<![CDATA[Comments on: Asking for the WiFi password]]> 2010-03-15 18:00:00 <![CDATA[By: bodawei]]> One of the most common passwords in China is 0123456789.  It's not real secure.  

]]> One of the most common passwords in China is 0123456789.  It's not real secure.  

]]> <![CDATA[By: John]]> I think in the US it's 12345... even less secure!

]]> I think in the US it's 12345... even less secure!

]]> <![CDATA[By: bodawei]]> I see from that link that other popular 'combinations' in the US are 1234567 and 12345678. Maybe people think that 123456 is too obvious. ;-)

]]> I see from that link that other popular 'combinations' in the US are 1234567 and 12345678. Maybe people think that 123456 is too obvious. ;-)

]]> <![CDATA[By: pretzellogic]]> I wish I had this lesson yesterday.  I could have logged on at starbucks.  But as it was, yesterday was a good Chinese use day.  I replaced the battery in my watch (thanks Cpod), had a latte, and asked for a kids' RC model car with only a hint of gesturing (no Cpod lesson there).  Sadly, I probably got taken to the cleaners on the negotiation for the battery.  We should probably start a post on effective negotiating tactics.

]]> I wish I had this lesson yesterday.  I could have logged on at starbucks.  But as it was, yesterday was a good Chinese use day.  I replaced the battery in my watch (thanks Cpod), had a latte, and asked for a kids' RC model car with only a hint of gesturing (no Cpod lesson there).  Sadly, I probably got taken to the cleaners on the negotiation for the battery.  We should probably start a post on effective negotiating tactics.

]]> <![CDATA[By: dastbehkeer]]> cool lesson

]]> cool lesson

]]> <![CDATA[By: bababardwan]]> I got the point about Chinese liking numbers in their passwords.Some sites require passwords that are not only alphanumeric but contain capitals and symbols as well.So I'm wondering about the use of 多少 [how many].Obviously this is usually used when referring to numbers.Would it also be appropriate to use if asking about an alphanumeric password,or even a password purely containing letters? If not ,is it a fair assumption that it's always going to be a numeric password in such a situation?

]]> I got the point about Chinese liking numbers in their passwords.Some sites require passwords that are not only alphanumeric but contain capitals and symbols as well.So I'm wondering about the use of 多少 [how many].Obviously this is usually used when referring to numbers.Would it also be appropriate to use if asking about an alphanumeric password,or even a password purely containing letters? If not ,is it a fair assumption that it's always going to be a numeric password in such a situation?

]]> <![CDATA[By: bodawei]]> Fair assumption in an Internet cafe probably, that it is just numbers. Otherwise I think the generic question would be ..是什么？

Incidentally, numbers are used very commonly in email addresses as well. Judging by my current students maybe 50% are just numbers, 40% an alphanumeric combination and only 10% just letters.

]]> Fair assumption in an Internet cafe probably, that it is just numbers. Otherwise I think the generic question would be ..是什么？

Incidentally, numbers are used very commonly in email addresses as well. Judging by my current students maybe 50% are just numbers, 40% an alphanumeric combination and only 10% just letters.

]]> <![CDATA[By: bababardwan]]> 你是一个源泉的信息。。多谢

]]> 你是一个源泉的信息。。多谢

]]> <![CDATA[By: bodawei]]> 呵呵 。。 他有无穷的智慧 wúqióng de zhìhuì ('he's a fount of information'). 不用谢。。

]]> 呵呵 。。 他有无穷的智慧 wúqióng de zhìhuì ('he's a fount of information'). 不用谢。。

]]> <![CDATA[By: bababardwan]]> 噢，这样的说法；呵呵，对，我前面不知道怎么说；再多谢

]]> 噢，这样的说法；呵呵，对，我前面不知道怎么说；再多谢

]]> <![CDATA[By: John]]> I think Starbucks charges for wifi use, though... In Shanghai, anyway. They use the China Mobile prepaid wifi service.

]]> I think Starbucks charges for wifi use, though... In Shanghai, anyway. They use the China Mobile prepaid wifi service.

