<![CDATA[Comments on: Waiting for Food]]> doesn't seem to be coming out fast enough? In today's lesson we'll be bugging the server to speed things up a bit!]]> 2010-03-02 18:00:00 <![CDATA[By: JasonSch]]> The situation in the dialog reminds me of the infamous '五分钟' (wǔ fēnzhōng, five minutes). Never trust a 五分钟 when asking how long something will take! It almost always means 10 minutes at least. :) (not to say that it only happens in China. This happens all over the place!)

]]> The situation in the dialog reminds me of the infamous '五分钟' (wǔ fēnzhōng, five minutes). Never trust a 五分钟 when asking how long something will take! It almost always means 10 minutes at least. :) (not to say that it only happens in China. This happens all over the place!)

]]> <![CDATA[By: matthewrudy]]> This is very useful.

Last time I was in Beijing we ordered some green tea (lǜ chá 绿茶) but it never arrived.

A similar lesson with things like;

  • "my tea hasn't arrived"
  • "I didn't order this, I ordered the ..."

could be useful.

]]> This is very useful.

Last time I was in Beijing we ordered some green tea (lǜ chá 绿茶) but it never arrived.

A similar lesson with things like;

  • "my tea hasn't arrived"
  • "I didn't order this, I ordered the ..."

could be useful.

]]> <![CDATA[By: kostang]]> can we say " cai4 zen3me hai2 mei2 lai2 ", instead of " cai4 zen3me hai2 bu4 lai2 "  ?

]]> can we say " cai4 zen3me hai2 mei2 lai2 ", instead of " cai4 zen3me hai2 bu4 lai2 "  ?

]]> <![CDATA[By: kangxia]]> Thanks for another really useful lesson.  John and Jenny are doing a fantastic job on the elementary lessons, but I am curious about what has happened with Ken Carroll?  Is he no longer with ChinesePod?  (Perhaps someone from ChinesePod could respond.)

]]> Thanks for another really useful lesson.  John and Jenny are doing a fantastic job on the elementary lessons, but I am curious about what has happened with Ken Carroll?  Is he no longer with ChinesePod?  (Perhaps someone from ChinesePod could respond.)

]]> <![CDATA[By: John]]> Yes, you can.

The difference is not huge, something like the difference between "why isn't my food here yet?" and "why hasn't my food come yet?" in English.

]]> Yes, you can.

The difference is not huge, something like the difference between "why isn't my food here yet?" and "why hasn't my food come yet?" in English.

]]> <![CDATA[By: John]]> xiasi,

Thanks!

Please see the blog for the latest updates, including Ken's whereabouts.

]]> xiasi,

Thanks!

Please see the blog for the latest updates, including Ken's whereabouts.

]]> <![CDATA[By: excuter]]> the problem with this idea is, there is a chance that they aren´t making it already and than it might just be cancelled and you go hungry...

]]> the problem with this idea is, there is a chance that they aren´t making it already and than it might just be cancelled and you go hungry...

]]> <![CDATA[By: xiao_liang]]> Have to agree. Really loving the rapport between John and Jenny at the moment. I'm laughing out loud like an idiot in my car half the lesson, gives a really good feeling.

]]> Have to agree. Really loving the rapport between John and Jenny at the moment. I'm laughing out loud like an idiot in my car half the lesson, gives a really good feeling.

]]> <![CDATA[By: myothiha]]> this is very useful

]]> this is very useful

]]> <![CDATA[By: adventurer]]> I love the examples of 死. Very colorful! Can you say something like "my feet are killing me" like we do in English?

Could you say "you're killing me!" If someone is really funny?

Also, is it common to add the er suffex to 服务员?

]]> I love the examples of 死. Very colorful! Can you say something like "my feet are killing me" like we do in English?

Could you say "you're killing me!" If someone is really funny?

Also, is it common to add the er suffex to 服务员?

]]> <![CDATA[By: bababardwan]]> I'm clear on what is meant by 饿死了 and similar 死了 constructions and how they are used.I'm wondering though how you would distinguish this from a situation describing someone who literally has starved to death[ of course if you're referring to yourself this is not possible,hehe].Is it just context,or is there a language tip that will give it away even in a short statement in the absence of context?

