User Comments - podster
podster
Posted on: The ChinesePod Royal Sampler
February 21, 2012 at 6:03 AMNo worries, Jenny. But I must confess, after all the podcasts you have done warning us away from false advertising my first thought was "Wow, how did they get this one past Jenny?" And thanks for salvaging the fragile egos of we longstanding customers!
Sincerely,
The still-not-fluent Podster.
Posted on: Visiting the Aquarium
February 21, 2012 at 5:55 AMwonderful picture, thanks for posting
Posted on: Exchanging Dollars for RMB
February 20, 2012 at 3:38 AMI think most of the big banks have strategic alliances with overseas banks, e.g. HSBC and Bank of Communications, but I do not know if it is as convenient for customers as the BoA / CCB alliance.
I don't think we'll go back to 8 Rmb to the dollar, but the belief in perpetual Rmb appreciation has some element of "self-fulfilling prophecy." In other words, money flows into China or stays in China on the assumption that the currency must continue to strengthen.
Posted on: The ChinesePod Royal Sampler
February 19, 2012 at 4:08 PMListen to the podcast on TV commercials for a discussion of the words 夸张，and 夸大. http://chinesepod.com/lessons/tv-commercials/
Posted on: A Simple Tour of the Office
February 18, 2012 at 3:31 AMI had the impression that the euphemism 洗手间 is more popular in Taiwan, whereas in the mainland the norm would be to ask 厕所在哪儿？
In the US we are fond of euphemisms: "washroom / restroom / lavatory / bathroom" all sidestep the issue of defecation and you would not guess that the room had a toilet stool in it from the literal meaning.
In US homes you would find rooms with toilet stools but no bathtub or shower stall (in the real estate trade these are referred to as "half-baths"） but you would not often see a room for bathing that did not also include a toilet stool.
I would like to know how to say "toilet (stool)" in Chinese, to differentiate it from the the "hole-in-the-ground" squatting type 厕所 traditionally found in China.
Posted on: Discussing a Work Out Plan
February 18, 2012 at 2:55 AMhanks,
Did you check out the Upper Intermediate "Calisthenics" lesson?
http://chinesepod.com/lessons/calisthenics
I think it will give you a good chance to "man up."
Posted on: Studying Chinese
February 16, 2012 at 4:40 AMbrambostic,
"mei banfa" is a bit neutral, or objective. You can think of it as "nothing can be done" or "circumstances prevent it."
"bu keyi" can be more like "I refuse" or "I deny you permission." It could also mean "it can't be done" or "is not allowed" depending on the context.
So if you asked to speak with Manager Wang, I probably would not say "bu keyi" to you. I would probably say "mei banfa". It's impossible for Manager Wang to take your call. ( not that I am refusing your request.)
Posted on: Tai Chi
February 16, 2012 at 4:25 AMA short compendium of CPod lessons related to "Tai Chi"
http://chinesepod.com/lessons/tai-chi
http://chinesepod.com/lessons/saved-by-the-gong-tai-chi
http://chinesepod.com/lessons/going-to-wudang-mountain
Posted on: Tai Chi
February 16, 2012 at 2:54 AMJane There are a few other lessons. I think for your purposes the best one will be the one from the "Saved by the Gong" series.
Posted on: A Leggy Joke
February 22, 2012 at 4:50 AMpab205,
Gee, the entire translation is available on the web site, and the podcast walks us through the entire joke. If the punchline doesn't make sense I don't think it's CPod's fault. I wasn't exactly ROTFL, but I thought it made for a worthwhile lesson. Yes, we are all learning Chinese here, but we can't rely on CPod to impart a sense of humor.
I don't know which podcast the reference to a joke about gifts refers to. But now I am curious. If you let me know I will try to help.
Sorry if this sounds a bit harsh. Maybe this is just above your level. I don't "get" the Detective Li podcasts, but I don't want it explained to me, because I still hope to be able to go back someday and figure it out for myself. I think this is part of the learning process. Please persevere.