<![CDATA[Comments on: Giving up a Seat on the Bus]]> 2010-04-06 18:00:00 <![CDATA[By: go_manly]]> Come on CPod, lets get the English correct.

"There's (there is ??) still three more stops" ??

]]> Come on CPod, lets get the English correct.

"There's (there is ??) still three more stops" ??

]]> <![CDATA[By: maktubhelou]]> Great lesson! Cute, too. It's pretty much exactly the same here in Korea, including the "shameless" guy who comes in and steals the seat while two people are trying to be polite waiting for the other to take the seat.

What was the full expression for "shameless" that Jenny used in the dialogue? And how would you use it in conversation?

]]> Great lesson! Cute, too. It's pretty much exactly the same here in Korea, including the "shameless" guy who comes in and steals the seat while two people are trying to be polite waiting for the other to take the seat.

What was the full expression for "shameless" that Jenny used in the dialogue? And how would you use it in conversation?

]]> <![CDATA[By: suxiaoya]]> Hi maktubehlou -

"Shameless" is 不要脸 / bùyàoliǎn

You can see some usages here:

http://chinesepod.com/tools/glossary/entry/%E4%B8%8D%E8%A6%81%E8%84%B8

Seeing as "face" is so important in China, I'd think this is a good phrase to know!

]]> Hi maktubehlou -

"Shameless" is 不要脸 / bùyàoliǎn

You can see some usages here:

http://chinesepod.com/tools/glossary/entry/%E4%B8%8D%E8%A6%81%E8%84%B8

Seeing as "face" is so important in China, I'd think this is a good phrase to know!

]]> <![CDATA[By: miiszhah]]> I remember rush hour in Tokyo, we were all crammed into a train and my face was just about shoved into a woman's chest...it was very embarrassing, are the trains as packed in Shanghai or Beijing?

]]> I remember rush hour in Tokyo, we were all crammed into a train and my face was just about shoved into a woman's chest...it was very embarrassing, are the trains as packed in Shanghai or Beijing?

]]> <![CDATA[By: mac]]> I've noticed recently that many of the westerners who live in Korea don't think very highly of Korean people. Maktubhelou, are you a westerner?

]]> I've noticed recently that many of the westerners who live in Korea don't think very highly of Korean people. Maktubhelou, are you a westerner?

]]> <![CDATA[By: mac]]> go manly,

I assume you mean it should be "There are still three more stops" , right?

]]> go manly,

I assume you mean it should be "There are still three more stops" , right?

]]> <![CDATA[By: mac]]> I have two questions.

1. I learned a long time ago that 朋友 is read "peng2 you5" , with the 友 as a neutral tone. So, is the 友 changed back to its original third tone in the word  小朋友 ?  Do people ever read this word with the 友 as a neutral tone ?

2. I know in northern China people pronounce 爺爺 as  " ye2 ye5" and it Taiwan they pronounce it as ye2 ye2. Do mainland Chinese people (from the South perhaps) ever read it "ye2 ye2"  ?

]]> I have two questions.

1. I learned a long time ago that 朋友 is read "peng2 you5" , with the 友 as a neutral tone. So, is the 友 changed back to its original third tone in the word  小朋友 ?  Do people ever read this word with the 友 as a neutral tone ?

2. I know in northern China people pronounce 爺爺 as  " ye2 ye5" and it Taiwan they pronounce it as ye2 ye2. Do mainland Chinese people (from the South perhaps) ever read it "ye2 ye2"  ?

]]> <![CDATA[By: yase]]> A very polite youngish local Beijinger insisted on giving up his seat for me yesterday in the bus, even though I tried to repeatedly refuse it !

It has happened just once before on the bus in my four year stay in Beijing - but never on the ditie. That is more of a savage 'first come, first served' environment for seating in my experience. 

]]> A very polite youngish local Beijinger insisted on giving up his seat for me yesterday in the bus, even though I tried to repeatedly refuse it !

It has happened just once before on the bus in my four year stay in Beijing - but never on the ditie. That is more of a savage 'first come, first served' environment for seating in my experience. 

]]> <![CDATA[By: suxiaoya]]> In rush hour public transport can be truly horrific in Shanghai. People's Square metro station is especially busy, but the buses are even worse in my experience.

I have noticed that increasingly numbers of people follow the rule of "先下后上" (xiān xià hòu shàng / let people get off first, then get on). However, in rush hour all the rules go out of the window and it's generally mahem!

To be fair, though, the London underground can be totally crazy, too. I used to commute up from Waterloo to Tottenham Court road and it was a painful experience every single day...

]]> In rush hour public transport can be truly horrific in Shanghai. People's Square metro station is especially busy, but the buses are even worse in my experience.

I have noticed that increasingly numbers of people follow the rule of "先下后上" (xiān xià hòu shàng / let people get off first, then get on). However, in rush hour all the rules go out of the window and it's generally mahem!

To be fair, though, the London underground can be totally crazy, too. I used to commute up from Waterloo to Tottenham Court road and it was a painful experience every single day...

