<![CDATA[Comments on: Western Zodiac]]> 2010-01-21 18:00:00 <![CDATA[By: xiaophil]]> Sorry, but I'm going to get pg-13 on you guys.  I hope you don't mind.  Anyway...

When I first came to China, I was with a group of new Chinese acquaintances.  One of them said to me point blank, "I'm a virgin.  Are you?"  I couldn't fight back a smirk, and that smirk was in danger of bursting into sheer laughter.  Back then, I hadn't quite developed my ability to understand what Chinese really want to say when they don't know how to say it, so I honestly thought the guy was sincere. 

Later it dawned on me, "Oh, he meant 'I'm a Virgo' (probably)."

]]> Sorry, but I'm going to get pg-13 on you guys.  I hope you don't mind.  Anyway...

When I first came to China, I was with a group of new Chinese acquaintances.  One of them said to me point blank, "I'm a virgin.  Are you?"  I couldn't fight back a smirk, and that smirk was in danger of bursting into sheer laughter.  Back then, I hadn't quite developed my ability to understand what Chinese really want to say when they don't know how to say it, so I honestly thought the guy was sincere. 

Later it dawned on me, "Oh, he meant 'I'm a Virgo' (probably)."

]]> <![CDATA[By: pretzellogic]]> Like the Farelly brothers, I go there....

ok, so the interesting thing is, what did you say when you merely thought he was asking if you were a virgin?

]]> Like the Farelly brothers, I go there....

ok, so the interesting thing is, what did you say when you merely thought he was asking if you were a virgin?

]]> <![CDATA[By: jennyzhu]]> 我是天蝎座的。/Wǒ shì tiānxiēzuò de./I am a Scorpio.

]]> 我是天蝎座的。/Wǒ shì tiānxiēzuò de./I am a Scorpio.

]]> <![CDATA[By: pretzellogic]]> I guess it should have dawned on me earlier, but I didn't know you could use the shi4....de construction that way, to say I am ....something.

]]> I guess it should have dawned on me earlier, but I didn't know you could use the shi4....de construction that way, to say I am ....something.

]]> <![CDATA[By: xiaophil]]> Well... hehe... I said this:

"I'm not."

]]> Well... hehe... I said this:

"I'm not."

]]> <![CDATA[By: pretzellogic]]> That works.

Him: Are you a virgo?

You: I'm not

No harm, no foul!

]]> That works.

Him: Are you a virgo?

You: I'm not

No harm, no foul!

]]> <![CDATA[By: jennyzhu]]> You definitely can, and 是......的/shi4...de construction is commonly used that way. For example, 我是中国的/Wo3 shi4 Zhong1guo2 de/ I am Chinese (of China).

]]> You definitely can, and 是......的/shi4...de construction is commonly used that way. For example, 我是中国的/Wo3 shi4 Zhong1guo2 de/ I am Chinese (of China).

]]> <![CDATA[By: pretzellogic]]> Thanks Jenny. I guess I just need to hear it more, or pay better attention.

]]> Thanks Jenny. I guess I just need to hear it more, or pay better attention.

]]> <![CDATA[By: misterjess]]> 我是射手座的。

]]> 我是射手座的。

]]> <![CDATA[By: misterjess]]> 我是牛属的。

]]> 我是牛属的。

]]> <![CDATA[By: helencao_counselor]]> Hi misterjess,

I guess you typed it by mistake, the right word order here is "我是属牛的"。:)

]]> Hi misterjess,

I guess you typed it by mistake, the right word order here is "我是属牛的"。:)

]]> <![CDATA[By: helencao_counselor]]> 我是金牛座的，呵呵～～

]]> 我是金牛座的，呵呵～～

]]> <![CDATA[By: henning]]> The most appropriate comment to this subject:

(;

Here is the YouKu version with Chinese subtitles (fast forward to 09:09):

http://v.youku.com/v_show/id_XOTQ1NzQ2OTY=.html

]]> The most appropriate comment to this subject:

(;

Here is the YouKu version with Chinese subtitles (fast forward to 09:09):

http://v.youku.com/v_show/id_XOTQ1NzQ2OTY=.html

]]> <![CDATA[By: li4wei3]]> I like how you guys include background noise in your dialogues. Not only does it make them sound more authentic, but it also trains the ear for understanding authentic real-world Chinese (which almost always includes background noise).

As for astrology, when people ask me what my star sign is, I say "I don't believe in astrology. I'm a Gemini, and we're very skeptical people." How would I say that in Chinese?

]]> I like how you guys include background noise in your dialogues. Not only does it make them sound more authentic, but it also trains the ear for understanding authentic real-world Chinese (which almost always includes background noise).

