<![CDATA[Comments on: The Lazy Child]]> 2010-08-26 18:00:00 <![CDATA[By: darkstar94]]> wooo, 沙发 good lesson

]]> wooo, 沙发 good lesson

]]> <![CDATA[By: carmeljj]]> 我认为小宝不懒，他是病了！Have I written this correctly? I like the repetition in the lesson. Really helps me learn it.

]]> 我认为小宝不懒，他是病了！Have I written this correctly? I like the repetition in the lesson. Really helps me learn it.

]]> <![CDATA[By: bababardwan]]> 豆袋 [bean bag]

]]> 豆袋 [bean bag]

]]> <![CDATA[By: s_jhee]]> This lesson is very informative, one of my favorites so far, thank you!

]]> This lesson is very informative, one of my favorites so far, thank you!

]]> <![CDATA[By: lydia1981]]> Why does the mother ask "Did you eat dinner?"? Don't they have dinner together?

]]> Why does the mother ask "Did you eat dinner?"? Don't they have dinner together?

]]> <![CDATA[By: blondedeb]]> apparently there are alot of latch key kids in china so it could be normal that kids make their own dinner, or maybe the mother has left something she prepared earlier, I think kids are left alone at much early ages than in the US or other places, nobody there thinks its strange

]]> apparently there are alot of latch key kids in china so it could be normal that kids make their own dinner, or maybe the mother has left something she prepared earlier, I think kids are left alone at much early ages than in the US or other places, nobody there thinks its strange

]]> <![CDATA[By: rods]]> That's interesting. I would have thought it would be the other way around, with all the extended family members I hear about in China. I guess Mr. Noodle (fāngbiànmiàn) will always be a staple for Chinese kids too.

]]> That's interesting. I would have thought it would be the other way around, with all the extended family members I hear about in China. I guess Mr. Noodle (fāngbiànmiàn) will always be a staple for Chinese kids too.

]]> <![CDATA[By: bababardwan]]> Looks good to me carmel, though I'm no expert on grammar. At the very least what is entirely clear is your meaning.

]]> Looks good to me carmel, though I'm no expert on grammar. At the very least what is entirely clear is your meaning.

]]> <![CDATA[By: bababardwan]]> yeah, interesting question lydia. The age at which you can leave a child at home comes up from time to time here in Australia, but there is no specific age specified by the law, though of course there are laws governing parental responsibilities. Looks like the situation is similar in the US except for a couple of states, such as Maryland which apparently stipulates age 13. I'd be interested to hear the situation in China.

]]> yeah, interesting question lydia. The age at which you can leave a child at home comes up from time to time here in Australia, but there is no specific age specified by the law, though of course there are laws governing parental responsibilities. Looks like the situation is similar in the US except for a couple of states, such as Maryland which apparently stipulates age 13. I'd be interested to hear the situation in China.

]]> <![CDATA[By: bababardwan]]> Interesting article here:

http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2010-08/13/content_11148092.htm

]]> Interesting article here:

http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2010-08/13/content_11148092.htm

]]> <![CDATA[By: gaojian]]> 有时候我跟小宝一样那么懒。什么事都不要做。 yǒu shíhòu wǒ gēn xiǎobǎo yí yàng na4me lǎn. shénme shì dōu bú yào zuò. (Sometimes I'm as lazy as Xiaobao. I don't want to do anything).

]]> 有时候我跟小宝一样那么懒。什么事都不要做。 yǒu shíhòu wǒ gēn xiǎobǎo yí yàng na4me lǎn. shénme shì dōu bú yào zuò. (Sometimes I'm as lazy as Xiaobao. I don't want to do anything).

]]> <![CDATA[By: alwingate]]> The answers are in the question.  Absolutely right Jenny.  Really loved this lesson.  I must say that even though I get the tone that translation is not a favorite but for me very important.  It is great hearing the Chinese so well spoken and so easy to listen to. All the "actors" and Jenny.  Yep.  I believe in this strongly.  Garbage in garbage out.  And John, come on "sorta a non-sequitur"  hehe  You sent me scurrying for the dictionary.  Anyway, great lesson for me.  I hope the things that are so solid are kept in the lessons, love the grammar lessons and the pattern practice.  Okay, usually don't take time to write.  Hope that the Expansion sections are of equal quality.    

