User Comments - tucsonmichael
tucsonmichael
Posted on: Li Yan's Diary: More and More
November 4, 2007 at 7:49 PMHi, nice lesson with good vocabulary and grammar （生词和语法）. None of the characters are that appealing yet (although all are physically attractive). Only 杨洁 shows a little bit of an "edge", but it probably takes a little conflict or tragedy for the characters to show their true colors / 性格。。又感谢chinesepod...
Posted on: How many people are in your family?
October 22, 2007 at 5:20 PMLunetta, I've been told that 几个 is used when talking about relatively small numbers (e.g. family size) and 多少 for large number (e.g. more than 10, and telephone numbers). I think of 口as more formal than 个and sometimes not even requiring the 人to follow it, because it is typically understood in the context of the conversation as referring to family members.
Posted on: Pricey Beer
October 19, 2007 at 4:40 PMslight nuance, but the "Chinese Link" text that I am currently using has the x不了 construction for unable to do something ( e.g. 买不了), and 吃不下 for unable to finish eating...are these interchangeable, or is there some difference? I have experience of getting large beers in restaurants in 北京，石家庄 和 上海 for 九 或者 十 快。。 酒吧比餐馆很贵
Posted on: Describing Athletes
October 11, 2007 at 2:12 PMHi, questions on the expansion section... shouldn't 我觉得还是上海好玩。 (I think that Shanghai is the most fun.) be "我觉得还是上海最好玩。" adding "zui" to represent most? Is 快 the measure word for 肌肉?
Posted on: Fighting over the Bill
October 10, 2007 at 12:32 PMin the expansion section, isn't this a contradiction (me treating but you paying the bill)? 我请客，你买单，怎么样？ (I'll treat, you pay the bill--what do you say?) I wish I would have had this lesson two weeks ago. I may have offended a lady friend in 石家庄 last week when leaving money with a thank you note for her after an extended visit... 不给她面子? I wanted to pay for more of our meal and ticket expenses than she allowed so I just treated this as a thank you gift for her wonderful hospitality。。。她做客做得非常好......我做错了吗？
Posted on: Fighting over the Bill
October 10, 2007 at 12:03 PMI have also used both a Master (credit) card, and a Visa (debit) card at hotels and ATM machines and larger department and novelty stores, with no problem...ATM machine being 取款机 (withdraw money machine)。 Some smaller hotels, and most street vendors will not accept credit or debit cards :-) but there are usually 取款机 nearby.
Posted on: Yang Jie's Diary: Everyone Is Dating
September 18, 2007 at 2:00 PMI think of 看as reading, and 读 as studying, although 学习 is another way of expressing studying, or 复习 review, or 练习 practice....seems to be lots of choices for this situation.. I get confused when 和 is preferable to 跟 (with / and), and have even seen 等used as "and". Connecting phrases adds even more variations like 还有。。 （also), 然后 (then) or 再(then).....等等。。。 很难说没错。 I also agreem with wildyaks that (some) blogs really are public diaries, particularly for 佳佳, supposedly someone who express feelings and experiences of her age group well, day to day.
Posted on: Yang Jie's Diary: Everyone Is Dating
September 18, 2007 at 4:49 AMCome on John, even (some) adults write diaries, although maybe calling them journals...think what we would be missing if nobody kept a journal or diary, e.g. John Hay's diary of day to day experiences with Lincoln; Chou Enlai's diaries about the 40s, etc...even for kids they can be fun and worthwhile....perhaps not as enriching as "Zelda" but not all of us have your rich cultural experiences....哈哈大笑。。
Posted on: What's tomorrow?
September 16, 2007 at 3:27 AMlast expansion exercise also has 你 instead of 我。。 我很高兴。。。。 我二十八号去中国。 先待北京四天，然后跟朋友坐火车去石家庄， 住在石家庄五天然后回家。。。。。 I'm really happy that I'm going to China on the 28th (leaving USA on the morning of the 27th). I'll stay in Beijing 4 days then take a train with a friend to Shijiazhuang, and stay five days, then return home. Thanks Chinesepod for lessons and friendship day in and day out! All of you are wonderful! 中秋节快乐。。。国庆节快乐。。 Happy Mid-Autumn Festival....Happy National Holiday...
Posted on: How is business?
November 5, 2007 at 3:39 PMHi everyone. 大家好。。dà jiā hǎo. A few comments on the expansion exercises. Is 店 often used as the shortened version of 商店 shāng diàn (shop, store)? 你们也是中国人吗？should be 她们 or 他们 ( tāmen, they) 你有办法吗? I learned this as "Do you have a solution?" (implies solving a problem / dilemna; "method" seems awkward in English if I understand the context of the question correctly.)