]]> <![CDATA[By: pretzellogic]]> Starbucks in Beijing may also charge. But since Starbucks in the US stopped giving free internet access, it wouldn't be a suprise if you can't get internet in China for free. SPR Coffee in Beijing doesn't charge.

]]> Starbucks in Beijing may also charge. But since Starbucks in the US stopped giving free internet access, it wouldn't be a suprise if you can't get internet in China for free. SPR Coffee in Beijing doesn't charge.

]]> <![CDATA[By: helenshen_counselor]]> It's much more accurate to say "密码是什么"（when you don't know the password）. But It's more common to say :密码是多少？Because in the past, 密码 is supposed to be just numbers, not so complicated as used today. So either of them is okay!!

]]> It's much more accurate to say "密码是什么"（when you don't know the password）. But It's more common to say :密码是多少？Because in the past, 密码 is supposed to be just numbers, not so complicated as used today. So either of them is okay!!

]]> <![CDATA[By: matthiask]]> <![CDATA[By: orangina]]> Actually, 多少 doesn't make much sense to me anyway, since the numbers aren't a quantity. So using it for alpha-numeric codes is just as logical.

]]> Actually, 多少 doesn't make much sense to me anyway, since the numbers aren't a quantity. So using it for alpha-numeric codes is just as logical.

]]> <![CDATA[By: light487]]> Huh?? People secure wifi networks in China? :P Seriously though, I found that 80 to 90% of wifi networks were unsecured.

]]> Huh?? People secure wifi networks in China? :P Seriously though, I found that 80 to 90% of wifi networks were unsecured.

]]> <![CDATA[By: light487]]> I don't really know.. but maybe something like this:

你们有没有免费的上网？

No really sure, sorry.. but this "免费" (miǎnfèi) pairing means "free" in the sense of "no charge". There's another word, when I looked up this meaning: "无偿”, which apparently also means free/no charge but my Chinese friends taught me to use 免费 instead..

]]> I don't really know.. but maybe something like this:

你们有没有免费的上网？

No really sure, sorry.. but this "免费" (miǎnfèi) pairing means "free" in the sense of "no charge". There's another word, when I looked up this meaning: "无偿”, which apparently also means free/no charge but my Chinese friends taught me to use 免费 instead..

]]> <![CDATA[By: dastbehkeer]]> do people in mainland China ever use 祕密 instead of 秘密 ?

]]> do people in mainland China ever use 祕密 instead of 秘密 ?

]]> <![CDATA[By: bababardwan]]> 多谢shenyajin

]]> 多谢shenyajin

]]> <![CDATA[By: helencao_counselor]]> 1. Do you have free internet over here?

这儿可以免费无线上网吗？

2. May i access the wifi ?

我可以用这个无线网络吗？

]]> 1. Do you have free internet over here?

这儿可以免费无线上网吗？

2. May i access the wifi ?

我可以用这个无线网络吗？

]]> <![CDATA[By: lujiaojie]]> We only use "秘密“。

]]> We only use "秘密“。

]]> <![CDATA[By: helenshen_counselor]]> Secure it or you lose it!!!!!

]]> Secure it or you lose it!!!!!

]]> <![CDATA[By: marco_m]]> Weird because in my building for example, everyone has secured WiFi!

]]> Weird because in my building for example, everyone has secured WiFi!

]]> <![CDATA[By: marco_m]]> I got a package with China Telecom for 4 MB internet at home and 800 minutes of WiFi for their hot spots such as Starbucks! Well worth it!

]]> I got a package with China Telecom for 4 MB internet at home and 800 minutes of WiFi for their hot spots such as Starbucks! Well worth it!

]]> <![CDATA[By: John]]> Yeah, I rarely find unsecured wifi in Shanghai these days; you always need a password. Two years ago it was the opposite.

]]> Yeah, I rarely find unsecured wifi in Shanghai these days; you always need a password. Two years ago it was the opposite.

