User Comments - weibwo
weibwo
Posted on: Valentine's Special
February 17, 2009 at 4:40 AMIn several Chinese dictionaries I find this combination 送 给 (song4 gei3). After I looked up the combination and got the explanation I understood why "song4" means give in this instance. However you translated song4 as deliver in the vocabulary words. Is it possible that you can provide the combination when you only use one of the characters? I am sure the translation (Who gave you those?) is a little confusing for Elementary speakers when they do not know that you can use the words in combination and that you used only one in this instance.
Posted on: Lao Wang's Office 8: Trimming the Fat at the Office
February 16, 2009 at 8:53 PMWith regards to Lao Wang's getting laid off according to Zhu Liye, it might be a good time to use the Chinese equivalent of getting Riffed (Reduction in Force) due to the economic climate. This is happening to millions of Americans right now. Companies Riffing people to remain profitable.
I would also like future installments to discuss Lao Wang's pending court case and the WTO Labor Law requirement to which China must adhere. What an interesting situation that might present for an enterprising author. So Jennie even though China uses a tribunal to resolve labor disputes that might not meet the requirments of WTO Labor Laws and Lao Wang might be able to appeal to an international court if he does not win his case.
John, "get off" is just fine and is an excellent translation of what Lao Wang felt. This idiom is commonly used in the US.
Posted on: The Final Show
January 20, 2009 at 6:11 AMSo sad to hear you left CP and the Dear Amber and Qing Wen podcast that were always so very interesting. Having listened to every podcast you did, it came as a bit of a shock. It was a great pleasure actually meeting you in Shanghai at CP last summer. Caught your blog in New York and will look there for more news. I am sure you will find work soon. I also hope that CP continues the Qing Wen and Dear ?? podcasts in the future.
Posted on: Karaoke
January 7, 2009 at 5:42 AMivor88
Karen Mok has a song called "ta bu ai wo" which is very popular on the Karoake circuit. It is a ballad and easy to learn. CP used the song once on one of the dialogs.
Posted on: Learning the Lei Feng Song
December 19, 2008 at 4:18 AMYou can actually buy an MP3 file of this song:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000QZSMJK/ref=dm_sp_alb/178
Posted on: Learning the Lei Feng Song
December 19, 2008 at 4:01 AMThere is another song that was sung when the PLA army came sweeping down from the north, capturing several KMT soldiers. The PLA would teach their prisoners this song. The song essentially said to the KMT soldier, not to steal from the peasants, treat them well etc. This song was made very popular by Pete Seeger the American folk singer in the late 60's. I know the tune but I have forgotten the words. When I went to China the first time I was on the Great Wall. I was whistling the song kind of to myself. An elderly woman came up to me and very surprised asked where I learned this song. I told her. I also told her that I forgot the words to the song. She smiled and said "I know the words". Everyone in china knows this song. So she started singing the song. Pretty soon more people gathered around. I was starting to learn the song. Suddenly a crowd gathered and we turned in unison and marched up the great wall, all of us singing this song at the top of our lungs. I can tell you it was quite a moment. I will always remember that day. Can you find out the song and the words? I am sure some older Chinese know this song. Great Lesson
Posted on: Lao Wang's Office 5: Wang Tries to Excel at the Office
November 18, 2008 at 9:18 PM王用数据透视表. He can use a pivot table.
Posted on: Often: Using 常常，经常，通常 (chángcháng, jīngcháng, tōngcháng)
November 18, 2008 at 8:57 PMSo Amber you are from Canada. You pronounced the "t" in often. In the Western US the "t" is not pronounced.
Posted on: Asking for Leave
November 14, 2008 at 5:05 PMa1pi2
You are quite right. The US works the longest hours of any country. We get 11 holidays a year. We get 2 weeks vacation from 1-5 years at a company. After that it is 3 weeks from 5-10 years. Then we get a maximum of 4 weeks 10+ years. That is the general rule. I prefer the European leave in August. Many companies here only offer 1 week vacation from 1-3 years.
Posted on: Reporting a Loss
March 11, 2009 at 1:33 AMThis is a great lesson. Quite often something is lost and it is very handy to know how to talk to a Chinese bank or phone company.