URLLesson Introduction
Based on actual events, in this podcast we hear the story of four friends, a nearly doomed weekend sojourn, and perhaps the only safe driver in the land. Now, normally the story would be that you had a safe driver... however, today not so. Today the story is one of circuitous routes, backseat drivers, and red lights not run. Learn how to get the pedal to the metal, in Mandarin Chinese.
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rclinton says
August 21, 2008
I like the longer dialogues of the upper intermediate lessons. Can ChinesePod do a few Elementary and Intermediate lessons with longer dialogues?
changye says
August 21, 2008
他们俩不用那么着急，反正飞机经常晚点，延误，或者被取消！
jennyzhu says
August 21, 2008
I am often in danger of missing the flight for a totally different reason.
adscholes says
August 21, 2008
longer elementary lessons would be great for those of us at intermediate level, to refresh our memories, but would be disastrous for those who are studying at elementary level. I think CP has it just right.
I edit the Elementary lessons together into longer dialogues, although the subjects are disjointed, it's a great study aid. I have 3 hours commuting each day, so plenty of time to listen!
mark says
August 21, 2008
我在中国坐车的时候每次都感觉司机参加了跑车比赛，很恐怖。
elee8888cn says
August 21, 2008
在台湾，我们用“飞机晚点”。
henning says
August 21, 2008
Grammar related question.
In the sentence:
I was surprised to find a 就 rather than a 才.
Would
also be correct to express that "ok, we only have a few minutes left to get there!"?
foleadu says
August 22, 2008
出租车司机往往是这样的，我很急，怕赶不上火车或误飞机，但司机会说“放心，没问题”等。他的(她的)话安慰不了我.
By the way, in the Vocabulary there is a minor mistake. The tones for 绕来绕去 seem wrong - I think 绕 should be fourth, not third tone.
thriple says
August 22, 2008
飛機晚點.是指班機沒準時起飛..
跟誤飛機好像不太一樣...
TO: henning
就 and 才 is different!
example:"才"剛過五分。
"才"剛到!
現在"才"7點
"才"用在時間上表示你還有充裕的時間或與某人約定的時間未到!
"才" useing on time mean you have much time or you have date with someone but the time still early or just a moment ago...
"就"在這對話裡有點強調的口氣
example: "就"是他!
我"就"是!
"就"只有你了
"就" to emphasize your note
小弟淺見..有錯誤請指正 謝謝!
changye says
August 22, 2008
Hi henning,
The character 就 basically has a meaning "only", for example, 我就有这个(I only have this) or 就我一个人去(Only I go) etc. You can also say 只剩几分钟, but it seems to me that 就剩 connotes more "hurry" than 只剩.
As for 才, it means "barely, just now", so 才剩几分钟 is not appropriate in this case. Their friends, who are waiting at an airport, might say "他们才来了！" when the taxi arrives. Confusingly, 现在才十点 is translated as "It's only ten o'clock now".
henning says
August 22, 2008
thriple, changye,
thanks.The 就 for "only" was new to me.
Actually my mistake was that I thought I could use a 才 to emphasize that there are "barely" or "just" a few minutes left. As I understand it now, however, it would turn the meaning into something awkward like "only now there are just a few minutes left".
lujiaojie says
August 22, 2008
1 才+时间\数量，表示”早“、”少“：
才10点，他就睡了。（睡得早）
他才学了三个月，就学会了。（时间短）
时间\数量+才，表示”晚“、”多“
他10点才睡。（睡得晚）
他三个月才学会。（时间长）
2 用”才“的时候，句末常常不用”了“，
用”就“的时候，句末常常用”了“。
tommyb says
August 22, 2008
This lessons reminds me of an earlier lesson "When the taxi takes the long way", which introduced to me the word 绕路
Im surprised it didnt make the related link list
http://chinesepod.com/lessons/when-the-taxi-takes-the-long-way/discussion
longdehua says
August 23, 2008
Just to clarify, 摄像头 is both webcam and speed camera?
Telling taxi drivers and waiting staff to hurry up all the time seems to be the second national sport after ping pong. I could never cope working either of those jobs in China ...
Oh, and can you 误 the bus or the 地铁？ Or does it have to be something that you have arranged in advance? How is it different from 错过？
weibaian says
August 23, 2008
If I were that taxi driver I would be tempted to make those passengers get out.
xiaohu says
August 23, 2008
Jenny,
Your new avatar is beautiful! You look very stoic!
bazza says
August 23, 2008
Care to elaborate on that Jenny?
luvianty says
August 24, 2008
thanks, i like it
mtudino says
August 26, 2008
I'm new to Chinesepod.com. I was told this was a free site but whenever I try to download sth, whether pdf or sound file, it turns out to be a paid feature. Am I doing sth wrong?
longdehua says
August 26, 2008
mtudino, the Radio Quality dialogue is (currently) free: red text in the downloads box up top. Apparently all content is about to become premium apart from Newbie lessons though ...
dedsall78 says
August 30, 2008
Nice lesson - very useful!
However, I have been a bit disappointed with the length of the expansions in some lessons lately. It may just be my imagination but have they been shorter lately?
I remember doing past lessons with long expansions. I really enjoy those as I learn a lot seeing the new words used in different contexts. It also helps a lot with my listening and grammar skills.