<![CDATA[Comments on: Canceling Dinner Plans]]> 2010-01-31 18:00:00 <![CDATA[By: shanghaichanges]]> FIRST! I've always wanted to do that :) You won't see me do that ever again.

]]> FIRST! I've always wanted to do that :) You won't see me do that ever again.

]]> <![CDATA[By: rods]]> Congratulations! The new lessons usually show up about 10 p.m. local time, so I often find a blank comment section, but can never think of anything to say.

;-)

Great lesson!

]]> Congratulations! The new lessons usually show up about 10 p.m. local time, so I often find a blank comment section, but can never think of anything to say.

;-)

Great lesson!

]]> <![CDATA[By: rods]]> A Chinese classmate asked me if we could get together for a study session one evening. I told him that it wasn't really convenient, and before I could explain, he said, "okay, no problem" and off he went. Since then, I'd always wondered whether I'd somehow offended him. Now I see, he was probably just following this Chinese custom, and not asking me to provide a detailed excuse. I wish we westerners shared this custom.

Chinesepod, relieving long term guilt one customer at a time!

]]> A Chinese classmate asked me if we could get together for a study session one evening. I told him that it wasn't really convenient, and before I could explain, he said, "okay, no problem" and off he went. Since then, I'd always wondered whether I'd somehow offended him. Now I see, he was probably just following this Chinese custom, and not asking me to provide a detailed excuse. I wish we westerners shared this custom.

Chinesepod, relieving long term guilt one customer at a time!

]]> <![CDATA[By: jennycrm]]> Shanghaichanges,

Why not keep it up? It's good to be the first, no

]]> Shanghaichanges,

Why not keep it up? It's good to be the first, no

]]> <![CDATA[By: bababardwan]]> hehe,yeah,I love not only the evasive vague nature of 有事 but also the way the 4th tone of 事 closes off the topic.ps.Does this 有事 work with spouses too?

I can't believe I haven't come across 改天见 before.Is it common? It certainly seems like it should be and that it belongs in ellie if not newbie.

I was very glad to see 再见 used in this way in this lesson.I used it this way in a convo with xiaophil the other day but it felt slightly strange as I hadn't actually seen it used that way before so it's nice to see it's ok.

]]> hehe,yeah,I love not only the evasive vague nature of 有事 but also the way the 4th tone of 事 closes off the topic.ps.Does this 有事 work with spouses too?

I can't believe I haven't come across 改天见 before.Is it common? It certainly seems like it should be and that it belongs in ellie if not newbie.

I was very glad to see 再见 used in this way in this lesson.I used it this way in a convo with xiaophil the other day but it felt slightly strange as I hadn't actually seen it used that way before so it's nice to see it's ok.

]]> <![CDATA[By: jennyzhu]]> Glad to hear that! We don't really hold grudge against such things. I sometimes wonder is it because there are 1.3 billion people so that there is never a lack of people to go out with...

]]> Glad to hear that! We don't really hold grudge against such things. I sometimes wonder is it because there are 1.3 billion people so that there is never a lack of people to go out with...

]]> <![CDATA[By: jennyzhu]]> Yes, 有事 works with spouses too, although they are much more likely to further ask “有什么事？” But I think the longer you are married, the easier it is to get away with just saying "有事".

改天见 is common especially in situations like the one in the dialogue.

]]> Yes, 有事 works with spouses too, although they are much more likely to further ask “有什么事？” But I think the longer you are married, the easier it is to get away with just saying "有事".

改天见 is common especially in situations like the one in the dialogue.

]]> <![CDATA[By: orangina]]> I just had this exact conversation (Well, just about. We were both already off work.) with a Chinese friend in English... I wish I'd listened to this an hour ago! I could have been flaky in Chinese!!!

]]> I just had this exact conversation (Well, just about. We were both already off work.) with a Chinese friend in English... I wish I'd listened to this an hour ago! I could have been flaky in Chinese!!!

]]> <![CDATA[By: rods]]> That makes sense, I imagine China's huge population determines many cultural norms. The funny thing is, the other westerners here may disagree, I think this idea of having to provide a detailed excuse to anyone and everyone asking is a new one. Simply saying, "Sorry, I'm afraid I can't make it. Something's come up. (How about a rain-check?)," used to be good enough. Maybe not for missing a class, or dinner with one's family... but generally speaking.

