<![CDATA[Comments on: A New Jug for the Water Cooler ]]> 2010-05-23 18:00:00 <![CDATA[By: ji_li]]>

Hi, how do you call the "housework fairies" mentioned by Jenny in Chinese?

And would you have a link to the corresponding tale in Chinese?

Thanks

]]>

Hi, how do you call the "housework fairies" mentioned by Jenny in Chinese?

And would you have a link to the corresponding tale in Chinese?

Thanks

]]> <![CDATA[By: John]]> Well, "fairy" is usually 精灵 (jīnglíng), and housework is 家务 (jiāwù). So I guess you could say 家务精灵...

I would also like to hear from native speakers on this one, though. :)

]]> Well, "fairy" is usually 精灵 (jīnglíng), and housework is 家务 (jiāwù). So I guess you could say 家务精灵...

I would also like to hear from native speakers on this one, though. :)

]]> <![CDATA[By: jennyzhu]]> The 'housework fairy' is a character from an old Chinese story. The girl's name is 田螺姑娘/tiánluó gūniáng /Miss River Snail.

]]> The 'housework fairy' is a character from an old Chinese story. The girl's name is 田螺姑娘/tiánluó gūniáng /Miss River Snail.

]]> <![CDATA[By: benchannevy]]> 怎样翻译成英语：饮水器?

]]> 怎样翻译成英语：饮水器?

]]> <![CDATA[By: excuter]]> couldn´t one just use those water preparation pills?

]]> couldn´t one just use those water preparation pills?

]]> <![CDATA[By: aslanite]]> Those things (water preparation pills) are for last-resort use only.  They make the water taste terrible with a strong chemical flavor (either iodine and/or chlorine).  The chemical intake is not recommended over a long period of time, either.  On the other hand, the water-cooler water tastes very good.

]]> Those things (water preparation pills) are for last-resort use only.  They make the water taste terrible with a strong chemical flavor (either iodine and/or chlorine).  The chemical intake is not recommended over a long period of time, either.  On the other hand, the water-cooler water tastes very good.

]]> <![CDATA[By: bodawei]]> Just a reality check - Jenny's comment that 'most' people in China use bottled water at home and at work.  Average monthly earnings is around 1,200 RMB and this is distorted by very high income earners, so a large proportion of the population are on very low incomes.  If you need 600 RMB a month to eat, and maybe 400 RMB for a bed in shared accommodation, and 100 RMB a month for transport, just for starters, you are not going to spend 50 RMB a month on bottled water.  

]]> Just a reality check - Jenny's comment that 'most' people in China use bottled water at home and at work.  Average monthly earnings is around 1,200 RMB and this is distorted by very high income earners, so a large proportion of the population are on very low incomes.  If you need 600 RMB a month to eat, and maybe 400 RMB for a bed in shared accommodation, and 100 RMB a month for transport, just for starters, you are not going to spend 50 RMB a month on bottled water.  

]]> <![CDATA[By: xiao_liang]]> Depends if it's got legionnaire's disease in it.

]]> Depends if it's got legionnaire's disease in it.

]]> <![CDATA[By: kaixin_in_tampa]]> hi bodawei, out here there's a company that has set up water machines in neighborhoods, one pays 1 RMB/5 liters of water, so people can fill one of those 5-gallon jugs for < 5 RMB.

]]> hi bodawei, out here there's a company that has set up water machines in neighborhoods, one pays 1 RMB/5 liters of water, so people can fill one of those 5-gallon jugs for < 5 RMB.

]]> <![CDATA[By: orangina]]> 你有田螺姑娘的电话吗？她不知道我住在哪里。

]]> 你有田螺姑娘的电话吗？她不知道我住在哪里。

]]> <![CDATA[By: panlu]]> Curious when you mention boiling the water -- how long would you boil the water to consider it safe? I grew up with the standard that the water should be boiled 20 minutes. When I was in Xiamen in 2009, I got the impression from the housekeeping staff in the hotel that just to boil it briefly was enough -- a minute or less.

]]> Curious when you mention boiling the water -- how long would you boil the water to consider it safe? I grew up with the standard that the water should be boiled 20 minutes. When I was in Xiamen in 2009, I got the impression from the housekeeping staff in the hotel that just to boil it briefly was enough -- a minute or less.

]]> <![CDATA[By: adventurer]]> When we travelled to China last summer, we worried about the tap water so much that we brought the purification tablets, and a fancy filtration gadget, niether of which we ever used during our 3-month-long trip.

