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Lesson Introduction
How to win over Chinese friends and wrangle more dinner invites? It's all about the compliments, people. Learning how to wax poetic about food bodes well for your future popularity with your new-found partners in calories. In this podcast, learn to rhapsodize in Mandarin over the cookery, and secure your future place at the dinner table.
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changye says
That is a typical conversation between a wife and her husband. He probably has no choice but to reply that way. It's your key to lead a peaceful life.August 9, 2007
darylk says
How do you say "really ok"? Do you say "Zhen de hao le"?August 9, 2007
rich says
I believe I would say 真好 "zhen hao"... 真好吃！ or 特别好 (tebie hao, literally especially good) or 非常好 (feichang hao, especially good)August 9, 2007
rich says
errr... last one should be literally "extremely good" or "exceptionally good" 特别 = special 非常 = exceptionally (more literally: not - common)August 9, 2007
yanou says
I wonder about these supplementary words 不错 (bù cuò, not bad) and 还可以 (hái kěyǐ, okay). Would you EVER, EVER use those in this context? Aren't you expected to play up other people's accomplishments - cooking, intelligence, appearance - and play down your own? 不错 may mean "I'm great" when you use it as a response to 你好, but is it a positive enough response to 好吃吗 ? I'd hate to offend anyone!August 9, 2007
chiongzibide says
Yanou, I believe that 不错 (bù cuò) is much more positive in Mandarin than in English.August 9, 2007
amber says
hi yanou, 不错 (bù cuò) is about equal in tone to "pretty good' in English. So, yes, it is positive enough be used in response to: 好吃吗? Hǎochī ma?August 10, 2007
amber says
darylk, To express 'really ok' you could use: 真的不错 (Zhēn de bùcuò) You cannot say: 真的好 (Zhēn de hǎo), you must add the (hěn), i.e.: 真的很好 (Zhēn de hěn hǎo)August 10, 2007
enes says
hi, 我同意 amber, 真得不错比较好。 还有我有一个问题，" 怪不得" 英语的意思是什么？ are there anybody to use 'Guai Bu De' in a sentence??? thxAugust 10, 2007
excuter says
好的，大家 慢慢吃 hǎo de dàjiā mànmàn chīAugust 10, 2007
amber says
hi enes, 怪不得 (guàibude) means "no wonder" or "oh that's why" in English.August 10, 2007
hyunwoo says
Question : if you want to say "You're the best cook I know", would it be something like "你做的菜最好吃！" ? :-)August 11, 2007
tuoni says
Is it okay to say 非常得非常好吃?August 11, 2007
chearim says
Hi, Questions: if I want want to say:This food is not bad " it could be say: zhe ge cai ye hao: or zhe ge cai ye hao.August 12, 2007
fengkesi says
I think you should say 这个菜还可以 或 这个菜不错 Have quetion ask me fengkesi@gmail.com _______冯克思August 12, 2007
mora says
Hi Amber, You also can say 这么好 zhème hǎo (so good) or 真厉害 zhēn lìhài (really amazing), right? But I wonder if I can use these expressions for foods. Supplementary vocabulary: 很好吃 hěn hǎo chī (very delicious) 我吃好了 wǒ chī hǎo le (I'm full) (pls confirm, Amber) Btw, for bad-tasting can I say 不好吃 bù hǎo chī ? Tks a lot!August 12, 2007
eileen4ever says
If you think something is 不好吃 You might not say that directly when you eat with someone you are not very familiar But with family menbers,it's ok to say thatAugust 12, 2007
amber says
hyunwoo, Yes, you can say that. 你做的菜最好吃！ (Nǐ zuò de cài zuìhǎo chī!) The food you make is the best! You can also say: 你是最好的厨师。 (Nǐ shì zuìhǎo de chúshī.) You are the best cook. tuoni, You can say: 非常非常好吃 (fēicháng fēicháng hǎochī) or 非常非常地好吃 (fēicháng fēicháng de hǎochī)August 13, 2007
amber says
hi mora, You would use: 非常好 (fēicháng hǎo) for "so good" 厉害 (lìhai) is not used to describe food and, correct: 很好吃 hěn hǎo chī (delicious) 我吃好了 (wǒ chī hǎo le) or 我吃饱了 (wǒ chībǎo le) for "I'm full" 不好吃 (bù hǎo chī) bad-tastingAugust 13, 2007
mavis9147 says
真的很好吃( zhen de hen hao chi )August 13, 2007
yoonmi says
I'm not a good cook. 我做的菜不好吃. :(August 18, 2007
tuyetsondungao says
xie4 xie5 da4jia1September 4, 2007
cooluani says
yay! you're all great in speaking mandarin...September 12, 2007
texastochina says
How useful. Since us visitors are always asked out to eat, this is a great lesson to teach us how to offer a complement so that everyone at the table knows that we are honoring the host.February 15, 2008
littlepandagirl says
July 15, 2008
ThankYou Great Lesson. I can use this when I go to a Chinese Resteraunt! Xie Xie
shoelick says
September 23, 2008
Nice lesson! Very Helpful!
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