2006-06-19 18:00:00 Bazza 吴白锐
Just to be clear, are floors described the same way in Chinese? In English, the ground floor is the base level and the 1st floor is the one above, with 2nd floor effectively being the 3rd level, is this the same in Chinese, and if so how to do you say ground floor? That never really made a lot of sense to me, it should really be the 1st ceiling or the 2nd floor. ;)]]> Bazza 吴白锐
Just to be clear, are floors described the same way in Chinese? In English, the ground floor is the base level and the 1st floor is the one above, with 2nd floor effectively being the 3rd level, is this the same in Chinese, and if so how to do you say ground floor? That never really made a lot of sense to me, it should really be the 1st ceiling or the 2nd floor. ;)]]> ChinesePod.com
ARGH! -John]]> ChinesePod.com
ARGH! -John]]> ChinesePod.com
Lantian, If you're talking about the toilet bowl itself, it's 马桶 (mǎtǒng). (You'd never use this to say "I'm going to the....") If you're talking about the "toilet" as a place, it's 厕所 (cèsuǒ). If you're being polite, it's 洗手间 (xǐshǒujiān). Those are the main ones. Now, if you're talking about the act of GOING to use the restroom, there are more expressions, such as 方便一下 and others. The pinyin "ce" is not quite the same as "to-ah." It's similar to the second syllable of the English word "pizza" if you separate it in this way: pi-zza. (The "-zza" sounds very similar to "ce"... it's a 'ə' sound, not an 'ah' sound.) -John]]> ChinesePod.com
Lantian, If you're talking about the toilet bowl itself, it's 马桶 (mǎtǒng). (You'd never use this to say "I'm going to the....") If you're talking about the "toilet" as a place, it's 厕所 (cèsuǒ). If you're being polite, it's 洗手间 (xǐshǒujiān). Those are the main ones. Now, if you're talking about the act of GOING to use the restroom, there are more expressions, such as 方便一下 and others. The pinyin "ce" is not quite the same as "to-ah." It's similar to the second syllable of the English word "pizza" if you separate it in this way: pi-zza. (The "-zza" sounds very similar to "ce"... it's a 'ə' sound, not an 'ah' sound.) -John]]> AuntySue
Thank you for explaining how to say I want to spend a penny. I like hearing the real-life pace of the conversation, too. BTW, around here ten years ago if someone had asked to use the bathroom they would have been handed a bath towell, and that still happens occasionally, unless they pronounce it "bethroom" which is a dead giveaway. In many Aussie houses "the bathroom" has a bath and/or shower in it, and "the toilet" has just a toilet in it, unless the toilet's in "the laundry". When I was a kid the toilet was always way way down the back yard. In my house, for example, the bathroom and toilet are at diagonally opposite corners of the house, but nobody has asked for the wrong room yet. (To confirm navigational success there is a manners-neutral and completely unambiguous sign on the dunny door, "Human Waste Interface") I've seen three types of place called rest room. On larger country railway stations they had a big open room with seats to rest in while waiting for the train, with signs saying either waiting room or rest room. Sometimes you see a sign Mothers Rest Room which contains only a table for changing nappies (is that a cue for another podcast? The ins and outs of babies in public places). In recent years, and in most snooty places, they use the term rest room for the toilet signs, but staff still say the toilet because all other terms are ambiguous, they're service oriented, and when ya gotta go ya gotta go. That's why it's really important to get the words and understand how they are used socially (as you've done), to be able to translate to and from Chinese and our various Englishes, for a need that cannot wait for the dictionary.]]> AuntySue
Thank you for explaining how to say I want to spend a penny. I like hearing the real-life pace of the conversation, too. BTW, around here ten years ago if someone had asked to use the bathroom they would have been handed a bath towell, and that still happens occasionally, unless they pronounce it "bethroom" which is a dead giveaway. In many Aussie houses "the bathroom" has a bath and/or shower in it, and "the toilet" has just a toilet in it, unless the toilet's in "the laundry". When I was a kid the toilet was always way way down the back yard. In my house, for example, the bathroom and toilet are at diagonally opposite corners of the house, but nobody has asked for the wrong room yet. (To confirm navigational success there is a manners-neutral and completely unambiguous sign on the dunny door, "Human Waste Interface") I've seen three types of place called rest room. On larger country railway stations they had a big open room with seats to rest in while waiting for the train, with signs saying either waiting room or rest room. Sometimes you see a sign Mothers Rest Room which contains only a table for changing nappies (is that a cue for another podcast? The ins and outs of babies in public places). In recent years, and in most snooty places, they use the term rest room for the toilet signs, but staff still say the toilet because all other terms are ambiguous, they're service oriented, and when ya gotta go ya gotta go. That's why it's really important to get the words and understand how they are used socially (as you've done), to be able to translate to and from Chinese and our various Englishes, for a need that cannot wait for the dictionary.]]> Bazza 吴白锐
I think 'ce' should be pronounced like 'to-ah' Try listening to it on here: http://www.newconceptmandarin.com/support/Intro_Pinyin.asp]]> Bazza 吴白锐
I think 'ce' should be pronounced like 'to-ah' Try listening to it on here: http://www.newconceptmandarin.com/support/Intro_Pinyin.asp]]> Craig
When I went to the states and asked for the toilet, they thought it was rather rude and said the restroom is over there.]]> Craig
When I went to the states and asked for the toilet, they thought it was rather rude and said the restroom is over there.]]> Bazza 吴白锐
How you say 'Follow me, I'll show you.' ? That might come in handy if someone asks you and you forget how to direct them.]]> Bazza 吴白锐
How you say 'Follow me, I'll show you.' ? That might come in handy if someone asks you and you forget how to direct them.]]> Ken Carroll
Another ultra practical lesson. I can't think of a more pressing reason to learn the language. We hope that these ternms may bring you some, er, relief.]]> Ken Carroll
Another ultra practical lesson. I can't think of a more pressing reason to learn the language. We hope that these ternms may bring you some, er, relief.]]> ChinesePod.com
Bazza, Chinese floors are normally numbered like American floors; there is no "ground floor" (or rather, the "ground floor" is the "first floor"). -John]]> ChinesePod.com
Bazza, Chinese floors are normally numbered like American floors; there is no "ground floor" (or rather, the "ground floor" is the "first floor"). -John]]> Bazza 吴白锐
Ok thanks. I thought that might be class, so it's just us Brits that do the strange way hehe. There's all sorts of cultural differences surrounding this lesson.]]> Bazza 吴白锐
Ok thanks. I thought that might be class, so it's just us Brits that do the strange way hehe. There's all sorts of cultural differences surrounding this lesson.]]>