People always boil the tap water before drinking it in China. Even on the trains, hot boiling water is available from a machine on each car.

I think the plastic jug system is a bit crazy. There's harmful chemicals in the plastics, and it expends a lot of energy carting around those big jugs.

In Canada, our system is crazy too. Why do we need filtered, chlorinated, flouridated tap water, when most of it is used for bathing, washing dishes and clothes, or watering lawns and gardens?

]]> When we travelled to China last summer, we worried about the tap water so much that we brought the purification tablets, and a fancy filtration gadget, niether of which we ever used during our 3-month-long trip.

People always boil the tap water before drinking it in China. Even on the trains, hot boiling water is available from a machine on each car.

I think the plastic jug system is a bit crazy. There's harmful chemicals in the plastics, and it expends a lot of energy carting around those big jugs.

In Canada, our system is crazy too. Why do we need filtered, chlorinated, flouridated tap water, when most of it is used for bathing, washing dishes and clothes, or watering lawns and gardens?

]]> <![CDATA[By: adventurer]]> Here's a version of the folk-tale (in English):

http://chinesefolktales.blogspot.com/2008/03/river-snail-shell-girl-fujian.html

]]> Here's a version of the folk-tale (in English):

http://chinesefolktales.blogspot.com/2008/03/river-snail-shell-girl-fujian.html

]]> <![CDATA[By: masterkrang]]> my dictionary says "water dispenser".

]]> my dictionary says "water dispenser".

]]> <![CDATA[By: masterkrang]]> while i was staying in Beijing most people i knew (students) just put the jug on the floor and connected a pump (cheap plastic thing like 10块) to the spout of the bottle and pumped the water out. i found that was really convenient. a lot better than waking up at 3am and having to boil water for sure. the water is pretty damn cheap too, beats buying bottled for sure, and usually they deliver for free. it's funny, some guys will wait outside a building all day trying to sell jugs of water of the back of their bike.

]]> while i was staying in Beijing most people i knew (students) just put the jug on the floor and connected a pump (cheap plastic thing like 10块) to the spout of the bottle and pumped the water out. i found that was really convenient. a lot better than waking up at 3am and having to boil water for sure. the water is pretty damn cheap too, beats buying bottled for sure, and usually they deliver for free. it's funny, some guys will wait outside a building all day trying to sell jugs of water of the back of their bike.

]]> <![CDATA[By: masterkrang]]>

i wonder why John chose "water cooler" as a translation for "饮水机"？the reason why i ask is because i was always met with strange looks when asking about ice water or cold water when i lived in Beijing. it's one thing i was really surprised about when i lived there, that people there even think if you drink cold things you'll get sick. they even say something like, “你不能喝冰的”, or maybe “不应该。。。”, can't remember.

i didn't really see too many 饮水机's while i was in china, but if they are anything like they are in the states, i wouldn't be very surprised if the blue side (for cold water) doesn't get much use there...

]]>

i wonder why John chose "water cooler" as a translation for "饮水机"？the reason why i ask is because i was always met with strange looks when asking about ice water or cold water when i lived in Beijing. it's one thing i was really surprised about when i lived there, that people there even think if you drink cold things you'll get sick. they even say something like, “你不能喝冰的”, or maybe “不应该。。。”, can't remember.

i didn't really see too many 饮水机's while i was in china, but if they are anything like they are in the states, i wouldn't be very surprised if the blue side (for cold water) doesn't get much use there...

]]> <![CDATA[By: masterkrang]]> the housework fairy was a really good piece of random info... i already used this on my friend who cleaned my room when i wasn't there recently...

]]> the housework fairy was a really good piece of random info... i already used this on my friend who cleaned my room when i wasn't there recently...

]]> <![CDATA[By: bodawei]]> They are 10 RMB here - I am intrigued how they can do them for 5 RMB in Shanghai! Where the cost of living is at least twice as much as here - do people trust this 5 RMB water? Here there is much discussion about the best 'brand' to buy. Do you have to carry it home yourself? :)

In any case, the average person in China does not use this system, they boil their water or buy from a community service that provides kaishui. The average middle class person uses this system. Even Chinese people themselves conveniently forget what the average person earns in this country.