]]> <![CDATA[By: maktubhelou]]> Hi Mac,

What makes you think I don't think very highly of Korean people? When I said it's pretty much exactly the same here in Korea, I was referring to the fact that people generally try to give up their seats to elderly people, which was the topic of the dialogue. There's nothing negative about that at all, quite the contrary. As for the 不要脸 people who come in and steal the seat while two people are having a stand-off of politeness, all I can say is there are idiots everywhere.

]]> Hi Mac,

What makes you think I don't think very highly of Korean people? When I said it's pretty much exactly the same here in Korea, I was referring to the fact that people generally try to give up their seats to elderly people, which was the topic of the dialogue. There's nothing negative about that at all, quite the contrary. As for the 不要脸 people who come in and steal the seat while two people are having a stand-off of politeness, all I can say is there are idiots everywhere.

]]> <![CDATA[By: go_manly]]> miiszhah

Are you short, or was she tall?

]]> miiszhah

Are you short, or was she tall?

]]> <![CDATA[By: tommy2tone]]> 你可不可以说“今天没下雨？” 还是你需要用“不？”

Can you use "mei" instead of "bu" here? Is there a rule to follow?

thanks

]]> 你可不可以说“今天没下雨？” 还是你需要用“不？”

Can you use "mei" instead of "bu" here? Is there a rule to follow?

thanks

]]> <![CDATA[By: kujuliet2]]>

]]>

]]> <![CDATA[By: kujuliet2]]> I was living last year in 阿根廷（Argentina), and it's the same way!  People are amazing about, even in the worst of rush hour subways (where, literally, people have been crushed) seats will be instantly given for children, pregnant ladies, and the elderly, even though you may have fought and hovered for that seat.  But back in the US (west coast) I notice that people will be surprised and almost taken aback if you give up your seat for them.  Interesting how it varies...

]]> I was living last year in 阿根廷（Argentina), and it's the same way!  People are amazing about, even in the worst of rush hour subways (where, literally, people have been crushed) seats will be instantly given for children, pregnant ladies, and the elderly, even though you may have fought and hovered for that seat.  But back in the US (west coast) I notice that people will be surprised and almost taken aback if you give up your seat for them.  Interesting how it varies...

]]> <![CDATA[By: mac]]> whoa! I must of been confused. Sorry!

]]> whoa! I must of been confused. Sorry!

]]> <![CDATA[By: connie]]> 1. 友 is pronounced as a neutral tone in the word 小朋友。

2. In Mainland China (South and North), people pronounce 爷爷 as yéye.

]]> 1. 友 is pronounced as a neutral tone in the word 小朋友。

2. In Mainland China (South and North), people pronounce 爷爷 as yéye.

]]> <![CDATA[By: mac]]> thanks a lot Connie!!

]]> thanks a lot Connie!!

]]> <![CDATA[By: xiaophil]]> One time my feet really ached while riding the subway, and so I wanted to sit down.  I was standing near a lady who was getting ready to stand up.  I was watching her seet with anticipation, but then she motioned an old man to sit down.  The old man said 谢谢 with the utmost sincerity.  I of course didn't mind as he was quite old, and he must have been mored tired than me. But when he had his grandson sit down instead, I about lost it.  It is definitely very petty to get angry at an old man for being nice to his grandson, but at that time I sure did resent that 小皇帝 (little emperor).

]]> One time my feet really ached while riding the subway, and so I wanted to sit down.  I was standing near a lady who was getting ready to stand up.  I was watching her seet with anticipation, but then she motioned an old man to sit down.  The old man said 谢谢 with the utmost sincerity.  I of course didn't mind as he was quite old, and he must have been mored tired than me. But when he had his grandson sit down instead, I about lost it.  It is definitely very petty to get angry at an old man for being nice to his grandson, but at that time I sure did resent that 小皇帝 (little emperor).

]]> <![CDATA[By: loldz]]> Hi mates !

very nice lesson :) i enjoyed it 

by the way how can we say in chinese :

-How long does it last to get from place "A"  to  "B" ?

- it takes ( lasts )  around 5 minutes

Cheers 88

]]> Hi mates !

very nice lesson :) i enjoyed it 

by the way how can we say in chinese :

-How long does it last to get from place "A"  to  "B" ?