]]> <![CDATA[By: bodawei]]> But 多少 does refer to numbers doesn't it? You can think of 很少 as an abbreviation of 很少数的.

]]> But 多少 does refer to numbers doesn't it? You can think of 很少 as an abbreviation of 很少数的.

]]> <![CDATA[By: light487]]> Haha.. maybe people got wise to having their internet access stolen. Yes, about a year ago I was there and in the smaller cities it was very common to find unsecured wifi.. not so much in Shanghai though.. :)

]]> Haha.. maybe people got wise to having their internet access stolen. Yes, about a year ago I was there and in the smaller cities it was very common to find unsecured wifi.. not so much in Shanghai though.. :)

]]> <![CDATA[By: matthiask]]> 谢谢你们。

]]> 谢谢你们。

]]> <![CDATA[By: matthiask]]> to be a bit of a wise guy here: wifi passwords are always numbers, hexadecimal to be precise, but numbers. And considering the problem with western-eastern input on computers, I can understand, why only the "universal" digits of the hexadecimal numbers are utilized :)

]]> to be a bit of a wise guy here: wifi passwords are always numbers, hexadecimal to be precise, but numbers. And considering the problem with western-eastern input on computers, I can understand, why only the "universal" digits of the hexadecimal numbers are utilized :)

]]> <![CDATA[By: bababardwan]]> ok,I'll bite ,even though I know you know your stuff and I'm a techno bimbo.....I mean sure,daodi it comes down to on/off yin/yang when it comes to computers and I know what you're referring to when you talk about hexadecimal coding ,but ...a danshi hard but, can't folk have alphanumeric passwords at the data input point?

]]> ok,I'll bite ,even though I know you know your stuff and I'm a techno bimbo.....I mean sure,daodi it comes down to on/off yin/yang when it comes to computers and I know what you're referring to when you talk about hexadecimal coding ,but ...a danshi hard but, can't folk have alphanumeric passwords at the data input point?

]]> <![CDATA[By: xiao_liang]]> My home wifi password is letters, no numbers!

]]> My home wifi password is letters, no numbers!

]]> <![CDATA[By: bababardwan]]> moi aussi

]]> moi aussi

]]> <![CDATA[By: matthiask]]> I'm afraid, not. The letters you type are a passphrase. The passphrase is then generating a hexadecimal number which is then used to log you into the router. (and yes, even the hexadecimal number is only there for humans and the passphrase was invented by humans who think hexadecimal numbers are too complicated :-D)

]]> I'm afraid, not. The letters you type are a passphrase. The passphrase is then generating a hexadecimal number which is then used to log you into the router. (and yes, even the hexadecimal number is only there for humans and the passphrase was invented by humans who think hexadecimal numbers are too complicated :-D)

]]> <![CDATA[By: xiao_liang]]> We did say we weren't techno bimbos ;-)

]]> We did say we weren't techno bimbos ;-)

]]> <![CDATA[By: bababardwan]]> yeah,but the point is that it is letters you type [even if those letters really are numbers to a computer].When you ask for someone's password,you're not going to be asking them the hexadecimal numbers are you? You wanna know what you need to type. Pull out man...you're in the puters too deep [you're tie will get caught in the hard drive],you're not seeing the forest for the trees.[j/k] Anyway mate,I'm sorry as I'm sure you were joking [and I see your point].It's just that there's nothin' else to debate at the moment. :)

]]> yeah,but the point is that it is letters you type [even if those letters really are numbers to a computer].When you ask for someone's password,you're not going to be asking them the hexadecimal numbers are you? You wanna know what you need to type. Pull out man...you're in the puters too deep [you're tie will get caught in the hard drive],you're not seeing the forest for the trees.[j/k] Anyway mate,I'm sorry as I'm sure you were joking [and I see your point].It's just that there's nothin' else to debate at the moment. :)

]]> <![CDATA[By: matthiask]]> ^_^ how about debating the Great Grammar Guide http://chinesepod.com/community/conversations/post/6865

]]> ^_^ how about debating the Great Grammar Guide http://chinesepod.com/community/conversations/post/6865

]]> <![CDATA[By: matthiask]]> 哎哟，你说得对！

]]> 哎哟，你说得对！

]]> <![CDATA[By: silverwood]]> Starbucks in Beijing is invariably free - you need a password which is usually the phone number of the outlet, including the "10" Beijing city code -- it's printed on your receipt! In rare cases it isn't, but just ask !

