<![CDATA[Comments on: Horseback Riding]]> 2010-06-14 18:00:00 <![CDATA[By: pretzellogic]]> Another lesson with cool, arcane words. Now we only need to learn "stampede" and "help!" 

I was about to ask where in China might one go horseback riding, but a simple google search revealed plenty of places.  One in Beijing is near the Badaling Great Wall.

]]> Another lesson with cool, arcane words. Now we only need to learn "stampede" and "help!" 

I was about to ask where in China might one go horseback riding, but a simple google search revealed plenty of places.  One in Beijing is near the Badaling Great Wall.

]]> <![CDATA[By: John]]> Glad you liked it! This one was yet another response to ChinesePod user lesson requests.

You're right; there are a lot of places to go horseback riding in China. I hear one of the nicest is on the rolling plains of Sichuan.

]]> Glad you liked it! This one was yet another response to ChinesePod user lesson requests.

You're right; there are a lot of places to go horseback riding in China. I hear one of the nicest is on the rolling plains of Sichuan.

]]> <![CDATA[By: dahouxiaohou]]> I've never heard this 学员 before, I wonder is it something to do with being a paying customer, rather than a regular school student?

Also, John's right, the western parts of Sichuan are perfect for horse trecking, though being able to say these phrases in 藏族话 might be more useful!

]]> I've never heard this 学员 before, I wonder is it something to do with being a paying customer, rather than a regular school student?

Also, John's right, the western parts of Sichuan are perfect for horse trecking, though being able to say these phrases in 藏族话 might be more useful!

]]> <![CDATA[By: jjinfrance]]> 学员 is used quite often. As you said, it refers to a paying customer, usually adults, in a short-term skill training course.

]]> 学员 is used quite often. As you said, it refers to a paying customer, usually adults, in a short-term skill training course.

]]> <![CDATA[By: jjinfrance]]> I am surprised to see the word 上手 here. I always thought it's a borrowed term from Japanese. It's understandable that this word is used commonly in Taiwan, being an former Japanese colony, but in China? Or, maybe the Japanese borrowed this term long time ago?

]]> I am surprised to see the word 上手 here. I always thought it's a borrowed term from Japanese. It's understandable that this word is used commonly in Taiwan, being an former Japanese colony, but in China? Or, maybe the Japanese borrowed this term long time ago?

]]> <![CDATA[By: alexyzye]]> So ChinesePod subscribers are also 学员?

]]> So ChinesePod subscribers are also 学员?

]]> <![CDATA[By: alexyzye]]> I thought 托 means to lead/guide someone by the hand，and to support someone with your hands would be 扶. So why is it not 我会扶着你的 in the dialog?

]]> I thought 托 means to lead/guide someone by the hand，and to support someone with your hands would be 扶. So why is it not 我会扶着你的 in the dialog?

]]> <![CDATA[By: masterkrang]]> even though it was explained and emphasized on in the lesson, this whole business of 怎么个快法 seems pretty hard to use. in this context, what is the 指导 actually saying? something like "let's see how you control the speed"? the translation you use is something like "怎么骑能骑得很快“ but it seems a little strange for a 指导 to challenge the 学员 to go fast, especially since he's telling her to be careful during the lesson. also seems a little irresponsible for a 指导 to say something like "let's see how fast you can go", well, in america that wouldn't happen cuz everybody is so worried about getting sued. any ideas?

]]> even though it was explained and emphasized on in the lesson, this whole business of 怎么个快法 seems pretty hard to use. in this context, what is the 指导 actually saying? something like "let's see how you control the speed"? the translation you use is something like "怎么骑能骑得很快“ but it seems a little strange for a 指导 to challenge the 学员 to go fast, especially since he's telling her to be careful during the lesson. also seems a little irresponsible for a 指导 to say something like "let's see how fast you can go", well, in america that wouldn't happen cuz everybody is so worried about getting sued. any ideas?

]]> <![CDATA[By: masterkrang]]> i think the way you say help is 救命！i learned that from watching 喜羊羊与灰太狼。;) as for stampede, you're on your own...

]]> i think the way you say help is 救命！i learned that from watching 喜羊羊与灰太狼。;) as for stampede, you're on your own...

]]> <![CDATA[By: Niels]]> Can "上馬" and "騎馬" both be used? Or does "騎馬" sound weird? How come "上" can be used with "馬" and not with other means of transportation like "騎"腳踏車?

]]> Can "上馬" and "騎馬" both be used? Or does "騎馬" sound weird? How come "上" can be used with "馬" and not with other means of transportation like "騎"腳踏車?

]]> <![CDATA[By: JasonSch]]> 上馬 means 'to mount a horse', whereas, 騎馬 means 'to ride a horse'. So, you could say: 上腳踏車, meaning 'to get on a bike'.

