User Comments - pearltowerpete
pearltowerpete
Posted on: Remembering that Day on the Creek -- 如梦令: 常记溪亭日暮
March 11, 2009 at 7:12 AMHi christine30550
So glad you enjoyed this. These days, Li Qingzhao is far more famous than her husband. But they were both accomplished scholars from prominent families -- 门当户对 !
Next week, we'll get back to our regularly scheduled doom-and-gloom ;-)
Posted on: Keys, Wallet, Phone
March 11, 2009 at 7:06 AMHi mormon88
吗 is used to ask a question, whereas 嘛 is to indicate that something should be obvious (in the speaker's opinion.)
Like in an English question, 吗 rises a bit to indicate uncertainty. 嘛 is flatter.
Posted on: Funny Business -- 搞笑， 好笑， 可笑
March 11, 2009 at 6:59 AMHi jamesmcd
诙谐 is a rather bookish word, not much used in oral Chinese. For example, we could say that Lu Xun's (鲁迅） writings are 诙谐幽默。
Posted on: 醋的妙用
March 11, 2009 at 2:58 AMYou can do most of your housecleaning with nothing more than vinegar and baking soda 炭酸氢纳 . Mother Nature prefers vinegar to harsh cleaners.
Posted on: 日本动漫
March 11, 2009 at 2:00 AMHi fangaili and user28880
The translations seem to be working fine now.
Posted on: The Traffic Jam
March 11, 2009 at 1:37 AMHi kasamakid
有poddie对环保（huan2bao3 environmental protection)问题感兴趣，我就很高兴。Carpooling 就是 拼车 pīnchē. 目前在中国，这种行为不常见，大概是因为私家车没那么普及吧。
很多人做同一辆出租车也叫拼车，都要凑钱。
Posted on: Reporting a Loss
March 11, 2009 at 1:28 AMHi mormon88
Great question. 挂 appears in many useful combinations. Its primary meaning is "to hang." But it's often used in an abstract or symbolic sense.
I will research this more, but I would bet that this is due to the long Chinese tradition of posting notices on walls for public viewing. To report a loss, you would hang up a message with the relevant information. Similarly, to sign up for something you 挂名, and to register for something you 挂号.
Please note that 挂 is also used for hanging up the phone. And if someone or something is dead or busted, you can say it 挂了. This is a fairly casual usage.
Posted on: Remembering that Day on the Creek -- 如梦令: 常记溪亭日暮
March 11, 2009 at 1:15 AMHi bababardwan
Getting entries from the poddies is a really interesting idea, even if there's no competitive element. Maybe we could even have people post videos on Youtube or Youku.
Reciting poems in a natural, powerful way is not easy at all. I have been disappointed when I compare my readings to those done by the CPod Chinese staff.
Hi urbandweller
Well, the material helps a bit-- the Tang and Song were very good years...for poetry ;-)
Hi thinkbuddha
I agree. And contemporary poetry, eh...Let me see what I can do.
Posted on: Remembering that Day on the Creek -- 如梦令: 常记溪亭日暮
March 10, 2009 at 12:12 PMHi imdaniu
Glad you enjoyed the poem. And I will definitely cover some 苏轼!
Hi bodawei
I agree, Joy did a wonderful job on the sound editing. Although we can't have the original music, the sounds help bring the poem to life.
And China has a ton of bird life! Especially in the Southwest, birding is becoming a big hobby. No word yet on whether it's lubricated with a bit of grain liquor.
Posted on: Remembering that Day on the Creek -- 如梦令: 常记溪亭日暮
March 11, 2009 at 8:46 AMHi mikeinewshot
It took me a while to be convinced, but it does seem that many listeners really enjoy quite a bit of background. So I will do my best to provide this.
Devoted listeners like you keep my energy level high. I was hoping to attract people who don't ordinarily listen to much poetry.