<![CDATA[Comments on: Mailing a Package at the Post Office]]> 2010-02-02 18:00:00 <![CDATA[By: piyan]]> I wonder what the Chinese mentality is for not considering pants as clothes(衣服)

]]> I wonder what the Chinese mentality is for not considering pants as clothes(衣服)

]]> <![CDATA[By: piyan]]> another thing I'm wondering about is whether Chinese people ordinarily differentiate green tea , red tea, jasmin tea, etc when in similar circumstances as in this dialog. For example, if a Chinese person wanted to take a large amount of tea abroad to give out to friends and family, when declaring the goods at customs would he/she say " I'm declaring 30 pounds of green tea"? Or would he/she be more likely to simply say " I'm declaring 30 pounds of tea" ?

]]> another thing I'm wondering about is whether Chinese people ordinarily differentiate green tea , red tea, jasmin tea, etc when in similar circumstances as in this dialog. For example, if a Chinese person wanted to take a large amount of tea abroad to give out to friends and family, when declaring the goods at customs would he/she say " I'm declaring 30 pounds of green tea"? Or would he/she be more likely to simply say " I'm declaring 30 pounds of tea" ?

]]> <![CDATA[By: pretzellogic]]> I had to do this once. I was sending mahjong and Chinese Chess games to my friend in the US. The conversation was like,

"by air or by sea?"

we said, "how much by air?", and he replied (after some calculations) 689 RMB!

and then we said, "how much by sea?", and he replied, "134 RMB".

"how long will it take by sea?" we asked, and he said, 2 months.

We sent the package by sea.

]]> I had to do this once. I was sending mahjong and Chinese Chess games to my friend in the US. The conversation was like,

"by air or by sea?"

we said, "how much by air?", and he replied (after some calculations) 689 RMB!

and then we said, "how much by sea?", and he replied, "134 RMB".

"how long will it take by sea?" we asked, and he said, 2 months.

We sent the package by sea.

]]> <![CDATA[By: changye]]> I send documents by air (EMS), and send a package (mainly books and food) by sea from Japan to China, which takes about a month. I always enjoy the "waiting time". The longer I wait, the happier I feel when a package arrives. As the Chinese saying goes, 好饭不怕晚! Sorry, I don't know how to say it in English. Help much appreciated!

P/S 好饭不怕晚 .... A delicious meal is worth waiting for............????

]]> I send documents by air (EMS), and send a package (mainly books and food) by sea from Japan to China, which takes about a month. I always enjoy the "waiting time". The longer I wait, the happier I feel when a package arrives. As the Chinese saying goes, 好饭不怕晚! Sorry, I don't know how to say it in English. Help much appreciated!

P/S 好饭不怕晚 .... A delicious meal is worth waiting for............????

]]> <![CDATA[By: henning]]> Knowing about my tea consumption, my mother in law once sent me some green tea (西湖龙井， xīhú lóngjǐng) for my birthday. It never arrived.

And be warned about sending trousers or other clothes by mail: My collegue did that, but the German customs called him in and demanded to see all receipts (the irony: the clothes were originally brought in Germany).

So, well, you might send the package as in the dialogue, but don't include the tea, the clothes, or the pants. :P

]]> Knowing about my tea consumption, my mother in law once sent me some green tea (西湖龙井， xīhú lóngjǐng) for my birthday. It never arrived.

And be warned about sending trousers or other clothes by mail: My collegue did that, but the German customs called him in and demanded to see all receipts (the irony: the clothes were originally brought in Germany).

So, well, you might send the package as in the dialogue, but don't include the tea, the clothes, or the pants. :P

]]> <![CDATA[By: jennyzhu]]> When we are buying tea, we are precise about which kind it is. But I think when we are declaring goods, most people are quite general and just say tea.

]]> When we are buying tea, we are precise about which kind it is. But I think when we are declaring goods, most people are quite general and just say tea.

]]> <![CDATA[By: jennyzhu]]> That's because the word 衣服/yi1 fu2 in Chinese means clothes which you wear in your upper body. I suppose the English translation 'clothes' might be a bit misleading.

]]> That's because the word 衣服/yi1 fu2 in Chinese means clothes which you wear in your upper body. I suppose the English translation 'clothes' might be a bit misleading.

]]> <![CDATA[By: jennyzhu]]> Wow, no tea, pants or clothes. That excludes the top 3 items people send. Talking about tea, there is a mall near the ChinesePod office dedicated to tea and tea pots. You will enjoy it.

]]> Wow, no tea, pants or clothes. That excludes the top 3 items people send. Talking about tea, there is a mall near the ChinesePod office dedicated to tea and tea pots. You will enjoy it.

]]> <![CDATA[By: baifameizhong]]> We recently got a parcel from China from the in-laws. We then still were handed a bill for 50 Franks or so because my father-in-law had been quite generous with the valueing of the contents. We then calculated that the combined costs of sending and that bill together cost a good deal more than the actual contents.

