User Comments - sparechange
sparechange
Posted on: What is a Chengyu?
April 16, 2008 at 1:23 AMJohn: In the lesson you said you couldn't call yourself a 语言学家 because it wouldn't be polite. So how do you tell people what you do for a living without sounding arrogant?
Posted on: Train to Beijing
April 9, 2008 at 1:28 AMOk...the intro creeps me out. No offense, Clay, but I'm not comfortable with you talking to me that way.
Posted on: Scandal in the Pageant
April 1, 2008 at 2:49 PMwildyaks & user15013: Thank you for the explanation. I know John said to memorize it as a chunk, but I need to know what differentiates one chunk from another (i.e. 一件事 vs. 一回事). Nice work, calkins. You would think I would have something to contribute to the 合成的照片 challenge, but all I've got are stock images that I've manipulated for corporate projects. And as azerdocmom pointed out, I've been milking that turtle for all it's worth. ;-)
Posted on: You Must Listen to this Episode - 非...不可 (fēi...bù kě)
April 1, 2008 at 1:18 AMAmber said "retarded."
Posted on: Scandal in the Pageant
March 31, 2008 at 2:27 PMDude, that is totally the girl's back. So what about that measure word? This is the first time I've ever heard 一回事.
Posted on: Scandal in the Pageant
March 31, 2008 at 2:17 AMI thought the measure word for 事 was 件; but here it looks like it's 回. Is this maybe a different usage of 事 or something?
Posted on: Scandal in the Pageant
March 31, 2008 at 2:01 AMI made my avatar in Photoshop...does that count? :P
Posted on: Knitting a Scarf
March 20, 2008 at 2:53 AMI wonder if she could knit me a scarf with a turtle (龜) on it...
Posted on: Knitting a Scarf
March 20, 2008 at 1:35 AMCould you say 哪儿买了?
Posted on: Regional Accents Part I
April 23, 2008 at 2:08 AMThis lesson definitely ranks in my all-time top 10 (don't ask me what the other nine are; I just needed a fancy way to say this lesson is awesome). Should be required listening for every student. I've seen some people online get almost militant about making sure they're hearing "standard Mandarin" in the lessons. And I agree, it's probably in the learner's best interests to learn to speak with a "standard" accent. However, if you speak to more than one Chinese person, you will hear more than one accent. And if you've isolated yourself inside your little Beijinghua bubble, you will go nuts trying to understand everyone who isn't from Beijing. Excellent work, guys!