<![CDATA[Comments on: Can't Get to Sleep]]> 2010-01-19 18:00:00 <![CDATA[By: misterjess]]> There is a line in the spoken dialogue that isn't in the written dialogue.  

]]> There is a line in the spoken dialogue that isn't in the written dialogue.  

]]> <![CDATA[By: carl89]]> How should we know when the tone for 不 changes to neutral? I know that it is usually 4th tone, except when it changes to 2nd tone,  but how am I supposed to know when it becomes neutral tone?

]]> How should we know when the tone for 不 changes to neutral? I know that it is usually 4th tone, except when it changes to 2nd tone,  but how am I supposed to know when it becomes neutral tone?

]]> <![CDATA[By: carl89]]>

You're right. In case you need the last line in the dialogue, here it is:

“那你数数吧，肯定能睡着”

"na4 ni3 shu3shu4 ba1, ken3ding4 neng2 shui4zhao2"

]]>

You're right. In case you need the last line in the dialogue, here it is:

“那你数数吧，肯定能睡着”

"na4 ni3 shu3shu4 ba1, ken3ding4 neng2 shui4zhao2"

]]> <![CDATA[By: misterjess]]>    Interestingly enough, I was watching a video on youtube before I came over here. The video is called 失眠 shi1 mian2 by 许慧欣 xu3 hui4 xin1.

 失眠 means insomnia.

]]>    Interestingly enough, I was watching a video on youtube before I came over here. The video is called 失眠 shi1 mian2 by 许慧欣 xu3 hui4 xin1.

 失眠 means insomnia.

]]> <![CDATA[By: carl89]]> There's a little mistake in the vocab section. The traditional version of 大老板 should be 大老闆。

]]> There's a little mistake in the vocab section. The traditional version of 大老板 should be 大老闆。

]]> <![CDATA[By: carl89]]> and I hate to be picky, but the traditional version of 困 should be 睏 .

]]> and I hate to be picky, but the traditional version of 困 should be 睏 .

]]> <![CDATA[By: connie]]> Thank you for pointing that out. Fixed now.

]]> Thank you for pointing that out. Fixed now.

]]> <![CDATA[By: mrcactu5]]> Here's my try at a sentence:

常常早睡着可是中晚上醒。

chang2 chang2 zao3 shui4 zhao2 ke3 shi4 zhong1 wan4 shang xing3.

Hopefully this means:

Sometimes I go to bed early but then I wake up in the middle of the night.

]]> Here's my try at a sentence:

常常早睡着可是中晚上醒。

chang2 chang2 zao3 shui4 zhao2 ke3 shi4 zhong1 wan4 shang xing3.

Hopefully this means:

Sometimes I go to bed early but then I wake up in the middle of the night.

]]> <![CDATA[By: helenshen_counselor]]> I prefer to count sheep, not numbers. “一只羊，两只羊，三只羊......” “Yi1zhi1 yang2, liang3zhi1 yang2, san1zhi1 yang2...”

]]> I prefer to count sheep, not numbers. “一只羊，两只羊，三只羊......” “Yi1zhi1 yang2, liang3zhi1 yang2, san1zhi1 yang2...”

]]> <![CDATA[By: lujiaojie]]> 你可以说：

有时候我早早就睡觉了，但是半夜就醒了。

Yǒushíhou wǒ zǎozǎo jiù shuìjiào le，dànshì bànyè jiù xǐng le.

]]> 你可以说：

有时候我早早就睡觉了，但是半夜就醒了。

Yǒushíhou wǒ zǎozǎo jiù shuìjiào le，dànshì bànyè jiù xǐng le.

]]> <![CDATA[By: helenshen_counselor]]> Nice try!! Here is my try: “我常常早睡，可是总是半夜醒”，Wo3 chang2chang2 zao3 shui4, ke3shi4 zong3shi4 ban4ye4 xing3”

]]> Nice try!! Here is my try: “我常常早睡，可是总是半夜醒”，Wo3 chang2chang2 zao3 shui4, ke3shi4 zong3shi4 ban4ye4 xing3”

]]> <![CDATA[By: mrcactu5]]> 好。 So I should say 半夜 instead of 中晚上？

]]> 好。 So I should say 半夜 instead of 中晚上？

]]> <![CDATA[By: misterjess]]> I can't count much higher than that without taking off my shoes.

]]> I can't count much higher than that without taking off my shoes.