Anyway, two thumbs up.

non sequitur....hmmmmm.

]]> The answers are in the question.  Absolutely right Jenny.  Really loved this lesson.  I must say that even though I get the tone that translation is not a favorite but for me very important.  It is great hearing the Chinese so well spoken and so easy to listen to. All the "actors" and Jenny.  Yep.  I believe in this strongly.  Garbage in garbage out.  And John, come on "sorta a non-sequitur"  hehe  You sent me scurrying for the dictionary.  Anyway, great lesson for me.  I hope the things that are so solid are kept in the lessons, love the grammar lessons and the pattern practice.  Okay, usually don't take time to write.  Hope that the Expansion sections are of equal quality.    

Anyway, two thumbs up.

non sequitur....hmmmmm.

]]> <![CDATA[By: alwingate]]> And now the state has to regulate "good parenting." Interesting thread in the history of parenting. But, to me the girl is at home for a while and has the freedom to choose to eat or not eat while the mother is gone (shopping whatever). She hasn't eaten but the mother doesn't say "Let's eat." That might defeat the purpose of the lesson, but I could see that happening. Well, the subject of "latchkey" keys is not a subject that is infrequently heard here in the US.

]]> And now the state has to regulate "good parenting." Interesting thread in the history of parenting. But, to me the girl is at home for a while and has the freedom to choose to eat or not eat while the mother is gone (shopping whatever). She hasn't eaten but the mother doesn't say "Let's eat." That might defeat the purpose of the lesson, but I could see that happening. Well, the subject of "latchkey" keys is not a subject that is infrequently heard here in the US.

]]> <![CDATA[By: kreuzberg]]> Yes, this lesson was excellent--useful, interesting and the perfect difficulty level.

]]> Yes, this lesson was excellent--useful, interesting and the perfect difficulty level.

]]> <![CDATA[By: jennyzhu]]> I was a latch key kid from the first day of school. My parents bought a microwave, a big investment back then to make sure I had warm food to eat.

]]> I was a latch key kid from the first day of school. My parents bought a microwave, a big investment back then to make sure I had warm food to eat.

]]> <![CDATA[By: frognotinawell]]> I'd write ‘她病了'. 病 seems to be a stative verb like 饿 (è) or 累 (lèi) — you don't need 是.

]]> I'd write ‘她病了'. 病 seems to be a stative verb like 饿 (è) or 累 (lèi) — you don't need 是.

]]> <![CDATA[By: darkstar94]]> I was thinking the same thing but then I considered maybe that the 是 could be used for emphasis but I'm not sure though

]]> I was thinking the same thing but then I considered maybe that the 是 could be used for emphasis but I'm not sure though

]]> <![CDATA[By: rods]]> Thanks Bababardwan. That's an enlightening article. I thought that the problem arising from having a bunch of unsupervised adolescents running around would be of a more "mature" nature. Instead, the article suggests that the problem is that these children of migrant workers aren't maturing fast enough.

]]> Thanks Bababardwan. That's an enlightening article. I thought that the problem arising from having a bunch of unsupervised adolescents running around would be of a more "mature" nature. Instead, the article suggests that the problem is that these children of migrant workers aren't maturing fast enough.

]]> <![CDATA[By: dimijis]]> Can someone enlighten me about the difference between:

'chi le ma'and 'chi guo le ma' ? when to use the 'guo' and when not ? I was under the impression that both mean exactly the same - but when to use one and when the other one ? Thx.

]]> Can someone enlighten me about the difference between:

'chi le ma'and 'chi guo le ma' ? when to use the 'guo' and when not ? I was under the impression that both mean exactly the same - but when to use one and when the other one ? Thx.

]]> <![CDATA[By: bababardwan]]> I'll have a shot for you dimijis.

to me "chi le ma" is just asking if someone has eaten something....like their dinner for example. Adding the guo ..is basically asking them if they've ever had the experience of eating that thing. For example you might be talking about stinky tofu and you might ask you're mate if he/she has ever eaten stinky tofu "ni chi guo le ma? "

]]> I'll have a shot for you dimijis.

to me "chi le ma" is just asking if someone has eaten something....like their dinner for example. Adding the guo ..is basically asking them if they've ever had the experience of eating that thing. For example you might be talking about stinky tofu and you might ask you're mate if he/she has ever eaten stinky tofu "ni chi guo le ma? "

]]> <![CDATA[By: go_manly]]> But why use guo and le together? I've never understood that one.

