User Comments - yingying83
yingying83
Posted on: Phone Call for the Boss
October 23, 2007 at 3:20 AMuser43825, there are many Chinese words that have the same pronunciations but mean different things. And these words often take different forms in writing, too. for example, 想念 (xiǎng niàn) miss (someone) 门铃响了 (mén líng xiǎng le) the doorbell rings I believe you will catch it soon.^_^
Posted on: Please let me through!
October 23, 2007 at 2:54 AMHello, I'm new here. I just accidentally stumbled on this site. I'm from Shanghai, a native Chinese speaker who speaks probably the most standard mandarin (able to speak standard Shanghai dialect, too :p). Really touched by the enthusiasm you guys are showing in learning a foreign language. I was thinking maybe I can help answer some of the questions you have. alijm: if you want to get someone's attention, say, when you are lost on the street and want somebody to show you the way, try using "不好意思,问一下..." bu(4)hao(3)yi(4)si(1), wen(4)yi(1)xia(4)..." which translates into "excuse me, may I ask/I'm wondering..." qing(3)wen(4) is a more formal way than wen(4)yi(1)xia(4) for asking a question. And I think Stephen is doing a good job explaining the undertone of yi(1)xia(4). In fact, yi(1)xia(4) can be used following many verbs that present a request to soften the tone. for example: 出去一下 (nǐchūquyixià) would you go out for a while? 出去 (chūqu) get out (somewhat impolite) 让一下(ràngyīxià) excuse me/coming through 让开 (ràngkāi) get out of the way/move! (rude) 借过 (jièguò) is only used when you try to get past and it is often used by well-educated people. You will not expect a regular peasant from a rural area to say jièguò. I hope my explanation helps^_^
Posted on: Fighting over the Bill
October 23, 2007 at 3:40 AMlol, it's amusing to find you talking about "PK". It's a word of high-frequency use now in China. At first it is used in the widely popular show "Supergirls'. Some say it's the Chinese version of American Idol. Anyway, the word "PK" got so popular along with the show that nowadays it is even used in business world, for instance, when a news report says two companies are pitched against each other, it often uses "PK". BTW, I've seen both "埋单" and "买单". It's O.K. for you to use either of them. Perhaps the difference depends on the area you stay in for dinner ocassions.^_^