- it takes ( lasts )  around 5 minutes

Cheers 88

]]> <![CDATA[By: loldz]]> Hi connie ! wow

are you the connie i hear in the Qing Wen !

i love the way you say : " wo shi Connie ^_^ "

you're doing a great job ! keep it ongoing :-) 88

]]> Hi connie ! wow

are you the connie i hear in the Qing Wen !

i love the way you say : " wo shi Connie ^_^ "

you're doing a great job ! keep it ongoing :-) 88

]]> <![CDATA[By: darkstar94]]> It's actually really common these days for people to say there's with a plural haha, you can search it on google and see people are saying that more and more... Of course it's still technically wrong though

]]> It's actually really common these days for people to say there's with a plural haha, you can search it on google and see people are saying that more and more... Of course it's still technically wrong though

]]> <![CDATA[By: JasonSch]]> Yeah. I'm not sure if it's becoming common in other English speaking countries, but in American English, it certainly is. (For example, I would expect an answer to 'How many beers are left?', to be 'There's 2 more' before it would, 'There are 2 more') But! This is a habit, not a rule, and as you say, technically incorrect. :S

]]> Yeah. I'm not sure if it's becoming common in other English speaking countries, but in American English, it certainly is. (For example, I would expect an answer to 'How many beers are left?', to be 'There's 2 more' before it would, 'There are 2 more') But! This is a habit, not a rule, and as you say, technically incorrect. :S

]]> <![CDATA[By: lujiaojie]]> In the morning, you can say: 今天不下雨。It does not rain today。

In the evening, you can say: 今天没下雨。No rain today.

We did a Qing Wen:

Qing Wen - Negating Verbs: When to Use 没有 (méiyǒu), When to Use 不 (bù)

]]> In the morning, you can say: 今天不下雨。It does not rain today。

In the evening, you can say: 今天没下雨。No rain today.

We did a Qing Wen:

Qing Wen - Negating Verbs: When to Use 没有 (méiyǒu), When to Use 不 (bù)

]]> <![CDATA[By: kaixin_in_tampa]]> Thanks! That's a good expression to know indeed! Firefox substitutes the 汉字 with gibberish when I copy-paste like that, don't know why it does that.

http://chinesepod.com/tools/glossary/entry/不要脸

]]> Thanks! That's a good expression to know indeed! Firefox substitutes the 汉字 with gibberish when I copy-paste like that, don't know why it does that.

http://chinesepod.com/tools/glossary/entry/不要脸

]]> <![CDATA[By: tommy2tone]]> Lujiaojie, 谢谢你！

]]> Lujiaojie, 谢谢你！

]]> <![CDATA[By: itsanthonyhere]]> I understand American English is on the decline, but I'm sure Cpod wrote it like that to keep this program on a more realistic level - so many language programs out there teach the most formal way of speaking without even mentioning colloquial language. I'll only complain when I see something like, "your" when someone is trying to say, "you are."

]]> I understand American English is on the decline, but I'm sure Cpod wrote it like that to keep this program on a more realistic level - so many language programs out there teach the most formal way of speaking without even mentioning colloquial language. I'll only complain when I see something like, "your" when someone is trying to say, "you are."

]]> <![CDATA[By: go_manly]]> "I understand American English is on the decline,"

Really? Don't get my hopes up.

]]> "I understand American English is on the decline,"

Really? Don't get my hopes up.

]]> <![CDATA[By: mattahmet]]> Come on CPod, lets get the English correct.

should be

Come on, CPod. Let's get the English correct.

Just saying....

]]> Come on CPod, lets get the English correct.

should be

Come on, CPod. Let's get the English correct.

Just saying....

]]> <![CDATA[By: go_manly]]> I'm not being paid money to get things right. Further, my mistake (omission of the apostrophe) was a typo, and not a conscious decision to use poor English. In any case I disagree with you on the use of all that punctuation - why the comma after CPod? (it is not said with any pause)

]]> I'm not being paid money to get things right. Further, my mistake (omission of the apostrophe) was a typo, and not a conscious decision to use poor English. In any case I disagree with you on the use of all that punctuation - why the comma after CPod? (it is not said with any pause)

]]> <![CDATA[By: mattahmet]]> No offense, go_manly. I just thought if we were being that particular about details.... Of course, you're right that that there's little excuse for published material not to have been properly edited (as opposed to individuals' comments). As for the comma before CPod, I found the following when I googled "vocative comma": http://awhalesbelly.blogspot.com/2008/03/save-vocative-comma.html A good example they give for the use of the vocative comma is the difference between "Don't eat, Mom!" and "Don't eat Mom!" Another good blog: http://thegrammarvandal.wordpress.com/2007/06/10/ive-found-my-calling-2/

Personally, I'm just happy when there aren't typos and other mistakes in the Chinese--which there sometimes are, of course.

]]> No offense, go_manly. I just thought if we were being that particular about details.... Of course, you're right that that there's little excuse for published material not to have been properly edited (as opposed to individuals' comments). As for the comma before CPod, I found the following when I googled "vocative comma": http://awhalesbelly.blogspot.com/2008/03/save-vocative-comma.html A good example they give for the use of the vocative comma is the difference between "Don't eat, Mom!" and "Don't eat Mom!" Another good blog: http://thegrammarvandal.wordpress.com/2007/06/10/ive-found-my-calling-2/

Personally, I'm just happy when there aren't typos and other mistakes in the Chinese--which there sometimes are, of course.

]]> <![CDATA[By: esai]]> http://www.chicagomanualofstyle.org/home.html

]]> http://www.chicagomanualofstyle.org/home.html

]]>