As for astrology, when people ask me what my star sign is, I say "I don't believe in astrology. I'm a Gemini, and we're very skeptical people." How would I say that in Chinese?

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

我想告诉大家一件让我有点烦的事情。在美国，我有很多信仰星座的朋友，但是我一点也信仰，我觉得这样的预言未来的系统是一种迷信。问题是他们朋友知道我是金牛座的，按照星座系统，金牛座一般不愿意信仰这样的神秘的思想，所他们笑着说"Phil，你就是个典型的金牛座！"总之我无论说星座是真的还是假的，他们都觉得星座是个事实，是一种catch-22。

]]>

我想告诉大家一件让我有点烦的事情。在美国，我有很多信仰星座的朋友，但是我一点也信仰，我觉得这样的预言未来的系统是一种迷信。问题是他们朋友知道我是金牛座的，按照星座系统，金牛座一般不愿意信仰这样的神秘的思想，所他们笑着说"Phil，你就是个典型的金牛座！"总之我无论说星座是真的还是假的，他们都觉得星座是个事实，是一种catch-22。

]]> <![CDATA[By: jennyzhu]]> You can say 我不相信星座，因为我是双子座的。双子座的人喜欢质疑。/ Wo3 bu4xiang1xin4 xing1zuo4, yin1wei4 wo3 shi4 shuang1zi3zuo4 de。Shuan1zi3zuo4 de ren2 xi3huan1 zhi4yi2.

]]> You can say 我不相信星座，因为我是双子座的。双子座的人喜欢质疑。/ Wo3 bu4xiang1xin4 xing1zuo4, yin1wei4 wo3 shi4 shuang1zi3zuo4 de。Shuan1zi3zuo4 de ren2 xi3huan1 zhi4yi2.

]]> <![CDATA[By: davidxuzhou]]> 我估计有许多中国人是从一部漫画开始认识西方星座的，包括我，这部漫画就是日本的《圣斗士星矢》，作者是车田正美。

I guess it's from a Japanese commic, Saint Seiya, drew by Masami Kurumada, many Chinese people，include me, start to know western zodiac system.

]]> 我估计有许多中国人是从一部漫画开始认识西方星座的，包括我，这部漫画就是日本的《圣斗士星矢》，作者是车田正美。

I guess it's from a Japanese commic, Saint Seiya, drew by Masami Kurumada, many Chinese people，include me, start to know western zodiac system.

]]> <![CDATA[By: bababardwan]]> hehe,that's brilliant levi :)

]]> hehe,that's brilliant levi :)

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

Ha ha, yes, that sums up my take as well, obviously. Thanks for providing the Youku link as well.

I've actually been meaning to check out Big Bang Theory (生活大爆炸). Good introduction!

]]> Henning,

Ha ha, yes, that sums up my take as well, obviously. Thanks for providing the Youku link as well.

I've actually been meaning to check out Big Bang Theory (生活大爆炸). Good introduction!

]]> <![CDATA[By: John]]> 哈哈，有意思，因为我也不信，而且我也是金牛座的。

]]> 哈哈，有意思，因为我也不信，而且我也是金牛座的。

]]> <![CDATA[By: xiaophil]]> Hey Jenny, I used 信仰 below. Which is better, 信仰 or 相信?

PS: Nice meeting you the other night!

]]> Hey Jenny, I used 信仰 below. Which is better, 信仰 or 相信?

PS: Nice meeting you the other night!

]]> <![CDATA[By: xio2009]]> 我是射手座的，最好的星座 ^-^

因为我有可能一见钟情啊

]]> 我是射手座的，最好的星座 ^-^

因为我有可能一见钟情啊

]]> <![CDATA[By: John]]> 信仰 is usually for religion, meaning something like "have faith in."

]]> 信仰 is usually for religion, meaning something like "have faith in."

]]> <![CDATA[By: changye]]> 我估计现在很多日本小孩从日本动漫《美少女战士/Sailor Moon》认识“九大”行星的英文名称。大家不要小看漫画！

]]> 我估计现在很多日本小孩从日本动漫《美少女战士/Sailor Moon》认识“九大”行星的英文名称。大家不要小看漫画！

]]> <![CDATA[By: changye]]> 我是金牛宫的。哪一个星座的女人会对我一见钟情？有知道的人告诉我好吗？

]]> 我是金牛宫的。哪一个星座的女人会对我一见钟情？有知道的人告诉我好吗？

]]> <![CDATA[By: xiaophil]]> Hey John, I'm glad you cleared that up. I think that the belief in the zodiac is similar to religion in the sense they both believe in something that we cannot explain using logic, so I guessed 信仰. But on the other hand, I have never heard, "I have faith in the zodiac," although I'm sure it has been said before.