All this western "nosiness" has led to is more elaborate, less believable excuses. We've just become better liars in order to protect our privacy.

By the way, keep all the cultural stuff coming. It's great!

]]> That makes sense, I imagine China's huge population determines many cultural norms. The funny thing is, the other westerners here may disagree, I think this idea of having to provide a detailed excuse to anyone and everyone asking is a new one. Simply saying, "Sorry, I'm afraid I can't make it. Something's come up. (How about a rain-check?)," used to be good enough. Maybe not for missing a class, or dinner with one's family... but generally speaking.

All this western "nosiness" has led to is more elaborate, less believable excuses. We've just become better liars in order to protect our privacy.

By the way, keep all the cultural stuff coming. It's great!

]]> <![CDATA[By: baifameizhong]]> I've heard the 改天见 a few times. My personal favourite using "改天" is 改天再说吧 which is also wonderfully dubious and can be used for all sorts of things:)

]]> I've heard the 改天见 a few times. My personal favourite using "改天" is 改天再说吧 which is also wonderfully dubious and can be used for all sorts of things:)

]]> <![CDATA[By: lamartiniere]]> At home is 在家, at work is 下班or 在公司
I think 在班 or 下家 is incorect,
so is there a rule about the "at" in chinese?

Thanks,

L.

]]> At home is 在家, at work is 下班or 在公司
I think 在班 or 下家 is incorect,
so is there a rule about the "at" in chinese?

Thanks,

L.

]]> <![CDATA[By: lujiaojie]]> Yes, 在班 or 下家 is incorect.

At home is 在家, at work is 在公司, at school is 在学校，and 下班 means "get off work". 下 don't have the meaning of "at".

上班 shàngbān (go to work)，下班 xiàbān (get off work)；

上学 shàngxué (go to school)，放学 fàngxué (get out of school)；

上楼 shànglóu （ go upstairs），下楼，xiàlóu (go/come downstairs)

上课 shàngkè (attend class)，下课 xiàkè （get out of class）

上厕所, shàng cèsuǒ (go to the toilet)，no 下厕所.

]]> Yes, 在班 or 下家 is incorect.

At home is 在家, at work is 在公司, at school is 在学校，and 下班 means "get off work". 下 don't have the meaning of "at".

上班 shàngbān (go to work)，下班 xiàbān (get off work)；

上学 shàngxué (go to school)，放学 fàngxué (get out of school)；

上楼 shànglóu （ go upstairs），下楼，xiàlóu (go/come downstairs)

上课 shàngkè (attend class)，下课 xiàkè （get out of class）

上厕所, shàng cèsuǒ (go to the toilet)，no 下厕所.

]]> <![CDATA[By: wangpingliquan]]> I've also had several experiences like this dialog. So I can share the legitimate displease with John. But we have to 入乡随俗 anyway.

]]> I've also had several experiences like this dialog. So I can share the legitimate displease with John. But we have to 入乡随俗 anyway.

]]> <![CDATA[By: eupnea63355]]> lujiaojie,

That is such a helpful response! It's all going into my flashcard set for this lesson. I've never heard of 放学 fàngxué. So, getting out of class, xia4 ke4, and getting out of school (as in the end of the school day?) are expressed differently. Interesting.

Also, 改天见 is new to me. It seems that the Chinese 101 Integrated Chinese textbooks should have covered this. (NOT)


]]> lujiaojie,

That is such a helpful response! It's all going into my flashcard set for this lesson. I've never heard of 放学 fàngxué. So, getting out of class, xia4 ke4, and getting out of school (as in the end of the school day?) are expressed differently. Interesting.

Also, 改天见 is new to me. It seems that the Chinese 101 Integrated Chinese textbooks should have covered this. (NOT)


]]> <![CDATA[By: jiazhougirl]]> That's so true! Englishpod could have an entire lesson dedicated to bad excuses starting with the most famous: "My dog ate my homework."

]]> That's so true! Englishpod could have an entire lesson dedicated to bad excuses starting with the most famous: "My dog ate my homework."

]]> <![CDATA[By: svik]]> This sounds like an answering machine message:

我现在有事不在，一会儿再跟你联系。

or could it mean something like:

I am not at my office right now, but I will call you back soon.

]]> This sounds like an answering machine message:

我现在有事不在，一会儿再跟你联系。

or could it mean something like:

I am not at my office right now, but I will call you back soon.