]]> But why use guo and le together? I've never understood that one.

]]> <![CDATA[By: bababardwan]]> good question mate. I really don't know. Adding the le somehow sounds more natural. Maybe the stinky tofu is a good example. It may be one thing to have started to try it..to chi gou .....but have you ever chi guo le?...[finished it off] hehe.

]]> good question mate. I really don't know. Adding the le somehow sounds more natural. Maybe the stinky tofu is a good example. It may be one thing to have started to try it..to chi gou .....but have you ever chi guo le?...[finished it off] hehe.

]]> <![CDATA[By: dimijis]]> Thx. Bababardwan... but that does not seem to be it. you may refer to CP lesson: Newbie - Have you eaten? (A0389) - there also one person asks the other if he/she had alrd eaten... but they use the guo...

In that lesson Jenny and Ken explain that 'Have you eaten / chi guo le ma' also often is used instead of saying hello when meeting someone.. something that one does in some other Asian languages such as Indonesian...

seems like we need to dig a bit deeper...

]]> Thx. Bababardwan... but that does not seem to be it. you may refer to CP lesson: Newbie - Have you eaten? (A0389) - there also one person asks the other if he/she had alrd eaten... but they use the guo...

In that lesson Jenny and Ken explain that 'Have you eaten / chi guo le ma' also often is used instead of saying hello when meeting someone.. something that one does in some other Asian languages such as Indonesian...

seems like we need to dig a bit deeper...

]]> <![CDATA[By: bababardwan]]> I haven't listened to that lesson dimijis. I don't think I'm in a position to explain it well. guo still seems to be an experienced action marker...so it's still asking if you've done it or not [ still referring to something in the past, even be it the recent past ]. le has many uses and in this case seems to be indicating a completed action. Trying to explain in terms of English is probably going to lead to problems but it calls to mind two expressions. "Have you eaten", and what you might say to a young child..."have you eaten it all up?", Maybe someone else can explain it better.

]]> I haven't listened to that lesson dimijis. I don't think I'm in a position to explain it well. guo still seems to be an experienced action marker...so it's still asking if you've done it or not [ still referring to something in the past, even be it the recent past ]. le has many uses and in this case seems to be indicating a completed action. Trying to explain in terms of English is probably going to lead to problems but it calls to mind two expressions. "Have you eaten", and what you might say to a young child..."have you eaten it all up?", Maybe someone else can explain it better.

]]> <![CDATA[By: carmeljj]]> i think for emphasis. Grammatically correct without it though.

]]> i think for emphasis. Grammatically correct without it though.

]]> <![CDATA[By: rods]]> I'll take a stab at this one (hopefully, someone more knowledgeable will help us out). What I'm getting from the grammar texts is basically what Baba is saying. So, here the mother asks the girl, "did you eat your supper?" That is, "this specific supper. The one I prepared, put in the fridge with a note on top, saying, 'microwave on High for 5 minutes', that supper you lazy child!" So, no 'guo'.

Now, later that evening, suppose someone knocks on the door. Of course the mother answers it, because the lazy girl can't be bothered. ;-) There stands the mother's old pal from college whom she hasn't seen in years. So she greets her with a 'guo', the way we might say, "Come in, come in, let me get your bags. How was your trip? Have you eaten (guo)? Let me fix you something."

Did you do X, no guo. Did you ever do X? guo. That's my guess (for what it's worth.)

Link to Google Books: A practical Chinese grammar Pages 275, 276 By Hung-nien Chang, Sze-yun Liu, Lilin Shi Note especially P. 276, paragraph 1.2

]]> I'll take a stab at this one (hopefully, someone more knowledgeable will help us out). What I'm getting from the grammar texts is basically what Baba is saying. So, here the mother asks the girl, "did you eat your supper?" That is, "this specific supper. The one I prepared, put in the fridge with a note on top, saying, 'microwave on High for 5 minutes', that supper you lazy child!" So, no 'guo'.

