User Comments - rich

Posted on: Carpooling

Hey RJ,

Yes, good to see you're still around here too! I remember when I was getting my master's in Chinese mentioning some of the conversations you and others were having in another group post I made (I just looked through the "Replies to Me" since I fixed a few bugs in there, and so was a trip down memory lane). I off course was going by the design I was given for the Library, and yeah, showing courses as you'll soon be able to add to your course list, was the requirement to show first. I was a bit surprised that "Latest" was the second tab now myself. I'll be sure to mention such a change, being able to set yourself that is, yet no promises. Good idea though.

Posted on: Applying for a Work Visa

It seems that 换新 is the natural way to do it when it comes to visa and such documents.

Posted on: Carpooling

Heh heh...that's ok. My own fault for not letting people here who have been here a while know.

Posted on: Carpooling

hi Toianw, I've been in Shanghai for over 2 1/2 years now, came looking for work and ChinesePod was one of my top picks, but wasn't able to get a position then so worked as a web developer for another company...until Jenny called me last year telling me about the position I now hold at ChinesePod, also a PHP Web Developer. It has been now 8 months since I started. While I solely work on ChinesePod's code, I did mostly back-end for product and user management, so I hadn't been active until I finally got to work on some front-end stuff like recreating the Library as you now see in the top tab (you can either thank me or hate me for it, haha), so that kind of got me back looking at the lessons and experience the site more as a user and not so much as a question answerer (but of course I love Chinese language which is why I got a master's in it, so do love to chime in)

Posted on: Chinese Gamer Culture

bababardwan, that's exactly what I was thinking. 控 means to control, or to be in control, or to dominate (and it means "to turn a container upside down to let the liquid trickle out" but I don't think that works here, haha), where 迷 means enthusiast or be fascinated by (and always fun in Chinese how a word can have an somewhat opposite meaning, as this one can mean "confused"). So yeah, a 游戏迷 can maybe play or watch or just has interest, where a 游戏控 is into it, addicted to playing, and is an expert.

Posted on: Chinese Gamer Culture

So, homework for all of you:

Re: 游戏控

Q: What's the difference between 控 and 迷 (as in 球迷 = ball fan) where one can also say 游戏迷？

Discuss...

Posted on: Chinese Gamer Culture

superbuns, this is a supplementary word that goes along with 游戏控 （gamer). So a 蕾丝控 is someone who really likes lace. (no, not a fan that you cool yourself with made out of lace, haha). No idea who picked that as another example, but there you go.

你是游戏控吗？旅游控？吃饭控（哈哈）？

Posted on: Carpooling

Right toianw, I actually came back here this Sunday morning to say, "Wait, I know it's 车队, duh" as I have seen it before. Thanks for verifying. Yeah, 队, like 拼, has interesting usage...meaning both 'team" and "line", yet when we 排队 (line up) always makes me think of "team". :) I guess in China they don't like team sports at McDonald's or the bus stop...ha ha.

Posted on: Carpooling

Of course in this lesson the carpooling was a bit different than we think of it, that is, it wasn't a bunch of people going to work together like in the Blondie comic strip, but was more of friends going on a trip. While I know I could wait until Monday to ask someone at ChinesePod, this lesson did make me wonder if Chinese has a word for "Road trip!" Also the 拼车 makes me wonder what then a "caravan" is in Chinese (modern use of the word, where multiple cars are used to get somewhere, or friends follow each other somewhere so no one gets lost)...hmm....

Posted on: Preparing for the HSK

Yes, they all appear to be working now.