]]> 上馬 means 'to mount a horse', whereas, 騎馬 means 'to ride a horse'. So, you could say: 上腳踏車, meaning 'to get on a bike'.

]]> <![CDATA[By: Niels]]> Thanks Jason! Now it is much clearer. :)

]]> Thanks Jason! Now it is much clearer. :)

]]> <![CDATA[By: jjinfrance]]> 托 also means to support something with hands. For example, 用手托盘子。 打排球(páiqiú, volleyball) 时得(děi, must) 用手托球。

]]> 托 also means to support something with hands. For example, 用手托盘子。 打排球(páiqiú, volleyball) 时得(děi, must) 用手托球。

]]> <![CDATA[By: user11962]]> This lesson was a lot of fun.  Nice acting, Connie !

]]> This lesson was a lot of fun.  Nice acting, Connie !

]]> <![CDATA[By: RCK]]> 1)上手很快的。  = I got the hang of it right away

In my dictionaries shangshou means to begin (amongst otehr definitions...) nowhere does it mention to get the hang of...is this shanghai hua or standard mandarin?

2) 哎，刚才不应该说它坏话的。

why is there a 的 at the end of this sentence?

could you say 刚才不应该说它的坏话。

are these the same?

Thank you

RCK

]]> 1)上手很快的。  = I got the hang of it right away

In my dictionaries shangshou means to begin (amongst otehr definitions...) nowhere does it mention to get the hang of...is this shanghai hua or standard mandarin?

2) 哎，刚才不应该说它坏话的。

why is there a 的 at the end of this sentence?

could you say 刚才不应该说它的坏话。

are these the same?

Thank you

RCK

]]> <![CDATA[By: JasonSch]]> Hi RCK,

1) Good question. 上手 comes up in many dictionaries as simply, 'to start'. This is correct, but in many contexts, 上手 actually means something more along lines of 'to become accustomed to', 'to get the hang of', or 'get used to'.

For example, in the sentence: 你上手之前需要一点时间, the meaning isn't that 'You'll need some time before you get started', but rather, 'Before you've gotten the hang of it'.

2) The 的 in: 哎，刚才不应该说它坏话的。simply adds emphasis. Your example with no 的 is okay as well.

Hope that helps!

]]> Hi RCK,

1) Good question. 上手 comes up in many dictionaries as simply, 'to start'. This is correct, but in many contexts, 上手 actually means something more along lines of 'to become accustomed to', 'to get the hang of', or 'get used to'.

For example, in the sentence: 你上手之前需要一点时间, the meaning isn't that 'You'll need some time before you get started', but rather, 'Before you've gotten the hang of it'.

2) The 的 in: 哎，刚才不应该说它坏话的。simply adds emphasis. Your example with no 的 is okay as well.

Hope that helps!

]]> <![CDATA[By: RCK]]> JasonSch,

You da man, thanks bro, I really appreciate the helpful explanations!

RCK

]]> JasonSch,

You da man, thanks bro, I really appreciate the helpful explanations!

RCK

]]> <![CDATA[By: claudielo]]> john sorry the OT but don t know which other place to express my request: would it also be possible in the future to have a lesson about "working out", "gym" and stuff like that? i haven t seen lessons about it so far if i m not wrong

thanks

]]> john sorry the OT but don t know which other place to express my request: would it also be possible in the future to have a lesson about "working out", "gym" and stuff like that? i haven t seen lessons about it so far if i m not wrong

thanks

]]> <![CDATA[By: stanrachev]]> i second that, just joined a gym in Shanghai and it would be great to know what some of those common exercises and machines are called in Chinese.

]]> i second that, just joined a gym in Shanghai and it would be great to know what some of those common exercises and machines are called in Chinese.

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

here are a few:

•Upper Intermediate - Personal Trainer

•Intermediate - Going to the Gym

please see working links below.

]]>

here are a few:

•Upper Intermediate - Personal Trainer

•Intermediate - Going to the Gym

please see working links below.

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

Hi claudielo, stanrachev, a quick search on the site revealed (hopefully these links work):

Upper Intermediate - Personal Trainer

Intermediate - Going to the Gym

•Upper Intermediate - Calisthenics

•Intermediate - Tai Chi

]]>

Hi claudielo, stanrachev, a quick search on the site revealed (hopefully these links work):

Upper Intermediate - Personal Trainer

Intermediate - Going to the Gym

•Upper Intermediate - Calisthenics

•Intermediate - Tai Chi

]]> <![CDATA[By: claudielo]]> thanks pretzellogic!

]]> thanks pretzellogic!

]]>