Now, later that evening, suppose someone knocks on the door. Of course the mother answers it, because the lazy girl can't be bothered. ;-) There stands the mother's old pal from college whom she hasn't seen in years. So she greets her with a 'guo', the way we might say, "Come in, come in, let me get your bags. How was your trip? Have you eaten (guo)? Let me fix you something."

Did you do X, no guo. Did you ever do X? guo. That's my guess (for what it's worth.)

Link to Google Books: A practical Chinese grammar Pages 275, 276 By Hung-nien Chang, Sze-yun Liu, Lilin Shi Note especially P. 276, paragraph 1.2

]]> <![CDATA[By: rods]]> Right, because most of the example sentences for 过 guo in the Glossary don't use 了 le. (哎哟 -- bangs head on desk)

]]> Right, because most of the example sentences for 过 guo in the Glossary don't use 了 le. (哎哟 -- bangs head on desk)

]]> <![CDATA[By: jbaldwi1]]> Microwave ovens didn't exist when I was a kid.

]]> Microwave ovens didn't exist when I was a kid.

]]> <![CDATA[By: bryanfield]]> it's ok

]]> it's ok

]]> <![CDATA[By: lujiaojie]]> Your sentence is correct! Here 是 is used for emphasis.

]]> Your sentence is correct! Here 是 is used for emphasis.

]]> <![CDATA[By: lujiaojie]]> Actually, '吃了吗'and '吃过了吗 ' both mean exactly the same.

In 吃了吗？”了“ indicate a completed action.

In 吃过了吗？“过” indicate a completed action，and “了” is a Modal particle.

过 can indicate a completed action or some experience in the past. When 过 indicate some experience in the past, there is no need to add "了“.

]]> Actually, '吃了吗'and '吃过了吗 ' both mean exactly the same.

In 吃了吗？”了“ indicate a completed action.

In 吃过了吗？“过” indicate a completed action，and “了” is a Modal particle.

过 can indicate a completed action or some experience in the past. When 过 indicate some experience in the past, there is no need to add "了“.

]]> <![CDATA[By: xiao_liang]]> Hmn, my girlfriend says she was regularly left to get home on her own from the age of 8, because her dad was working away and her mum didn't get home until later. I don't know if that's typical though.

]]> Hmn, my girlfriend says she was regularly left to get home on her own from the age of 8, because her dad was working away and her mum didn't get home until later. I don't know if that's typical though.

]]> <![CDATA[By: xiao_liang]]> Then again, she was also sent to England on her own at 17, so maybe she's just... uh, indepedent? :-p

]]> Then again, she was also sent to England on her own at 17, so maybe she's just... uh, indepedent? :-p

]]> <![CDATA[By: xiao_liang]]> From what I gather, is that pretty normal then Jenny? The latchkey-ness, rather than the buying microwave ovens :)

I guess in the old days, grandparents could have looked after them, but with massive urban migration, things are different?

]]> From what I gather, is that pretty normal then Jenny? The latchkey-ness, rather than the buying microwave ovens :)

I guess in the old days, grandparents could have looked after them, but with massive urban migration, things are different?

]]> <![CDATA[By: shanghai_helios]]> The kid probably has an ayi.

]]> The kid probably has an ayi.

]]> <![CDATA[By: newgagafans]]> I think too.

]]> I think too.

]]> <![CDATA[By: thomaswangli]]> You are a luck kid.

]]> You are a luck kid.

]]> <![CDATA[By: aisini]]> when should one use mei2 and bu4?

In this dialogue mei2 was used for each answer.

Can somebody provide the grammatical rule?

Thanks

]]> when should one use mei2 and bu4?

In this dialogue mei2 was used for each answer.

Can somebody provide the grammatical rule?

Thanks

]]> <![CDATA[By: the.niceplace]]> mei2 is used here because they are negating the past. It means "have not."

Have a look at Qingwen lesson number 7.

]]> mei2 is used here because they are negating the past. It means "have not."

Have a look at Qingwen lesson number 7.

]]> <![CDATA[By: aisini]]> Thanks the.niceplace

I was confused about this but having heard the qingwen lesson, it has now fallen in place.

]]> Thanks the.niceplace

I was confused about this but having heard the qingwen lesson, it has now fallen in place.

]]> <![CDATA[By: ideotek]]> charley chaplin was the king of non-sequitors!

]]> charley chaplin was the king of non-sequitors!

]]>