<![CDATA[Comments on: Designing the New Apartment 3]]> designing the new apartment series. In this show, our very busy couple talks about some design concerns with workers in the new apartment. Learn all about design and negotiating decisions in this helpful lesson!]]> 2010-03-10 18:00:00 <![CDATA[By: pretzellogic]]>

3 things:

1) is this what a typical Chinese couple are doing nowadays? buying an apartment and doing serious remodeling are a really big committment prior to marriage.

2)there doesn't seem to be do-it-yourself culture in China. I was surprised in this lesson that the contractors did the painting because painting is one of the easiest things to do yourself.

3)I guess we'll need a series on divorce and learn some divorce language.

]]>

3 things:

1) is this what a typical Chinese couple are doing nowadays? buying an apartment and doing serious remodeling are a really big committment prior to marriage.

2)there doesn't seem to be do-it-yourself culture in China. I was surprised in this lesson that the contractors did the painting because painting is one of the easiest things to do yourself.

3)I guess we'll need a series on divorce and learn some divorce language.

]]> <![CDATA[By: connie]]> 在装修方面，中国的大部分家庭都是这么做的。

我们一般都是请油漆工来刷墙和喷油漆。在这个方面，我们好像真的缺少了DIY精神。有的人觉得请人比较方便，自己做太麻烦了。有的人可能真的不会，像我，我就觉得刷墙是一件挺困难的事。

]]> 在装修方面，中国的大部分家庭都是这么做的。

我们一般都是请油漆工来刷墙和喷油漆。在这个方面，我们好像真的缺少了DIY精神。有的人觉得请人比较方便，自己做太麻烦了。有的人可能真的不会，像我，我就觉得刷墙是一件挺困难的事。

]]> <![CDATA[By: delawaredavid]]> I think the do-it-yourself culture in the US developed mostly because the labor costs to renovate a house can be very expensive. In China/Asia you can hire squadrons of people on the cheap to do that work for you. Its a question of time vs. money. If you can pay people very little money to paint your house, there is no reason to spend three weekends dripping paint on yourself. Especially in a culture where people are being asked to work crushing amounts of overtime these days....

]]> I think the do-it-yourself culture in the US developed mostly because the labor costs to renovate a house can be very expensive. In China/Asia you can hire squadrons of people on the cheap to do that work for you. Its a question of time vs. money. If you can pay people very little money to paint your house, there is no reason to spend three weekends dripping paint on yourself. Especially in a culture where people are being asked to work crushing amounts of overtime these days....

]]> <![CDATA[By: bodawei]]> 我同意自己做太麻烦了，而且工人很便宜，但是最近有几个很大的DIY店。大概多半有人喜欢逛街和明牌家具的东西买了，然后请工人修复了。

]]> 我同意自己做太麻烦了，而且工人很便宜，但是最近有几个很大的DIY店。大概多半有人喜欢逛街和明牌家具的东西买了，然后请工人修复了。

]]> <![CDATA[By: jadeed]]> if I wanted to say "that color goes with the sofa really well" can I say 那个颜色配沙发很好？

Would the single character word "配”be the proper word to use in this sentence?

]]> if I wanted to say "that color goes with the sofa really well" can I say 那个颜色配沙发很好？

Would the single character word "配”be the proper word to use in this sentence?

]]> <![CDATA[By: bodawei]]> 现在我养一条鱼。 原来有五条可是四条死了。 啊呀！ 

]]> 现在我养一条鱼。 原来有五条可是四条死了。 啊呀！ 

]]> <![CDATA[By: christine30550]]> So when the girl says "别忙着感叹", does this mean "don't/you can't sit back and relax now"? Could you give some more examples on how/when to use this? 谢谢！

]]> So when the girl says "别忙着感叹", does this mean "don't/you can't sit back and relax now"? Could you give some more examples on how/when to use this? 谢谢！

]]> <![CDATA[By: connie]]> 你可以说：那个颜色跟沙发很配。Nàge yánsè gēn shāfā hěn pèi.

]]> 你可以说：那个颜色跟沙发很配。Nàge yánsè gēn shāfā hěn pèi.

]]> <![CDATA[By: lujiaojie]]> Yes, "别忙着感叹" means "you can't sit back and relax now".

For example,

别急着下班，还有一件事没处理好！

别忙着上床睡觉，你还没洗澡呢！

]]> Yes, "别忙着感叹" means "you can't sit back and relax now".

