<![CDATA[Comments on: Return to the Hometown]]> 2010-02-10 18:00:00 <![CDATA[By: mankos]]>

How exactly is the date for Chinese new year determined every year? I don't understand how it works . About how many months before the date can the date be known?

]]>

How exactly is the date for Chinese new year determined every year? I don't understand how it works . About how many months before the date can the date be known?

]]> <![CDATA[By: John]]> Wikipeda explains it pretty well.

]]> Wikipeda explains it pretty well.

]]> <![CDATA[By: mankos]]> Thanks John!! I just checked it out. It seems really complex! Maybe I'm just a dummy, haha

]]> Thanks John!! I just checked it out. It seems really complex! Maybe I'm just a dummy, haha

]]> <![CDATA[By: mankos]]> it's really surprising to me that the dates for Chinese New Year from year to year can be over 30 days apart.

]]> it's really surprising to me that the dates for Chinese New Year from year to year can be over 30 days apart.

]]> <![CDATA[By: catherinem]]> It's all about the lunar calendar!!

]]> It's all about the lunar calendar!!

]]> <![CDATA[By: catherinem]]> 春节愉快！It's already feeling lonely here in Shanghai... :(

]]> 春节愉快！It's already feeling lonely here in Shanghai... :(

]]> <![CDATA[By: jennyzhu]]> Yup. Half of our colleagues are on the way to their 老家/ lǎojiā/hometown.

]]> Yup. Half of our colleagues are on the way to their 老家/ lǎojiā/hometown.

]]> <![CDATA[By: John]]> I can't wait to go to my own 老家 (lǎojiā) for 春节 (Chūnjié) this year! :D

]]> I can't wait to go to my own 老家 (lǎojiā) for 春节 (Chūnjié) this year! :D

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

I have a question about the character 呆 (dai). I thought the Chinese characterfor "stay" , in this type of context, is 待(same pronunciation). Are these two characters used interchangebly, or is there a difference in their usage?

]]>

I have a question about the character 呆 (dai). I thought the Chinese characterfor "stay" , in this type of context, is 待(same pronunciation). Are these two characters used interchangebly, or is there a difference in their usage?

]]> <![CDATA[By: jennyzhu]]> 呆/dāi and 待/dāi both mean to 'stay'. But 待/dāi also implies to wait during the stay, e.g. 待一会儿/dāi yīhuǐer /to wait(stay) for a bit. In this case, you can't use 呆/dāi. But in general, 呆/dāi is used more frequently.

]]> 呆/dāi and 待/dāi both mean to 'stay'. But 待/dāi also implies to wait during the stay, e.g. 待一会儿/dāi yīhuǐer /to wait(stay) for a bit. In this case, you can't use 呆/dāi. But in general, 呆/dāi is used more frequently.

]]> <![CDATA[By: li4wei3]]> 什么时候回来的？Shénme shíhou huílái de?

The 的 is here because this is an abbreviated 是...的 construction, right?

(你是)什么时候回来的？ (Nǐ shì) shénme shíhou huílái de?

]]> 什么时候回来的？Shénme shíhou huílái de?

The 的 is here because this is an abbreviated 是...的 construction, right?

(你是)什么时候回来的？ (Nǐ shì) shénme shíhou huílái de?

]]> <![CDATA[By: jjinfrance]]> 是的。

]]> 是的。

]]> <![CDATA[By: thinkabroad]]> I like the dynamic duo of John and Jenny!  Keep em' coming!

]]> I like the dynamic duo of John and Jenny!  Keep em' coming!

]]> <![CDATA[By: xiaopaul]]> If "好，好，有空来我家玩儿"is just a simply phrase at the end of a conversation how could I reply to that？ A simple "好" would be o.k. or what else?

(btw: 大家新年好！）

]]> If "好，好，有空来我家玩儿"is just a simply phrase at the end of a conversation how could I reply to that？ A simple "好" would be o.k. or what else?

(btw: 大家新年好！）

]]> <![CDATA[By: ousijia]]> Hi Xiaopaul,

You can simply reply 好好! 虎年快乐!

]]> Hi Xiaopaul,

You can simply reply 好好! 虎年快乐!

]]> <![CDATA[By: rods]]> This 孙 (Sūn) is the same one as in the famous general's name, right? Sūn Zǐ. Sun Tzu is a household name in the west. I couldn't find a lesson about him, but there's an Upper Intermediate lesson about Sun Yatsen

]]> This 孙 (Sūn) is the same one as in the famous general's name, right? Sūn Zǐ. Sun Tzu is a household name in the west. I couldn't find a lesson about him, but there's an Upper Intermediate lesson about Sun Yatsen

]]> <![CDATA[By: Tal]]> Is it worth discussing the perhaps tricky issue of when to take seriously an invitation to 《来我家玩儿》?

Since first coming to China it seems I have several times made Chinese friends and a few students feel confused and uncomfortable by inviting them to visit me at home. One day one of them did explain to me that if a Chinese person issued such an invitation, "they would not mean it."

Seems to me this could be considered another 'cultural difference' foreigners in China should be more aware of.

]]> Is it worth discussing the perhaps tricky issue of when to take seriously an invitation to 《来我家玩儿》?

Since first coming to China it seems I have several times made Chinese friends and a few students feel confused and uncomfortable by inviting them to visit me at home. One day one of them did explain to me that if a Chinese person issued such an invitation, "they would not mean it."

Seems to me this could be considered another 'cultural difference' foreigners in China should be more aware of.

]]> <![CDATA[By: rods]]> I think it's worthy of note. For sure. I find it a kind of counterintuitive. We might say, "Well, I'll see you (around)," which would end the conversation the same way lái wǒ jiā wánr seems to.

]]> I think it's worthy of note. For sure. I find it a kind of counterintuitive. We might say, "Well, I'll see you (around)," which would end the conversation the same way lái wǒ jiā wánr seems to.

]]> <![CDATA[By: megbritt]]> So if you wanted to extend a genuine invitation, what would you say to ensure it was viewed as such?

]]> So if you wanted to extend a genuine invitation, what would you say to ensure it was viewed as such?

]]> <![CDATA[By: granville1130bu]]> I always heard, ask 3 times to ensure commitment.  Depends on the relationship too.   It's polite to turn down an invitation!!

]]> I always heard, ask 3 times to ensure commitment.  Depends on the relationship too.   It's polite to turn down an invitation!!

]]> <![CDATA[By: xiaopaul]]> ousijia, 谢谢你！

]]> ousijia, 谢谢你！

]]> <![CDATA[By: kimiik]]> I think it works the same way in every culture (even in the US).

When an invitation is vague, without specific date or situation, it's probably an exchange of pleasantries.

But with more circumstantial details or a specific date, it should be a real invitation.

]]> I think it works the same way in every culture (even in the US).

When an invitation is vague, without specific date or situation, it's probably an exchange of pleasantries.

But with more circumstantial details or a specific date, it should be a real invitation.

]]>