]]> I'm clear on what is meant by 饿死了 and similar 死了 constructions and how they are used.I'm wondering though how you would distinguish this from a situation describing someone who literally has starved to death[ of course if you're referring to yourself this is not possible,hehe].Is it just context,or is there a language tip that will give it away even in a short statement in the absence of context?

]]> <![CDATA[By: kaixin_in_tampa]]> I like 死了 too, it's an amusing expression. Other examples

http://chinesepod.com/tools/glossary/entry/死了

http://chinesepod.com/tools/glossary/entry/死我了

I know we can say:

累死了 - lèi sǐ le (exhausted or dead-tired).

辣死了 - là sǐ le （"spicy to death")

]]> I like 死了 too, it's an amusing expression. Other examples

http://chinesepod.com/tools/glossary/entry/死了

http://chinesepod.com/tools/glossary/entry/死我了

I know we can say:

累死了 - lèi sǐ le (exhausted or dead-tired).

辣死了 - là sǐ le （"spicy to death")

]]> <![CDATA[By: helenshen_counselor]]> “服务员儿”,fúwù yuánr, is very common!

]]> “服务员儿”,fúwù yuánr, is very common!

]]> <![CDATA[By: John]]> bababardwan,

It's mostly context, but tone of voice helps too. You'll notice that 饿死了, used as hyperbole, is often said in a whiny way.

饿死了 is actually easier to understand than many of the other -死了 constructions because it's really exactly the same as "starving" in English. You can say, "I'm starving" in English (as hyperbole), and you can also say, "People are starving in that country."

]]> bababardwan,

It's mostly context, but tone of voice helps too. You'll notice that 饿死了, used as hyperbole, is often said in a whiny way.

饿死了 is actually easier to understand than many of the other -死了 constructions because it's really exactly the same as "starving" in English. You can say, "I'm starving" in English (as hyperbole), and you can also say, "People are starving in that country."

]]> <![CDATA[By: bababardwan]]> Thanks John. I would have thrown tone of voice in with context. I suppose what I meant was if it had been in an isolated expansion sentence and you could only see it written,is one able to distinguish then.I guess what you are saying is no.You do need some context or tone of voice,body language ,or some other cues.

]]> Thanks John. I would have thrown tone of voice in with context. I suppose what I meant was if it had been in an isolated expansion sentence and you could only see it written,is one able to distinguish then.I guess what you are saying is no.You do need some context or tone of voice,body language ,or some other cues.

]]> <![CDATA[By: jennyzhu]]> One of my favourite comments has always been 'very useful lesson'. Thanks guys for the feedback!

]]> One of my favourite comments has always been 'very useful lesson'. Thanks guys for the feedback!

]]> <![CDATA[By: dacez]]> I am learning english here.

I found that this website is better to learn enlish for a chinese.

haha!

]]> I am learning english here.

I found that this website is better to learn enlish for a chinese.

haha!

]]> <![CDATA[By: pretzellogic]]> you're probably a pretty advanced learner then.

]]> you're probably a pretty advanced learner then.

]]> <![CDATA[By: fordbronco]]> is this a known bug that non-subscribers (as me) can reply to lesson comments?

]]> is this a known bug that non-subscribers (as me) can reply to lesson comments?

]]> <![CDATA[By: bodawei]]> shhhhhhhhh.

]]> shhhhhhhhh.

]]> <![CDATA[By: rods]]> A handy phrase for when one's worldly friend forces one to watch one of those old French films with people dancing around in a field: (big sigh) Je meurs d'ennui! I'm dying of boredom!

Does 我无聊死了 Wǒ wúliáo sǐ le! work for sophisticated Chinese romance films?

A few more I found in another post.

Also, I thought I heard Jenny say something like 我的心死了 Wǒ de xīn sǐ le, in another lesson. I translated it as, My heart is breaking, but Google Translate says it means, I had no more illusions.(?)

]]> A handy phrase for when one's worldly friend forces one to watch one of those old French films with people dancing around in a field: (big sigh) Je meurs d'ennui! I'm dying of boredom!

Does 我无聊死了 Wǒ wúliáo sǐ le! work for sophisticated Chinese romance films?

A few more I found in another post.

Also, I thought I heard Jenny say something like 我的心死了 Wǒ de xīn sǐ le, in another lesson. I translated it as, My heart is breaking, but Google Translate says it means, I had no more illusions.(?)

]]>