User Comments - zhenlijiang

Posted on: Mother's Day

I am sorry if again you took offense at something I said. I do have a feeling you find me to be a generally insensitive person. However I was not, as you can see, talking about the point of view of any child whose mother might say that to him or her. I was not mocking anyone, especially not a child. I was talking to Bodawei about how learners here unfamiliar with China might interpret that sentence and form views on Chinese mothers.

I edited this out of my previous comment, but had said that I personally would never say such a thing to a child of mine and would be very upset if the child's father or grandparents should. I personally consider that bad parenting. At the same time, though I might raise the point, ask them questions and try to trade views--I'm not going to preach at Chinese parents on this thing they might say to their kids. It's a cultural difference, and I can share my perspective without preaching at the other.

Hope I've made myself clear.

Posted on: Mother's Day

Also Bodawei your first sentence in response to Dunderklumpen's question was quite strong:

This sentence is child abuse in any language, Or culture.

So in your subsequent comments you've amended this view, acknowledged that in China it does not constitute child abuse, is that correct?

I'm not interrogating you, or laying traps hoping to "catch" you at anything. But you can see how I was confused.

Posted on: Mother's Day

*edited* Thanks Bodawei, I see. I wasn't interested for now in the state of child abuse in China or elsewhere, just in your view that that sentence is edgy, and the assertion that it "is not a reflection of Chinese culture"--which struck me as quite a bold denial. Connie confirmed it is heard all the time, so in what way is it not a reflection of Chinese culture? Do you really believe learners here are going to see that sentence and think Chinese mothers would seriously withhold their love unless their children behaved? That we need a little note beside it to explain? I don't know, maybe younger people need it (unlike you and Changye and myself) because they don't know that behavior we now consider unacceptable used to be very common in previous generations, in our respective societies--?

In any case can you see how the meaning you've explained to me was not at all clear from your original comment?

You said to Connie,

you hear this sentence in Chinese, you do not hear it in English. It is no doubt considered a joke in China (the Chinese expression does not surprise me at all), but in English-speaking countries this sentence expresses a form of child abuse.

I'm sure English-speaking westerners were involved along with Chinese staff in producing this lesson. All the sentences are translated into English, and John's co-hosting it after all. Isn't what you're asking for really for "westerners" to understand that this is not child abuse? Not that ChinesePod should provide such commentary?

You say this is a difficult topic because of culture differences. Yes it is a cultural difference. And it's not difficult to me! As a learner here I want not material that westerners may find easier to accept (esp as I'm not a westerner); I want real stuff that lets me gain insight into Chinese culture and the things Chinese people say. In my opinion the question simply needed to be asked (and Dunderklumpen did)--and answered, which Connie did. Then maybe other people will have input, more questions, comments. A discussion would follow, and everyone would take away a lot of cultural insight from it. That's what we have the Discussion boards for isn't it?

Posted on: Mother's Day

if ChinesePod is going to use edgy sentences like this it should note (to avoid confusion) that this is not a reflection of Chinese culture.

Hmm Bodawei--ah I see Connie just confirmed what I thought--I'd just like to say that this sentence doesn't strike me as edgy or nasty, and I am just as certain as you are that mothers unconditionally love their children in China too.

Dunderklumpen from his western background brought up a good question because he wanted to understand something that is very foreign to him.

To keep sentences like this one--which obviously is proving very educational--out of lessons is a denial. That's counter-educational, and in effect would be forcing a westernized, Christianized, and (though I realize this isn't your point) Political-Correctness world view on China.

I do have high respect for your views Bodawei and think of you as having a special role among us--you play devil's advocate and make us think hard and well about our views on China and ourselves. But sorry, I have to say I am getting the impression that your love of China is blinding to some degree. It may be better to be blinded by love than by hate, but denial is never good. Denial makes us miss the point.

Posted on: Learning English in China

That would be great. Thanks Catherine and tech team.

Posted on: Daddy Changes a Diaper

Ah this lesson would happen to be published on the day I first heard this word 嫩 and didn't know what it meant! If only I had had the time to study it beforehand. That week I was a houseguest at my friend's, along with two fourth-graders from Hangzhou visiting Tokyo on a little school exchange. My friend, a wonderful cook, had made curry with pork for supper their first night in Japan. The boys seemed to enjoy the meal, and the more gregarious of the two very enthusiastically said, "mmm I've never had such 嫩 meat before!". Unfortunately he ended up having to explain (and he did very patiently) the 生词 to me so that I could tell my friend. I got out my little notebook and asked him to write the character. I went to my dictionary. He talked and gestured, that so often "meat can't be cut so easily". I heard him the day after too, when he saw one of the teachers who had accompanied the kids from Hangzhou, telling her they'd had the 嫩-est ever meat at dinner last night. 现在我都记住了！

Posted on: Mother's Day

I thought this child voice was a lot better actually than many others I've heard here before. I think this is an improvement!

Posted on: Lovey-Dovey Terminology

Changye I have trouble accepting "～しない前に" too, not as much if it's ”～しない前から”.

Posted on: Lovey-Dovey Terminology

Thank you Jiaojie. Is this 没有结婚以前 sort of expression colloquial (not for writing)? It might take a little time before I can get used to it!

Were the sentences I wrote correct, and able to express the same thing?

Posted on: Lovey-Dovey Terminology

I have questions on two sentences Connie said. First, on this sentence (7th line from top in the Dialogue tab):

年轻人，没有结婚以前，也这么叫。
(Young people, before they've gotten married, will also use these pet-names.)

I never would have thought to put it this way, never would have thought it worked to have both the 没有 and the 以前 around the 结婚.

My attempt would have been
年轻人，还没（有）结婚的时候，也会这么叫。 
niánqīngrén, hái méi(yǒu) jiéhūn de shíhou, yě huì zhème jiào

or maybe
年轻人，结婚以前也会这么叫。 
niánqīngrén, jiéhūn yǐqián yě huì zhème jiào

Are mine bad Chinese sentences?
How do I make sense of "没有结婚以前"?

Second question--at 03:30 Connie says what sounds to me like
说出来，很肉麻。   shuō chulái, hěn ròumá.
This is in the Dialogue tab (text + audio) as
说起来，很肉麻。   shuō qǐlai, hěn ròumá
(When you say it, it's really sappy.)

I would have thought 说出来 was more appropriate (in any case that's what it sounds like Connie is saying). Yes? No?  谢谢！