]]> They are 10 RMB here - I am intrigued how they can do them for 5 RMB in Shanghai! Where the cost of living is at least twice as much as here - do people trust this 5 RMB water? Here there is much discussion about the best 'brand' to buy. Do you have to carry it home yourself? :)

In any case, the average person in China does not use this system, they boil their water or buy from a community service that provides kaishui. The average middle class person uses this system. Even Chinese people themselves conveniently forget what the average person earns in this country.

]]> <![CDATA[By: bodawei]]> At sea level, water should be boiled for one minute to purify it. At 2,000 metres it should be boiled for about two minutes. The higher the altitude the more boiling required. I gather that was 'two minutes' you meant, not 20 minutes?

]]> At sea level, water should be boiled for one minute to purify it. At 2,000 metres it should be boiled for about two minutes. The higher the altitude the more boiling required. I gather that was 'two minutes' you meant, not 20 minutes?

]]> <![CDATA[By: bodawei]]> In 2007 when I lived in Hangzhou (by some measures the 'richest' city in China) there was a communal well nearby, and there were always crowds of people filling their containers from the well for free.  We can assume that they boiled the water for drinking - there were big signs saying that the water was unsafe to drink.  

]]> In 2007 when I lived in Hangzhou (by some measures the 'richest' city in China) there was a communal well nearby, and there were always crowds of people filling their containers from the well for free.  We can assume that they boiled the water for drinking - there were big signs saying that the water was unsafe to drink.  

]]> <![CDATA[By: rods]]> This reminds me of the Heinzelmännchen from Cologne, Germany. These little guys came around at night and did all the work for the city's folk, until one night when a curious resident spoiled things.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heinzelm%C3%A4nnchen

]]> This reminds me of the Heinzelmännchen from Cologne, Germany. These little guys came around at night and did all the work for the city's folk, until one night when a curious resident spoiled things.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heinzelm%C3%A4nnchen

]]> <![CDATA[By: rods]]> Actually Bodawei, I always heard it took around 10 minutes, but the OA Guide to Water Purification website confirms that you are indeed correct, not that that surprises me. :-) It notes, though, that while boiling will destroy organic contaminants, it does n o t remove chemical toxins (e.g. pesticides).

http://www.princeton.edu/~oa/manual/water.shtml

]]> Actually Bodawei, I always heard it took around 10 minutes, but the OA Guide to Water Purification website confirms that you are indeed correct, not that that surprises me. :-) It notes, though, that while boiling will destroy organic contaminants, it does n o t remove chemical toxins (e.g. pesticides).

http://www.princeton.edu/~oa/manual/water.shtml

]]> <![CDATA[By: kaixin_in_tampa]]> Oh, it gets used, the thing is, the blue side does not dispense cold water but room temperature water instead. At least that's the case for every water "cooler" I have run into out here. They have an aversion to cold drinks, if you go to a restaurant and order a beer make sure to specify 冰的, ice cold, otherwise they will bring you room-temp beer. Even if they bring "冰的", it's not really ice-cold, just kind of, sort of cold.

And in the northern provinces during the cold months, *every* drink you get is *steaming* hot, whether it's water, cola, milk, orange juice....

In US we just say water cooler whether the water is cold or not.

]]> Oh, it gets used, the thing is, the blue side does not dispense cold water but room temperature water instead. At least that's the case for every water "cooler" I have run into out here. They have an aversion to cold drinks, if you go to a restaurant and order a beer make sure to specify 冰的, ice cold, otherwise they will bring you room-temp beer. Even if they bring "冰的", it's not really ice-cold, just kind of, sort of cold.

And in the northern provinces during the cold months, *every* drink you get is *steaming* hot, whether it's water, cola, milk, orange juice....

In US we just say water cooler whether the water is cold or not.

]]> <![CDATA[By: bodawei]]> Aiyah! I didn't know that about chemical toxins. But then the Chinese Government wouldn't let us be poisoned by chemical toxins, would it。 :)

I know a chemistry professor here - we've talked about the water quality and he didn't mention chemical toxins. Or maybe he did and I didn't understand. :( He said that the water quality is affected by the pipes themselves and this varies across the city.

Thanks for the link.

]]> Aiyah! I didn't know that about chemical toxins. But then the Chinese Government wouldn't let us be poisoned by chemical toxins, would it。 :)

I know a chemistry professor here - we've talked about the water quality and he didn't mention chemical toxins. Or maybe he did and I didn't understand. :( He said that the water quality is affected by the pipes themselves and this varies across the city.

