User Comments - tony.cpod

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tony.cpod

Posted on: We're lost
August 27, 2011 at 2:00 AM

Ah ok, so it would seem that 别急 would be something along the lines of "don't get all flustered" or "don't get so worked up about it". Got it. Thanks!

Posted on: We're lost
August 23, 2011 at 2:33 PM

Ok trust me to be the only one confused...again! Lol.

Could I ask how 别急 (bié jí) and 别担心 (bié dānxīn) are different please? I previously learned 别担心 to mean "don't worry".

Posted on: Ice Cream Run
August 21, 2011 at 12:02 PM

Quick question here: What is the difference between saying 'zìjǐ' / '自己' or 'yí ge rén' / '一个人' to mean 'by myself'? Is there any slight difference in meaning or usage between them?

Posted on: Ice Cream Run
August 21, 2011 at 11:58 AM

Hey Jenny, those 'uncles' still sell the ice cream sandwiches on Orchard Road! I guess some things never change! :)

Posted on: Swearing at a Driver
August 20, 2011 at 12:31 PM

I'm curious about this one too. I previously learned that 'eyes' was 'yǎnyīng' with the 'jīng' being a first tone (I also learned that 'eye glasses' / 'spectacles' was 'yǎnyìng' with the 'jìng' being a fourth tone). It sounds like they are using a first tone for the 'jīng' in the dialogue, despite the pinyin being written wth a neutral tone. Now I'm totally confused!

Posted on: Swearing at a Driver
August 20, 2011 at 12:23 PM

To me, this is a really fantastic lesson. Not just because of the vocabulary taught, but because of the conviction of the voice actors. It almost feels like I'm overhearing something actually happening on the streets of Shanghai.

Just some feedback to CPod. I personally find the more 'authentic' (or less 'scripted') the dialogue, the better I remember. Please keep up the great work!

Posted on: Broken Pipe
August 18, 2011 at 10:15 AM

I probably over-analysed this lesson waaay too much, but my head is swimming with a few questions. Would somebody be so kind as to help me out with the following?

  1. In English we say "The pipe *in* my apartment has broken," yet I assume that to apply the same to Chinese and say "Wǒ jiā *lǐ* shuǐguǎn huài le" probably doesn't make sense. Is this the case?
  2. In English, you can ask somebody "What's your address?" and we interpret it as "What's the address of your house?" If you did the same in Chinese and said "Nǐ de dìzhǐ shì...?" would it be ok?
  3. When the unit number of 201 was given, I noted it was said as "èr líng yī". I remember learning at some point that when you have a string of 3 or more numbers together, you tend to replace 'yī' with 'yāo'. Could you shed some light on this please?

Many thanks and sorry for the 'academic-ness'...it's just how my brain works.

Posted on: Introducing Kids to Each Other
August 10, 2011 at 2:32 PM

Oooh ok, So what if I was comparing my age to that of my colleague's at work? Sorry to ask so many questions...I'm curious to know :)

Posted on: Introducing Kids to Each Other
August 9, 2011 at 1:12 PM

Thanks Jenny as always! So lǎo would just be plain wrong in this situation?

Posted on: Introducing Kids to Each Other
August 9, 2011 at 9:01 AM

I've got a question. I understand that dà is used here to mean 'old'. Would it be incorrect or sound strange to say lǎo instead?