Discussion
Certain ancient Chinese traditions are more easily assimilated to the Western mind. Five days straight of blowing off firecrackers tends to sit better than 12-course dinners. If you don't join 'em, you aren't gonna beat 'em, so put on your protective glasses and light up your xiaoqu with China's gift to the world. In this podcast, plan your Chinese New Year in Mandarin.
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英文说的时候，我想“寒假作业”是矛盾或者反论，不是矛盾修饰法。真的矛盾修饰法需要用两个对面的词做另外的意思。比如：idiot-savant。 其实，英语有很少的 oxymorons. 对不对？
Why do the chinese call new year's eve 年三十 when it is on the 31st? If it is because it refers to the chinese newyear than it still isn't accurate, since january has 31 and february 28 days! ??
Hi helandou,
大年三十 indicates the last day (三十日) of the last month (腊月, la4 yue4) according to the lunar calendar.
lunar months alternate between 29 and 30 days?
Hi rjberk,
You've got me there, haha. As you pointed out, 腊月 sometimes has 29 days, instead of 30 days, as well as other lunar months.
2008 - 30
2009 - 30
2010 - 30
2011 - 30
2012 - 29
2013 - 29
2014 - 30
2015 - 30
2016 - 29
2017 - 30
2018 - 30
2019 - 30
2020 - 30
Isn't there also a "leap month" in the lunar calendar?
yes there is a leap month now and then.
hmm, this is all new to me. I thought the chinese calendar (the lunar calendar) just started after spring festival, so in january or february. Could have known that the LUNAR calendar stood for something related to the moon, but no, didn't go that far..
老一套：
Can you say this when someone keeps bringing up (saying) the same thing. Like: "not this again" or "same old thing" (you're complaining about)?
If not, what would work in that case? Thanks!!
- Ember
你们从来都不给我。。
what does the 都 function as here?
I would have just said (to translate: you never give it to me) 你们从来不给我。
Thanks,
Ember
Hi emberswift,
"老套/老一套" should be translated as "same old stuff", and "老套话" as "same old story". FYI, "pet phrase" is "口头禅" (kou3 tou2 chan2). If you would like to say "not this again", I guess just saying "又来了！" would be OK.
Regarding "从来都不", in this case, the "都" is used to emphasize the meaning "have never ～ so far". It would be also OK to say "从来不～" without using "都". The meanings of the two sentences are basically the same.
hi i am a little confused about the last expansion sentance:
他工作了两年，可是一分钱也没存
it says in the english He worked for half a year, but didn't save one penny but in the audio it says "liang nian" two years. And in the chinese there are the characters 两年. I am confused.
Hi chris3
“他工作了两年，可是一分钱也没存。”
He worked for two years, but didn't save one penny.
Thank you for pointing out. The english translation is fixed now!
What are the differences between:
长辈
老一辈
前辈
All have the meaning "older generation, seniors".
Can you give some examples to distinguish the usage?
"老一辈"or "老前辈" have the meaning "older generation, seniors".
but "长辈"、"前辈" don't have.
"老一辈" usually used to some people:
example:A, B and C are "老一辈" scientists of Chinese.
"老前辈" usually used to someone:
example:A is a "老前辈" scientist of Chinese.
and you can call A:"good morning, "老前辈"!"but you can't call A:"good morning, "老一辈"!"
Your parents are your "长辈".Include your anut, uncle, grandmother....
A women who is 30 years old. She has a son. She is the baby's "长辈"，too! but I don't think the women is senior.
"前辈" means he, she or they has/have more experience than you.
example: An American boy who is 10 years old. He can understand "What are the differences between:长辈/老一辈/前辈", but you can't. He is your "前辈" at Chiese learning.
謝謝！
Add, sometime "长辈" means someone is old than(or like) your parents.
if you are 30 years old
Someone is 40 years old.
I don't think he/she is your "长辈"
But if he/she is above 50 years old, I think he/she is your "长辈"