Thanks for the link.

]]> <![CDATA[By: changye]]> Hi bodawei

You can sterilize water by boiling, but not get rid of some chemicals and metals. So I never drink tap water at home. I even cook rice using mineral water, the quality of which is also not guaranteed here in China ......

]]> Hi bodawei

You can sterilize water by boiling, but not get rid of some chemicals and metals. So I never drink tap water at home. I even cook rice using mineral water, the quality of which is also not guaranteed here in China ......

]]> <![CDATA[By: bodawei]]> Wow, I thought that I was fussy about water, but I use tap water for cooking, and for hot drinks. Do you know what 'chemicals and metals' you are avoiding? I really don't know how far to go with these things - I eat out half the time so it is not like I can totally control my environment. I breathe the air... Strangely I always feel healthier in China than I do in Sydney. In fact, on objective measures (testing around twenty factors after 6 months) I am healthier here. But I don't know what heavy metals are doing to me; that test is expensive.

]]> Wow, I thought that I was fussy about water, but I use tap water for cooking, and for hot drinks. Do you know what 'chemicals and metals' you are avoiding? I really don't know how far to go with these things - I eat out half the time so it is not like I can totally control my environment. I breathe the air... Strangely I always feel healthier in China than I do in Sydney. In fact, on objective measures (testing around twenty factors after 6 months) I am healthier here. But I don't know what heavy metals are doing to me; that test is expensive.

]]> <![CDATA[By: orangina]]> Well, since plastic bottles also release chemicals into the water (and if bottled water is just purified tap water then it also has the chemicals you would have in boiled tap water,) you can't win for losing. I figure, do my best to be sensible and don't worry about it. Stress is a pretty big health risk factor, too.

]]> Well, since plastic bottles also release chemicals into the water (and if bottled water is just purified tap water then it also has the chemicals you would have in boiled tap water,) you can't win for losing. I figure, do my best to be sensible and don't worry about it. Stress is a pretty big health risk factor, too.

]]> <![CDATA[By: John]]> Yikes, I wasn't close at all!

Guessing does not always work... :)

]]> Yikes, I wasn't close at all!

Guessing does not always work... :)

]]> <![CDATA[By: ma_tai]]> Yeah they have those water machines in Xiamen as well. I couldn't find cheaper water anywhere. I drank it for four weeks while I was there last time and didn't suffer ill effects. The only problem was finding unworn 1 RMB coins to make the machine work.

]]> Yeah they have those water machines in Xiamen as well. I couldn't find cheaper water anywhere. I drank it for four weeks while I was there last time and didn't suffer ill effects. The only problem was finding unworn 1 RMB coins to make the machine work.

]]> <![CDATA[By: kaixin_in_tampa]]> Well *I* trust it, but now you have me thinking about it! :) I think you might be right the average Chinese doesn't use them. I have 2 4-L jugs that I take there, I can carry one on each hand. I pay 2 RMB each time and let the machine (the next guy) keep about 0.5 RMB. People here outfit their scooters to carry one 5-gallon jug on each side.

]]> Well *I* trust it, but now you have me thinking about it! :) I think you might be right the average Chinese doesn't use them. I have 2 4-L jugs that I take there, I can carry one on each hand. I pay 2 RMB each time and let the machine (the next guy) keep about 0.5 RMB. People here outfit their scooters to carry one 5-gallon jug on each side.

]]> <![CDATA[By: ji_li]]> Thanks to you all!

]]> Thanks to you all!

]]> <![CDATA[By: John]]> Yeah, the translation isn't perfect, but I think it's the closest thing we've got. American office culture has this whole "chat around the water cooler" or "water cooler talk" thing. The "water cooler" does often refrigerator the water (especially in offices), but not always. The ones that athletes use on the field are also referred to as "water coolers." These things often insulate more than refrigerate; if you put ice in them, they keep the water colder longer.

It's true that many of China's 饮水机s don't offer refrigerated water, but some do. I also find that more and more Chinese people are questioning the conventional wisdom that "cold water hurts your stomach," and at places like coffee shops in Shanghai, ice water is already quite normal.

]]> Yeah, the translation isn't perfect, but I think it's the closest thing we've got. American office culture has this whole "chat around the water cooler" or "water cooler talk" thing. The "water cooler" does often refrigerator the water (especially in offices), but not always. The ones that athletes use on the field are also referred to as "water coolers." These things often insulate more than refrigerate; if you put ice in them, they keep the water colder longer.