]]> <![CDATA[By: helenshen_counselor]]> 对！“半夜”, ban4ye4 means "the middle of the night".

]]> 对！“半夜”, ban4ye4 means "the middle of the night".

]]> <![CDATA[By: bababardwan]]> you mean you have sheep toes mate?:

http://images.rubinfamilytree.com/500/People/Baby%20Charlie/2005/2005_08/20050804%20Mommy%27s%20Toes.jpg

..just how many do you have?

]]> you mean you have sheep toes mate?:

http://images.rubinfamilytree.com/500/People/Baby%20Charlie/2005/2005_08/20050804%20Mommy%27s%20Toes.jpg

..just how many do you have?

]]> <![CDATA[By: catherinem]]> Misterjess - thanks for catching that. The mistake has been corrected!

]]> Misterjess - thanks for catching that. The mistake has been corrected!

]]> <![CDATA[By: lily_counselor]]> Every time when I can't get to sleep, I get up and read a dull book, then I will feel sleepy soon. For me, a dull book is better than 1000 sheep.

]]> Every time when I can't get to sleep, I get up and read a dull book, then I will feel sleepy soon. For me, a dull book is better than 1000 sheep.

]]> <![CDATA[By: baifameizhong]]> Hey carl89

As far as I know the 不 won't often change to a neutral tone. It mainly happens when it gets sandwiched into a "fixed" expression to negate it. 睡着 (fall asleep) is such an expression. 怪不得 would be another such example. It's maybe a bit difficult to see it if you don't know the expression it's negating.

If I got it wrong, please feel free to correct me:)

David

]]> Hey carl89

As far as I know the 不 won't often change to a neutral tone. It mainly happens when it gets sandwiched into a "fixed" expression to negate it. 睡着 (fall asleep) is such an expression. 怪不得 would be another such example. It's maybe a bit difficult to see it if you don't know the expression it's negating.

If I got it wrong, please feel free to correct me:)

David

]]> <![CDATA[By: eupnea63355]]> Is there any chance you could post the transcript of that extra line that was in the first file? It's bugging me that I couldn't figure it out.

]]> Is there any chance you could post the transcript of that extra line that was in the first file? It's bugging me that I couldn't figure it out.

]]> <![CDATA[By: eupnea63355]]> I can't sleep tonight so I may as well post the helpful idiomatic usage sentences presented at the end of the lesson. Please correct any mistakes. I find these very helpful and am adding them to my flashcards to help the patterns sink in. Thanks CP!

I want to go to sleep.

Wǒ xiǎng shuì.

我想睡。

I want to go to bed. (you are actually GOING somewhere)

Wǒ qù shuì.

我去睡。

Mom fell asleep.

Māma shuì zháo le.

妈妈睡着了。

I can't fall asleep.

Wǒ shuì bu zháo.

我睡不着。

I'm really worried, I can't fall asleep.

Wǒ hěn dānxīn, wǒ shuì bu zháo.

我很单心，我睡不着。

I can't fall asleep either.

Wǒ yě shuì bu zháo.

我也睡不着。

I don't know why the "Paste from Word" puts in the double spaces. Sorry, my posts always look so big. 我睡不着！4:14 a.m.

]]> I can't sleep tonight so I may as well post the helpful idiomatic usage sentences presented at the end of the lesson. Please correct any mistakes. I find these very helpful and am adding them to my flashcards to help the patterns sink in. Thanks CP!

I want to go to sleep.

Wǒ xiǎng shuì.

我想睡。

I want to go to bed. (you are actually GOING somewhere)

Wǒ qù shuì.

我去睡。

Mom fell asleep.

Māma shuì zháo le.

妈妈睡着了。

I can't fall asleep.

Wǒ shuì bu zháo.

我睡不着。

I'm really worried, I can't fall asleep.

Wǒ hěn dānxīn, wǒ shuì bu zháo.

我很单心，我睡不着。

I can't fall asleep either.

Wǒ yě shuì bu zháo.

我也睡不着。

I don't know why the "Paste from Word" puts in the double spaces. Sorry, my posts always look so big. 我睡不着！4:14 a.m.

]]> <![CDATA[By: connie]]> I'm really worried, I can't fall asleep.

Wǒ hěn dānxīn, wǒ shuì bu zháo.

我很担心，我睡不着。

]]> I'm really worried, I can't fall asleep.

Wǒ hěn dānxīn, wǒ shuì bu zháo.