For example,

别急着下班，还有一件事没处理好！

别忙着上床睡觉，你还没洗澡呢！

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

]]>

]]> <![CDATA[By: helencao_counselor]]> 有房族和无房族的朋友们，大家一起来谈谈你们最理想的房屋装潢配色方案吧？

]]> 有房族和无房族的朋友们，大家一起来谈谈你们最理想的房屋装潢配色方案吧？

]]> <![CDATA[By: changye]]> 我家的小胖狗爱听这句俗话，“金窝银窝不如自己的狗窝”。

]]> 我家的小胖狗爱听这句俗话，“金窝银窝不如自己的狗窝”。

]]> <![CDATA[By: changye]]> Hi christine30550

“别忙着感叹” literally means "Don't be busy sighing", and it can be translated as "you can't sit back and relax now" (or something like that) in natural English.

]]> Hi christine30550

“别忙着感叹” literally means "Don't be busy sighing", and it can be translated as "you can't sit back and relax now" (or something like that) in natural English.

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

hi Chinesepod,

I don't mean to be overly picky, but the traditionalversion of "plan" ( as a noun) is 計畫. When it's written 計劃 the word "plan" is a verb, not a noun.

Even Chinese people often think there's no difference between 計畫 and 計劃, but there is.

]]>

hi Chinesepod,

I don't mean to be overly picky, but the traditionalversion of "plan" ( as a noun) is 計畫. When it's written 計劃 the word "plan" is a verb, not a noun.

Even Chinese people often think there's no difference between 計畫 and 計劃, but there is.

]]> <![CDATA[By: vonb]]> The translation for 化解 is shown as "to dissolve," but from the dialogue context and the examples, the meaning seems to more closely match "to resolve."  Can anyone help on this one?

]]> The translation for 化解 is shown as "to dissolve," but from the dialogue context and the examples, the meaning seems to more closely match "to resolve."  Can anyone help on this one?

]]> <![CDATA[By: changye]]> Hi vonb

I agree. "Resolve" (or neutralize, ease off, reconcile) would be more appropriate in this case.

]]> Hi vonb

I agree. "Resolve" (or neutralize, ease off, reconcile) would be more appropriate in this case.

]]> <![CDATA[By: JasonSch]]> 化解 can mean to dissolve (a situation), resolve, settle and also to 'ease up' or neutralize. At the sentence level, I felt 'ease up' was the most appropriate. In the pop-up, there was only to dissolve, but in the vocab, both are listed. But basically, it means to reconcile a conflict or conflicted situation. (i.e. the feng shui)

]]> 化解 can mean to dissolve (a situation), resolve, settle and also to 'ease up' or neutralize. At the sentence level, I felt 'ease up' was the most appropriate. In the pop-up, there was only to dissolve, but in the vocab, both are listed. But basically, it means to reconcile a conflict or conflicted situation. (i.e. the feng shui)

]]> <![CDATA[By: lujiaojie]]> Thank you for pointing that out.

Now we only use 计划(計劃), it's both a noun and a verb. There is no such a word as 计画（計畫）.

]]> Thank you for pointing that out.

Now we only use 计划(計劃), it's both a noun and a verb. There is no such a word as 计画（計畫）.

]]> <![CDATA[By: changye]]> “計畫” is used in traditional Chinese (and was used in Japanese before the war), and just for the record, “計画” is used in modern Japanese.

]]> “計畫” is used in traditional Chinese (and was used in Japanese before the war), and just for the record, “計画” is used in modern Japanese.

]]> <![CDATA[By: bucktooth]]> 这个 ’老公‘ 是不是 husband的意思？ 如果他真的是她的husband那他们怎么还没有结婚？

]]> 这个 ’老公‘ 是不是 husband的意思？ 如果他真的是她的husband那他们怎么还没有结婚？

]]> <![CDATA[By: connie]]> 其实很多年轻人在谈恋爱的时候，也会叫称呼"老公"，"老婆"，表示关系亲密。

还有一种可能性是，他们已经注册结婚了，已经是法律上的夫妻了，但是还没有办婚礼。

]]> 其实很多年轻人在谈恋爱的时候，也会叫称呼"老公"，"老婆"，表示关系亲密。

还有一种可能性是，他们已经注册结婚了，已经是法律上的夫妻了，但是还没有办婚礼。

]]> <![CDATA[By: starfish0803]]>

很有意思东西西

]]>

很有意思东西西

]]> <![CDATA[By: starfish0803]]> 这周末我有一个计划

]]> 这周末我有一个计划

]]>