It's true that many of China's 饮水机s don't offer refrigerated water, but some do. I also find that more and more Chinese people are questioning the conventional wisdom that "cold water hurts your stomach," and at places like coffee shops in Shanghai, ice water is already quite normal.

]]> <![CDATA[By: maktubhelou]]> Where does one go about purchasing a few of these house fairies? I could study Chinese so much more if I didn't have to do housework. LoL.

Back to language questions: 精灵 relative to "Fairy Godmother"? What would you call the Fairy Godmother in Chinese? How about "Tinkerbell"?

]]> Where does one go about purchasing a few of these house fairies? I could study Chinese so much more if I didn't have to do housework. LoL.

Back to language questions: 精灵 relative to "Fairy Godmother"? What would you call the Fairy Godmother in Chinese? How about "Tinkerbell"?

]]> <![CDATA[By: jbaldwi1]]> Sounds a little like "The Elves and the Shoemaker" story.

]]> Sounds a little like "The Elves and the Shoemaker" story.

]]> <![CDATA[By: masterkrang]]> yeah, i noticed chinese are questioning the value of cold and even hot things recently as well... i've been listening to chinese radio to work on 听力, and i noticed they talk a lot about throat cancer and it's relation to drinking (eating) hot things all the time... totally weird, you don't have that phenomena in america.

]]> yeah, i noticed chinese are questioning the value of cold and even hot things recently as well... i've been listening to chinese radio to work on 听力, and i noticed they talk a lot about throat cancer and it's relation to drinking (eating) hot things all the time... totally weird, you don't have that phenomena in america.

]]> <![CDATA[By: ji_li]]> There's a cute 田螺姑娘 video in Chinese here: http://v.ku6.com/show/Vq1hrQr0wdvsKrIF.html

(probably intermediate level)

]]> There's a cute 田螺姑娘 video in Chinese here: http://v.ku6.com/show/Vq1hrQr0wdvsKrIF.html

(probably intermediate level)

]]> <![CDATA[By: orangina]]> 可爱！Thanks for posting that link.

]]> 可爱！Thanks for posting that link.

]]> <![CDATA[By: rods]]> Maybe 蒸馏水 distilled water might be the solution? Yuck!

]]> Maybe 蒸馏水 distilled water might be the solution? Yuck!

]]> <![CDATA[By: panlu]]> Thanks, I appreciate your reply. Actually, I did mean 20. When I was a child growing up in Korea in the 60's we boiled big kettles of water for 20 minutes then poured it into a big barrel with a tap. Sounds like that was more than necessary, but it was what we believed was necessary at the time.

]]> Thanks, I appreciate your reply. Actually, I did mean 20. When I was a child growing up in Korea in the 60's we boiled big kettles of water for 20 minutes then poured it into a big barrel with a tap. Sounds like that was more than necessary, but it was what we believed was necessary at the time.

]]> <![CDATA[By: meyers66]]> Thanks for the reality checks bodawei. Economic realities offer perspective.

]]> Thanks for the reality checks bodawei. Economic realities offer perspective.

]]> <![CDATA[By: meyers66]]> In response to bodawei's comments about water testing: here's a website you can learn more about water testing: http://oasisdesign.net/water/quality/testing.htm#top His books are interesting too.

]]> In response to bodawei's comments about water testing: here's a website you can learn more about water testing: http://oasisdesign.net/water/quality/testing.htm#top His books are interesting too.

]]> <![CDATA[By: WeiAiLi]]> I the fall my whole family had heavy metal testing done (mandatory from our company) after being in China for over a year. We all were within normal limits. Since then, our company has dropped this mandatory test- after requiring it annually for several years- because everyone was consistently testing negative. That being said, I assume most people (laowai) in our company- who are locate across China- drink bottled water. Not kaishui. Personally, we drink bottled water from the dispenser, but I cook with tap water if it's going to be brought to the boiling point during cooking.

]]> I the fall my whole family had heavy metal testing done (mandatory from our company) after being in China for over a year. We all were within normal limits. Since then, our company has dropped this mandatory test- after requiring it annually for several years- because everyone was consistently testing negative. That being said, I assume most people (laowai) in our company- who are locate across China- drink bottled water. Not kaishui. Personally, we drink bottled water from the dispenser, but I cook with tap water if it's going to be brought to the boiling point during cooking.

]]>