]]> Hey John, I'm glad you cleared that up. I think that the belief in the zodiac is similar to religion in the sense they both believe in something that we cannot explain using logic, so I guessed 信仰. But on the other hand, I have never heard, "I have faith in the zodiac," although I'm sure it has been said before.

]]> <![CDATA[By: helenshen_counselor]]> 我也是属牛的！哈哈！Wo3 ye3 shi4 shu3 niu2 de!

]]> 我也是属牛的！哈哈！Wo3 ye3 shi4 shu3 niu2 de!

]]> <![CDATA[By: lujiaojie]]> “金牛座男生遇到雙子座女生會一見鍾情。”还没查到什么星座会对“金牛座”一见钟情。

]]> “金牛座男生遇到雙子座女生會一見鍾情。”还没查到什么星座会对“金牛座”一见钟情。

]]> <![CDATA[By: thinkbuddha]]> Priceless! Thanks for the link, Henning (there's also an entertaining episode of BBT, if I remember rightly, where Sheldon speaks Chinese...)

]]> Priceless! Thanks for the link, Henning (there's also an entertaining episode of BBT, if I remember rightly, where Sheldon speaks Chinese...)

]]> <![CDATA[By: Tal]]> henning, that video is hilarious! Never seen that show before, now I'm a fan. Cheers! free smileys

]]> henning, that video is hilarious! Never seen that show before, now I'm a fan. Cheers! free smileys

]]> <![CDATA[By: misterjess]]> Moo!

]]> Moo!

]]> <![CDATA[By: excuter]]> reminds me of madtv... ^_^

]]> reminds me of madtv... ^_^

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

In the Youku show above, isn't the guy in red at 14:50 a fellow Praxis Language student?

It certainly looks like it as he says he's able to express his sentiments in six languages, including French at 14:55 and Chinese at 15:05, although I'm not sure he got his tones right..., and of course Klingon!

]]>

In the Youku show above, isn't the guy in red at 14:50 a fellow Praxis Language student?

It certainly looks like it as he says he's able to express his sentiments in six languages, including French at 14:55 and Chinese at 15:05, although I'm not sure he got his tones right..., and of course Klingon!

]]> <![CDATA[By: bababardwan]]> Henning,就是。hilarious and spot on.Thanks.I haven't heard of this show but will have to check it out.

]]> Henning,就是。hilarious and spot on.Thanks.I haven't heard of this show but will have to check it out.

]]> <![CDATA[By: bababardwan]]> 小phil,你说“。。但是我一点也信仰”。。。这个意思是不是。。you believe a little?? 或者，你想说你“不相信”。

而且，我惊奇你说你是一个金牛座的人，因为听说“你是个热情友好的人”【在这里：http://chinesepod.com/community/conversations/post/6659#comment-147844】，所以我觉得你是一个狮子座的人，呵呵

哈哈，我喜欢你的捕获22的故事。

]]> 小phil,你说“。。但是我一点也信仰”。。。这个意思是不是。。you believe a little?? 或者，你想说你“不相信”。

而且，我惊奇你说你是一个金牛座的人，因为听说“你是个热情友好的人”【在这里：http://chinesepod.com/community/conversations/post/6659#comment-147844】，所以我觉得你是一个狮子座的人，呵呵

哈哈，我喜欢你的捕获22的故事。

]]> <![CDATA[By: xiaophil]]> Baba， 谢谢你的评论，好像我写错，我应该写“一点也‘不’相信。我不知道你熟悉这样的‘一点也不adjective’的句子（我猜你知道），意思是"not even a little bit 'adjective'"，所以I don't believe in it even a little bit。

谢谢你的善意的夸奖！

]]> Baba， 谢谢你的评论，好像我写错，我应该写“一点也‘不’相信。我不知道你熟悉这样的‘一点也不adjective’的句子（我猜你知道），意思是"not even a little bit 'adjective'"，所以I don't believe in it even a little bit。

谢谢你的善意的夸奖！

]]> <![CDATA[By: xiaophil]]> Oh yeah, I should have said 'adjective/verb'.

]]> Oh yeah, I should have said 'adjective/verb'.

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

如果我要相信得星坐我不会相信我的中国数我相信我控制我人格所以我不相信都系通

if i want to believe in one system i cant believe in the other...i dont believe in either..i control my personality

]]>

如果我要相信得星坐我不会相信我的中国数我相信我控制我人格所以我不相信都系通

if i want to believe in one system i cant believe in the other...i dont believe in either..i control my personality

]]>