Ever since we've been able to convince my mother-in-law to go against her instincts and take away the price tags (still weird for me to keep the price tags on presents) and wash the clothes once or twice so that we can say their not new anymore and we can write a really low value on the slip :-).....actually...speaking of sending stuff, I should go right now and post the presents for Chinese New Year.


David

]]> We recently got a parcel from China from the in-laws. We then still were handed a bill for 50 Franks or so because my father-in-law had been quite generous with the valueing of the contents. We then calculated that the combined costs of sending and that bill together cost a good deal more than the actual contents.

Ever since we've been able to convince my mother-in-law to go against her instincts and take away the price tags (still weird for me to keep the price tags on presents) and wash the clothes once or twice so that we can say their not new anymore and we can write a really low value on the slip :-).....actually...speaking of sending stuff, I should go right now and post the presents for Chinese New Year.


David

]]> <![CDATA[By: piyan]]> but isn't it strange that in Chinese there is a general word for things worn above the waist( 衣服）, but no general word for things worn below the waist ?

Does that mean that if I wanted to say "I bought some new clothes (shirts/pants/shorts/skirt) today" , I would have to say : “我今天买了裤子，裙子，短裤， 还有衣服” ？？

]]> but isn't it strange that in Chinese there is a general word for things worn above the waist( 衣服）, but no general word for things worn below the waist ?

Does that mean that if I wanted to say "I bought some new clothes (shirts/pants/shorts/skirt) today" , I would have to say : “我今天买了裤子，裙子，短裤， 还有衣服” ？？

]]> <![CDATA[By: piyan]]> okay thanks!

]]> okay thanks!

]]> <![CDATA[By: excuter]]> somehow in the dialouge I always hear 那我看看 (na wo kan kan ) instead of 让我看看 (ràng wǒ kàn kan).

怎么办呢

]]> somehow in the dialouge I always hear 那我看看 (na wo kan kan ) instead of 让我看看 (ràng wǒ kàn kan).

怎么办呢

]]> <![CDATA[By: osckeezee]]> Hi Jenny,

What verb do you use for sending an email, text message (phone), or sending a fax?

]]> Hi Jenny,

What verb do you use for sending an email, text message (phone), or sending a fax?

]]> <![CDATA[By: Tal]]> That would be 发 fā.

e.g.

我发电子邮件给他了。Wǒ fā diànzǐ yóujiàn gěi tā le. (I sent him an email.)

后来，他发短信给我了。Hòulái, tā fā duǎnxìn gěi wǒ le. (Later, he sent me a text message.)

现今，发传真的人不多。Xiànjīn, fā chuánzhēn de rén bù duō. (Nowadays, not many people send faxes.)

Sorry, I'm not Jenny though.

]]> That would be 发 fā.

e.g.

我发电子邮件给他了。Wǒ fā diànzǐ yóujiàn gěi tā le. (I sent him an email.)

后来，他发短信给我了。Hòulái, tā fā duǎnxìn gěi wǒ le. (Later, he sent me a text message.)

现今，发传真的人不多。Xiànjīn, fā chuánzhēn de rén bù duō. (Nowadays, not many people send faxes.)

Sorry, I'm not Jenny though.

]]> <![CDATA[By: lotsofwordsandnospaces]]> Henning,

I moved home over land, and when I was making my way through China, I realised that I had no need for my suit, smart shoes and so on in my backpack. So I posted them back. Similar thing, bought in the UK - but mine arrived back fine.

However, One thing this lesson never mentioned, and I may have misunderstood at the time. I *had* to use a Green Postage Box, of a set size. It looked like a military box... Pretty cool. I probably still have it. I crammed it full of everything and posted it for a reasonable price.

Fun

]]> Henning,

I moved home over land, and when I was making my way through China, I realised that I had no need for my suit, smart shoes and so on in my backpack. So I posted them back. Similar thing, bought in the UK - but mine arrived back fine.

However, One thing this lesson never mentioned, and I may have misunderstood at the time. I *had* to use a Green Postage Box, of a set size. It looked like a military box... Pretty cool. I probably still have it. I crammed it full of everything and posted it for a reasonable price.

Fun

]]> <![CDATA[By: henning]]> Hi lotsofwords & Jenny,

maybe those customs guys just had a bad day...

]]> Hi lotsofwords & Jenny,

maybe those customs guys just had a bad day...

]]> <![CDATA[By: jjinfrance]]> What I heard was 让我看看. The girl pronouced the rang4 with slightly more nasal sound than the r sound, maybe that's why you heard na instead of rang.

]]> What I heard was 让我看看. The girl pronouced the rang4 with slightly more nasal sound than the r sound, maybe that's why you heard na instead of rang.

]]> <![CDATA[By: jackfrombelgium]]> Hi,
What's the difference between jìgěi and jìdào.
Jack

]]> Hi,
What's the difference between jìgěi and jìdào.
Jack

]]> <![CDATA[By: helencao_counselor]]> Hi Jackfrombelgium,

Normally, Ji4gei3 can be followed by a person, while ji4dao4 can be followed by a place.For example,

你想寄给谁？ni3 xiang3 ji4gei3 shei2?---Whom would you like to send it to?