]]> Starbucks in Beijing is invariably free - you need a password which is usually the phone number of the outlet, including the "10" Beijing city code -- it's printed on your receipt! In rare cases it isn't, but just ask !

]]> <![CDATA[By: pretzellogic]]> Hey thanks for that! I'll have to give that a try as well.

]]> Hey thanks for that! I'll have to give that a try as well.

]]> <![CDATA[By: chonglang]]> what!

]]> what!

]]> <![CDATA[By: bill]]> Well actually guys wi-fi passwords are not always hexadecimal (base 16) numbers. It depends on the level and kind of security one uses on your particular wi-fi network. I use WPA-PSK (Wi-Fi Protected Access Pre Shared Key) and that takes an 8-63 character pass phrase. This can be plain text and is much easier to remember. WEP does use hexadecimal. WEP is less secure than WPA-PSK by the way.

]]> Well actually guys wi-fi passwords are not always hexadecimal (base 16) numbers. It depends on the level and kind of security one uses on your particular wi-fi network. I use WPA-PSK (Wi-Fi Protected Access Pre Shared Key) and that takes an 8-63 character pass phrase. This can be plain text and is much easier to remember. WEP does use hexadecimal. WEP is less secure than WPA-PSK by the way.

]]> <![CDATA[By: starfish0803]]> 我有一个小秘密

]]> 我有一个小秘密

]]> <![CDATA[By: frognotinawell]]> 你怀孕了吗？:)

]]> 你怀孕了吗？:)

]]> <![CDATA[By: orangina]]> Sorry for the late reply... (I do like the tab with 'replies to me'...)

Yes, 多少 does refer to numbers, and this is my point. A password is not a number, even if it happens to be all numerals. Those numerals don't refer to a quantity... their meaning is the same as any other password. (The crow flies west at midnight.) So there is no "much" or "little" so speak of.

But I know it is just a habit of speech and nothing to get upset about.

]]> Sorry for the late reply... (I do like the tab with 'replies to me'...)

Yes, 多少 does refer to numbers, and this is my point. A password is not a number, even if it happens to be all numerals. Those numerals don't refer to a quantity... their meaning is the same as any other password. (The crow flies west at midnight.) So there is no "much" or "little" so speak of.

But I know it is just a habit of speech and nothing to get upset about.

]]> <![CDATA[By: chris]]> I always try the four possibilities: 8888888888, 0 to 9, 1 to 0 or the name of the establishment followed by sequential numbers to bring it up to 10 characters in total, before bothering to ask the 服务员 (fu2wu4yuan2). Surprising (or perhaps not) how many times one of those three options is successful!

]]> I always try the four possibilities: 8888888888, 0 to 9, 1 to 0 or the name of the establishment followed by sequential numbers to bring it up to 10 characters in total, before bothering to ask the 服务员 (fu2wu4yuan2). Surprising (or perhaps not) how many times one of those three options is successful!

]]> <![CDATA[By: danchao]]> chris, that's brilliant, and I shall keep that in mind.

]]> chris, that's brilliant, and I shall keep that in mind.

]]> <![CDATA[By: jen_not_jenny]]> You can also try 00000000 ( 八个零)

]]> You can also try 00000000 ( 八个零)

]]> <![CDATA[By: BorisS]]> but 6 is nearly the same as 9 but why is it not lucky its strange

]]> but 6 is nearly the same as 9 but why is it not lucky its strange

]]> <![CDATA[By: BorisS]]> and if 8 is a lucky number why did they not put 8 in the wifi password

]]> and if 8 is a lucky number why did they not put 8 in the wifi password

]]> <![CDATA[By: gunnar111]]> :)

]]> :)

]]>