2006-05-04 18:00:00 Diana (古德安)
I'm not positive that I understand the difference between 五点 (wu dian) and 五点钟 (wu dian zhong). When my teacher taught me to tell time I just learned the construction 五点, so I'm not sure what meaning the 钟 character adds. Thank you in advance for anyone who can help me learn the difference.]]> Diana (古德安)
I'm not positive that I understand the difference between 五点 (wu dian) and 五点钟 (wu dian zhong). When my teacher taught me to tell time I just learned the construction 五点, so I'm not sure what meaning the 钟 character adds. Thank you in advance for anyone who can help me learn the difference.]]> china_boy
with or without the "zhong", it's the same ;)]]> china_boy
with or without the "zhong", it's the same ;)]]> James
Understanding the use of 上 shang (above/top/up) and 下 xia (below/bottom/down) describing time was the first really confusing thing I learned about the language. It seemed to be the exact opposite as I would have expected. Initially I linked the phrase "top of the morning to you" to 上午 shangwu, leaving 下午 xiawu for the afternoon. Later I looked at is as an actual timeline. Things that come first are always on the starting side or top of the timeline. So morning, 上午 shangwu, comes before or on top of afternoon, 下午 xiawu. Last week, 上星期 xiaxingqi, comes before or on top of next week, 下星期。 You must see the beginning of the timeline as the top, which is opposite the way I would normally think of it.]]> James
Understanding the use of 上 shang (above/top/up) and 下 xia (below/bottom/down) describing time was the first really confusing thing I learned about the language. It seemed to be the exact opposite as I would have expected. Initially I linked the phrase "top of the morning to you" to 上午 shangwu, leaving 下午 xiawu for the afternoon. Later I looked at is as an actual timeline. Things that come first are always on the starting side or top of the timeline. So morning, 上午 shangwu, comes before or on top of afternoon, 下午 xiawu. Last week, 上星期 xiaxingqi, comes before or on top of next week, 下星期。 You must see the beginning of the timeline as the top, which is opposite the way I would normally think of it.]]> James
Pinyin correction: 上星期 = shangxingqi, not xia. (I hope the pinyin and English police are not teaming up with the tone police!)]]> James
Pinyin correction: 上星期 = shangxingqi, not xia. (I hope the pinyin and English police are not teaming up with the tone police!)]]> Troy Carter
I know this is a little off the subject. I would like to hear a conversation about Stereotypes. I know in the U.S., there are stereotypes about Chinese people and I was told that in China, there are stereotypes about Americans. I actually like to hear about them, I would like to know more about what we think of each other but is not talked about out of respect. I am only asking this here, because I do not know where to post comments like this. Thanks Cpod, Troy Carter PS - I am addicted to Cpod]]> Troy Carter
I know this is a little off the subject. I would like to hear a conversation about Stereotypes. I know in the U.S., there are stereotypes about Chinese people and I was told that in China, there are stereotypes about Americans. I actually like to hear about them, I would like to know more about what we think of each other but is not talked about out of respect. I am only asking this here, because I do not know where to post comments like this. Thanks Cpod, Troy Carter PS - I am addicted to Cpod]]> Ken Carroll
'Top o' the mornin' to you'. Great nmemonic. (I can never remember how to spell that!) Where have I heard that expression before? Ken]]> Ken Carroll
'Top o' the mornin' to you'. Great nmemonic. (I can never remember how to spell that!) Where have I heard that expression before? Ken]]> Ken Carroll
Troy, I love this suggestion. The Chinese stereotypes of westenrers are interesting. I might do a brain storming session with some local people to see what the latest ones are... Great idea. Ken]]> Ken Carroll
Troy, I love this suggestion. The Chinese stereotypes of westenrers are interesting. I might do a brain storming session with some local people to see what the latest ones are... Great idea. Ken]]> Mike
Ken and Jenny CPod is not just language learning center, it also is a place to learn a bit about living in China or Taiwan. So if one were to ask me or me to ask a friend or friends 你明天一定来我家玩吗？ is this the same as 你明天一定来我家吃飯吗？ It almost seems like 玩 and 吃飯 mean the same in Taiwan. And if invited in 下午 is it expected you bring food, flowers or something much as you would do among a gathering of Westerners ? Mike in Jubei]]> Mike
Ken and Jenny CPod is not just language learning center, it also is a place to learn a bit about living in China or Taiwan. So if one were to ask me or me to ask a friend or friends 你明天一定来我家玩吗？ is this the same as 你明天一定来我家吃飯吗？ It almost seems like 玩 and 吃飯 mean the same in Taiwan. And if invited in 下午 is it expected you bring food, flowers or something much as you would do among a gathering of Westerners ? Mike in Jubei]]> aoeuid
By the way, how do you even say "stereotype" in Mandarin? I couldn't find it in the dictionary I usually use (mdbg.net/chindict).]]> aoeuid
By the way, how do you even say "stereotype" in Mandarin? I couldn't find it in the dictionary I usually use (mdbg.net/chindict).]]> Ian
The shang/xia usage for time confused me quite a bit. Then a teacher finally told me to think of time moving from top to bottom like Chinese was written (and still is). In this context, an ealier time really is above current time, and the future is further below the current time. This helps me remember! -Ian]]> Ian
The shang/xia usage for time confused me quite a bit. Then a teacher finally told me to think of time moving from top to bottom like Chinese was written (and still is). In this context, an ealier time really is above current time, and the future is further below the current time. This helps me remember! -Ian]]>