我想寄给她。wo3 xing3 ji4gei3 ta1.---- I would like to sent it to her.

你想寄到哪里？ni3 xiang3 ji4dao4 na3li?--- Where would you like to send it to?

我想寄到美国。wo3 xiang3 ji4dao4 mei3guo2.--- I would like to send it to America.

]]> Hi Jackfrombelgium,

Normally, Ji4gei3 can be followed by a person, while ji4dao4 can be followed by a place.For example,

你想寄给谁？ni3 xiang3 ji4gei3 shei2?---Whom would you like to send it to?

我想寄给她。wo3 xing3 ji4gei3 ta1.---- I would like to sent it to her.

你想寄到哪里？ni3 xiang3 ji4dao4 na3li?--- Where would you like to send it to?

我想寄到美国。wo3 xiang3 ji4dao4 mei3guo2.--- I would like to send it to America.

]]> <![CDATA[By: osckeezee]]> Thank for your help.

Don't apologize for not being Jenny. The whole purpose of this communication is to help each other out. Very Appreciated. Thanks again.

]]> Thank for your help.

Don't apologize for not being Jenny. The whole purpose of this communication is to help each other out. Very Appreciated. Thanks again.

]]> <![CDATA[By: inland]]> First, I'm glad that in my mind I translated yi1fu as "shirts" because it proceeded "kuzi" .  I give myself full credit for that one, given Jenny's explanation of yifu being clothes on the upper body.

Second, I can never quite understand all the words in the Elementary dialogue until Jenny repeats them, meaning that out one billion or so mandarin speakers, I can understand precisely one.

]]> First, I'm glad that in my mind I translated yi1fu as "shirts" because it proceeded "kuzi" .  I give myself full credit for that one, given Jenny's explanation of yifu being clothes on the upper body.

Second, I can never quite understand all the words in the Elementary dialogue until Jenny repeats them, meaning that out one billion or so mandarin speakers, I can understand precisely one.

]]> <![CDATA[By: inland]]> That's what I heard, too, for what it's worth: "Then I'll See", as in "maybe we'll send it."

]]> That's what I heard, too, for what it's worth: "Then I'll See", as in "maybe we'll send it."

]]> <![CDATA[By: jjinfrance]]> I guess it's because Jenny pronounces the words in their full sound value and she speaks more slowly. Unfortunately, that's not the way Chinese people communicate everyday, not to mention there are thousands of different accents in China.

This may be one of the most difficult aspects of language learning. For me, even I have studied English for more than ten years, most of the English conversations on TV are still elusive to me. The only comfort is that I have fewer troubles in understanding the English news reports. But again, it's because the news anchors articulate the words.

]]> I guess it's because Jenny pronounces the words in their full sound value and she speaks more slowly. Unfortunately, that's not the way Chinese people communicate everyday, not to mention there are thousands of different accents in China.

This may be one of the most difficult aspects of language learning. For me, even I have studied English for more than ten years, most of the English conversations on TV are still elusive to me. The only comfort is that I have fewer troubles in understanding the English news reports. But again, it's because the news anchors articulate the words.

]]> <![CDATA[By: jjinfrance]]> Although 衣服 means the garments worn above the waist, but it can also be used as a collective word referring to all sorts of clothes. For example, if my mom says 去把你房间的衣服收拾收拾(qu4ba3ni3 fang2jian1de yi1fu shou1shi shou1shi) - Go pick up the clothes in your room. I wouldn't clean up the 上衣 -the upper clothes, and leave all the pants and skirts in the mess.

]]> Although 衣服 means the garments worn above the waist, but it can also be used as a collective word referring to all sorts of clothes. For example, if my mom says 去把你房间的衣服收拾收拾(qu4ba3ni3 fang2jian1de yi1fu shou1shi shou1shi) - Go pick up the clothes in your room. I wouldn't clean up the 上衣 -the upper clothes, and leave all the pants and skirts in the mess.

]]> <![CDATA[By: lujiaojie]]> 可以说：

我今天买了好多衣服，有裤子、裙子还有短裤。

wǒ jīntiān mǎi le hǎoduō yīfu，yǒu kùzi, qúnzi háiyǒu duǎnkù.

]]> 可以说：

我今天买了好多衣服，有裤子、裙子还有短裤。

wǒ jīntiān mǎi le hǎoduō yīfu，yǒu kùzi, qúnzi háiyǒu duǎnkù.

]]> <![CDATA[By: li4wei3]]> I think the best translation for 左右 (zuǒyòu) is "more or less".

]]> I think the best translation for 左右 (zuǒyòu) is "more or less".

]]> <![CDATA[By: jackfrombelgium]]> Thank You Helen

]]> Thank You Helen

]]>