted on: Which Finger?

Hi Jenny,

Well, it all depends about the style of yelling. 家长用脏话骂孩子不行，但骂他懒或不负责任很正常！

Posted on: Which Finger?

Hi all

骂人 is a tricky word to explain in English. I've translated it here as “to flip people off." This is a special occasion, because we're talking about sticking up your middle finger.

But Chinese uses 骂人 for parents scolding their children, or taxi drivers cursing at slow drivers. Probably the best general definition would be "to yell at."

"Flipping the bird" is a serious gesture in North America. I'd love to hear about rude hand gestures in poddies' home countries. Better yet, you can explain them in Chinese!

Posted on: Tomb Sweeping Festival -- 清明

Hi bodawei

That is a touching story. The shortage of land was a big reason for the shift toward cremation. Another, more political reason is that before 1949, funerals were a big way for aristocrats' families to show off their wealth (排场). The CCP cracked down on that stuff, and there is absolutely no ostentation in China anymore.

Hi thinkbuddha,

Thanks for the pictures. It's interesting to me how un-childlike the child's facial expressions seem. He seems pretty clued-in.

Hi zhenlijiang and calkins

The poddie community, including myself, get a lot out of your posts. So I share your disappointment about their disappearance. We are still trying to sort out some problems that popped up during the server migration on Wednesday.

Posted on: Tomb Sweeping Festival -- 清明

Hi tage,

You have an interesting theory about the possibility of Buddhist imagery in this poem. I'm going to look into this.

Hi paulinurus

Thanks for a colorful interpretation!

Here's an example of the discussion about the exact location of 杏花村. And here's a google map of all the places just in Jiangsu province that are trying to capture a little of the Apricot Village Glory. You can do simliar searches in other provinces and find a lot of places around China.

I don't see a lot of evidence for calling this a Paradise Village, though. It's very possible that modern readers are missing something, and there is deep meaning in both the shepherd boy and the location of the village. But sometimes a cigar is just a cigar.

Posted on: How Many Zeroes?

Hi twothreefive

How do you say that number in Chinese? ;-)

Posted on: Tomb Sweeping Festival -- 清明

Hi calkins,

Thanks for your understanding. I will tell John about the missing comments and your photo.

We scheduled this service for the afternoon, Chinese time, as this is generally when there are the fewest users on the site. Of course, we did not anticipate the complications.

Again, thanks for your patience.

Posted on: Grass 草

Hi obitoddkenobi

Very glad you enjoyed the poem.

Hi michellekc7

I also love that poem.

Your post is the first place I have seen the word "pellucid" since I took the SATs before college! It's a great word, it comes from "lux, lucis" the Latin for "light or illumination."

In Christianity, Lucifer, (also called Satan, the Devil) was the "bearer of light"  Lux + Feci before he was kicked out of Heaven for trying to overthrow God. He was the brightest of the angels before his fall.

This is the background of Paradise Lost, a phenomenal epic poem. You may want to explore it, if you are interested in poetry and religion. I think your English is good enough to give it a try, but it is extremely difficult. Make sure you read an edition with plenty of good footnotes. I loved this edition.

Posted on: Tomb Sweeping Festival -- 清明

Hi mzwang123

Thanks for sharing.

With translations of these poems, I would rather lose the rhyme scheme and keep the general sense of the poem.

And I think that "cowboy" is not a really good translation for 牧童 here, since, to Americans at least, "cowboy" means 西部牛仔.

P.S. I love your avatar. Garfield and Hagar the Horrible are my favorite cartoons.

Posted on: Tomb Sweeping Festival -- 清明

Hi bababardwan,

I was in a bit of a funk and leaning toward quoting Elbert Hubbard:

Life is just one damned thing after another.

But the sun is shining and the weekend is nearly here, so here's one from Ireland's wittiest son (Ken Carroll excepted):

Work is the curse of the drinking classes.

Here's to a Wilde weekend.