我很担心，我睡不着。

]]> <![CDATA[By: eupnea63355]]> misterjess, 失眠 is a good one for my vocabulary list! Do you or anyone know how to say:

I suffer from insomnia.

I have insomnia.

I am so tired! My insomnia kicked in/bothered me last night.

...or any similar versions of the idea? (I really do have a sleep problem and could use these phrases.)

]]> misterjess, 失眠 is a good one for my vocabulary list! Do you or anyone know how to say:

I suffer from insomnia.

I have insomnia.

I am so tired! My insomnia kicked in/bothered me last night.

...or any similar versions of the idea? (I really do have a sleep problem and could use these phrases.)

]]> <![CDATA[By: eupnea63355]]> Oops, thanks, connie! I still can't sleep. 我还睡不着。哈哈。4:40a.m.

]]> Oops, thanks, connie! I still can't sleep. 我还睡不着。哈哈。4:40a.m.

]]> <![CDATA[By: pauley]]> 我经常打呼当我睡了我老婆睡不着他总是醒醒我那没人睡觉好

i often snore when i sleep

my wife cant sleep

she always wakesme

then no noe gets a good sleep

Are these sentences correct

]]> 我经常打呼当我睡了我老婆睡不着他总是醒醒我那没人睡觉好

i often snore when i sleep

my wife cant sleep

she always wakesme

then no noe gets a good sleep

Are these sentences correct

]]> <![CDATA[By: lujiaojie]]> 我睡觉的时候经常打呼噜，我老婆睡不着的时候她总是叫醒我，这样没人能睡好。

Wǒ shuìzháo de shíhou jīngcháng dǎ hūlu，wǒ lǎopó shuìbuzháo de shíhou tā zǒngshì jiàoxǐng wǒ，zhèyàng méi rén néng shuìhǎo.

]]> 我睡觉的时候经常打呼噜，我老婆睡不着的时候她总是叫醒我，这样没人能睡好。

Wǒ shuìzháo de shíhou jīngcháng dǎ hūlu，wǒ lǎopó shuìbuzháo de shíhou tā zǒngshì jiàoxǐng wǒ，zhèyàng méi rén néng shuìhǎo.

]]> <![CDATA[By: John]]> carl89,

It mainly happens in two different scenarios:

1. In a complement following a verb, such as 睡不着 (shuìbuzháo), where 不着 is the complement or 走不动 (zǒubudòng), where 不动 is the complement.

2. In a Adj. 不 Adj. or Verb 不 Verb pattern.

You really don't need to worry about this too much, though.

]]> carl89,

It mainly happens in two different scenarios:

1. In a complement following a verb, such as 睡不着 (shuìbuzháo), where 不着 is the complement or 走不动 (zǒubudòng), where 不动 is the complement.

2. In a Adj. 不 Adj. or Verb 不 Verb pattern.

You really don't need to worry about this too much, though.

]]> <![CDATA[By: Tal]]> I think it's simply:

我失眠了。 Wǒ shīmián le.(for the first 2 there) and

我太累了。我昨天晚上又失眠了。Wǒ tài lèi le. Wǒ zuótiān wǎnshang yòu shīmián le. (for the third one)

]]> I think it's simply:

我失眠了。 Wǒ shīmián le.(for the first 2 there) and

我太累了。我昨天晚上又失眠了。Wǒ tài lèi le. Wǒ zuótiān wǎnshang yòu shīmián le. (for the third one)

]]> <![CDATA[By: jgwilson]]> Can I say[睡著】？

]]> Can I say[睡著】？

]]> <![CDATA[By: eager7]]> xiè xiè

]]> xiè xiè

]]> <![CDATA[By: excuter]]> 我每天好好睡得着 wǒ měi tiān shui hǎo hǎo shuì dé zháo

I´m sleeping well every day ^_^

]]> 我每天好好睡得着 wǒ měi tiān shui hǎo hǎo shuì dé zháo

I´m sleeping well every day ^_^

]]> <![CDATA[By: baifameizhong]]> That does sound somewhat more professional:)

]]> That does sound somewhat more professional:)

]]> <![CDATA[By: eupnea63355]]> Thank you tal. I'm ready to print this one off and mark it "studied"!

]]> Thank you tal. I'm ready to print this one off and mark it "studied"!