]]> <![CDATA[By: xoan]]>  I wish congratulate and to thank you for the well accomplished lesson , for taking up and pointing out such key subjects in every days live of our cultures

]]>  I wish congratulate and to thank you for the well accomplished lesson , for taking up and pointing out such key subjects in every days live of our cultures

]]> <![CDATA[By: vera_counselor]]> Yes, it sounds like an voice mail message. If you use it in your office, it could be: I am not at my office right now, but I will call you back soon.

In China, we don't use voice mail as much as American. Actually I only left voice mail once in China since I was born.

]]> Yes, it sounds like an voice mail message. If you use it in your office, it could be: I am not at my office right now, but I will call you back soon.

In China, we don't use voice mail as much as American. Actually I only left voice mail once in China since I was born.

]]> <![CDATA[By: svik]]> Thanks Vera,

While working in China last year my wife and I discovered that voice mail was rare, and that a text message was the most effective way to get a response. When we are in the US we almost never send texts!

]]> Thanks Vera,

While working in China last year my wife and I discovered that voice mail was rare, and that a text message was the most effective way to get a response. When we are in the US we almost never send texts!

]]> <![CDATA[By: kangxia]]> So, John, what do you say to the taxi driver when he asks you how much money you earn?

]]> So, John, what do you say to the taxi driver when he asks you how much money you earn?

]]> <![CDATA[By: John]]> It depends on my mood... sometimes I evade the question, while other times I just make up a number.

]]> It depends on my mood... sometimes I evade the question, while other times I just make up a number.

]]> <![CDATA[By: changye]]> Hi John,

You shouldn't raise ransom, hehe.

]]> Hi John,

You shouldn't raise ransom, hehe.

]]> <![CDATA[By: kangxia]]> How do Chinese people respond to personal questions like "how much money do you earn?" Do they tell the truth?

]]> How do Chinese people respond to personal questions like "how much money do you earn?" Do they tell the truth?

]]> <![CDATA[By: lotsofwordsandnospaces]]> For this exact situation, simply employ the following formula:

(current fare/current journey time in minutes) * 60

as your hourly wage

Then multiply it by 2000 for a rule-of-thumb based yearly salary.

(I always do this calculation, and imagine how many extra hours he works, and how much time the taxi driver is passenger-less. )

]]> For this exact situation, simply employ the following formula:

(current fare/current journey time in minutes) * 60

as your hourly wage

Then multiply it by 2000 for a rule-of-thumb based yearly salary.

(I always do this calculation, and imagine how many extra hours he works, and how much time the taxi driver is passenger-less. )

]]> <![CDATA[By: bababardwan]]> Interesting.I'm wondering where you got the 2000 from.Is this something you came up with yourself? It seems to be based on estimating just over 5 hours of passenger time a day.Does this take into account petrol,and other expenses? Also,do most taxi drivers in China own their own cab or are they on the main working for a company? I gather you are suggesting stating your own salary to be roughly the same as the cab drivers to put yourself on an even footing,duibudui?

]]> Interesting.I'm wondering where you got the 2000 from.Is this something you came up with yourself? It seems to be based on estimating just over 5 hours of passenger time a day.Does this take into account petrol,and other expenses? Also,do most taxi drivers in China own their own cab or are they on the main working for a company? I gather you are suggesting stating your own salary to be roughly the same as the cab drivers to put yourself on an even footing,duibudui?

]]> <![CDATA[By: lotsofwordsandnospaces]]> dui :)

I used 2000 as a rough 50 weeks at 40 hours. I have been asked the question before, when I was essentially unemployed (I was returning home to study).

Even the Chinese prices were fantastically too much for me (I had to hitch hike to Irkutsk!), so I tried to come up with a figure which didn't suggest I could afford to travel whilst unemployed, and which didn't seem too ridiculous.

Now I explain this, I feel over-calculating, but like you say - I was going for an even footing.

]]> dui :)

I used 2000 as a rough 50 weeks at 40 hours. I have been asked the question before, when I was essentially unemployed (I was returning home to study).

Even the Chinese prices were fantastically too much for me (I had to hitch hike to Irkutsk!), so I tried to come up with a figure which didn't suggest I could afford to travel whilst unemployed, and which didn't seem too ridiculous.

Now I explain this, I feel over-calculating, but like you say - I was going for an even footing.

]]>