User Comments - weibwo
weibwo
Posted on: Regional Accents Part I
April 23, 2008 at 2:24 AMMy wife is from Taiwan and leaves off the g sound when pronouncing 'ng words. She does not pronounce the sh sound as well. I never know if she is saying shi (stative verb) or si (4) She insists she does not have an 口音. Going to Chinese restaurants is really insteresting in the US because you hear several different dialects (方言) in one place. Makes it difficult to order in Chinese. When you speak Chinese they all want to help but from one restaurant to the other you learn to pronounce Chinese in about 10 different ways. I am usually tell where the person is from by the accent.
Posted on: Days of the week
April 23, 2008 at 1:58 AMThis is a very important lesson in that there are several differences to be learned between Chinese culture and Western Culture. the Supplementary vocabulary refers to next week (xia ge xingqi) and last week (shang ge xingqi), Shang means up and xia means down. In the west since we tend to be eschatological, due to our Judeo/Christian tradition and think ofthe future as being up and past as being down. This refers to the notion of the future as returning to Heaven. Westerners constantly make the mistake by referring to shang xing qi as next week and xia xing qi as last week for this reason.
Posted on: Fruit Salad
April 22, 2008 at 2:36 AMJenny, you are referring to Kewpie Mayonaisse which is the most popular mayonaisse in Japan. This mayonaisse is used in several of the Sushi rolls. If you want to make it a little spicy put some Indonesian Sambal, about a 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon per half cup. Best Foods/Hellmans are the most popular mayonaisse's in the US. Miracle whip is a sandwich spread. Ken get well. Good subject.
Posted on: Yang Jie's Diary: The Final Episode
April 11, 2008 at 2:58 AMJenny: Thanks for the information on Karen Mok. I think this is the same Karen Mok who played the ultrafast soccer player who disguises her identity with the worst looking mustache and goatee in the movie "Shaolin Soccer". Am I right? Thanks for the info.
Posted on: Yang Jie's Diary: The Final Episode
April 10, 2008 at 3:28 AMAs we say in the US, Wang Wei got dumped. By the way I love the background music in the story, what is the name of the female singer?
Posted on: Tomb Sweeping Day
April 5, 2008 at 2:31 AMThese cultural dialogs are excellent. It gives us more insight into Chinese Culture and tradition. You don't get this kind of dialog in the traditional Chinese language textbooks.
Posted on: What's up?
February 28, 2008 at 4:26 AMGreat choice. I was always taught to say Haojiubujian le. It always gets an interesting reaction. Very useful indeed.
Posted on: Buying a Bouquet of Flowers
December 16, 2007 at 6:37 PMI have been studying Mandarin for 31 years now and an ESL instructor teaching Chinese students. Another excellent choice.
Posted on: Not on purpose
April 25, 2008 at 2:38 AMWhat is the difference between 厕所 and 洗手间 and another word I sometimes see 洗澡间?