]]> <![CDATA[By: bodawei]]> 为了治失眠，你应该去足疗! wei4le zhi4 shi1mian2, ni3 ying1gai1 qu4 zu2liao2.

(to cure insomnia you should go and get a foot massage.) Or so they say. The other day I asked for 治失眠的 and it costs three times the standard price! What is worse I had trouble sleeping that night.

]]> 为了治失眠，你应该去足疗! wei4le zhi4 shi1mian2, ni3 ying1gai1 qu4 zu2liao2.

(to cure insomnia you should go and get a foot massage.) Or so they say. The other day I asked for 治失眠的 and it costs three times the standard price! What is worse I had trouble sleeping that night.

]]> <![CDATA[By: eupnea63355]]> bodawei, that's a good one. Added to my flashcards. Thanks!

]]> bodawei, that's a good one. Added to my flashcards. Thanks!

]]> <![CDATA[By: John]]> You were on the right track!

]]> You were on the right track!

]]> <![CDATA[By: connie]]> 睡着，shuìzháo

宝宝睡着了。

Bǎobǎo shuìzháo le.

]]> 睡着，shuìzháo

宝宝睡着了。

Bǎobǎo shuìzháo le.

]]> <![CDATA[By: connie]]> "I´m sleeping well every day. " You can say,

我每天都睡得很好。

Wǒ měitiān dōu shuì de hěn hǎo.

]]> "I´m sleeping well every day. " You can say,

我每天都睡得很好。

Wǒ měitiān dōu shuì de hěn hǎo.

]]> <![CDATA[By: JasonSch]]> The line was:

那你就数数吧。肯定能睡觉

Just count off some numbers then. You'll definitely be able to sleep.

]]> The line was:

那你就数数吧。肯定能睡觉

Just count off some numbers then. You'll definitely be able to sleep.

]]> <![CDATA[By: rods]]> Thanks Jason, Not knowing that line has been keeping me awake at night!

]]> Thanks Jason, Not knowing that line has been keeping me awake at night!

]]> <![CDATA[By: derderrr]]> Well,that's really kind of complicated even for a native-speaker.Just put another way,forget about the neutral tone first.In fact,there r only 2 kinds of formal tones to 不(2nd tone n 4th tone).So u can say just like "睡不(4th)着" n "走不(2nd)动".That's correct !

As to the neutral tone,I personally consider that it only happens in fast speaking.Sounds kinda like liaisons (or word connections?) in english.If u speak fastly, the tone will become smooth and neutral spontaneously.There's only one thing u should know that this kind of "liaisons" is only supposed to happen in a word group with sandwiched structure.

Anyway,as John said you really don't need to worry about this too much.To be honest,if u still have a little confused about it,just ignore the "neutral" rule.As a native,I fully accpect that "睡不(4th)着" r "走不(2nd)动" is also perfect pronunciation.U have my word.Language is about being understood, not following rules.：）

-------------------------------------------------

ｍｓｎ：ｄｅｒｄｅｒｒ＠ｌｉｖｅ．ｃｏｍ

]]> Well,that's really kind of complicated even for a native-speaker.Just put another way,forget about the neutral tone first.In fact,there r only 2 kinds of formal tones to 不(2nd tone n 4th tone).So u can say just like "睡不(4th)着" n "走不(2nd)动".That's correct !

As to the neutral tone,I personally consider that it only happens in fast speaking.Sounds kinda like liaisons (or word connections?) in english.If u speak fastly, the tone will become smooth and neutral spontaneously.There's only one thing u should know that this kind of "liaisons" is only supposed to happen in a word group with sandwiched structure.

Anyway,as John said you really don't need to worry about this too much.To be honest,if u still have a little confused about it,just ignore the "neutral" rule.As a native,I fully accpect that "睡不(4th)着" r "走不(2nd)动" is also perfect pronunciation.U have my word.Language is about being understood, not following rules.：）

-------------------------------------------------

ｍｓｎ：ｄｅｒｄｅｒｒ＠ｌｉｖｅ．ｃｏｍ

]]> <![CDATA[By: Amesburygeorge]]> John, could you explain what you mean when you say 'complement following a verb'? Thanks.

]]> John, could you explain what you mean when you say 'complement following a verb'? Thanks.

]]> <![CDATA[By: fanningb142]]> haha that's funny... I actually like reading really boring books too when I'm trying to get to sleep

]]> haha that's funny... I actually like reading really boring books too when I'm trying to get to sleep

]]>