grammar and spoken drama

rossonordest
June 05, 2009, 03:14 AM posted in General Discussion

hi, i don't know if this is the right place to ask, adms feel free to delete this post if it's not proper!! i have two questions...difference between 遍and次 ? and also, the other day I was sweaping the floor in my office, my chinese boss comes in and tells me xing1(xin1?)ku3...what does it mean? I couldn't find it anywhere!

thanx a lot ^-^

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pearltowerpete
June 05, 2009, 03:29 AM

Hi cinese,

Good question. 遍 and 次 are often translated as "times" in English. But Jiaojie explains that 遍 implies a process from start to finish, for example reading a passage aloud. 次 implies a one-off action. There is sometimes overlap, though.

And 辛苦 xīnkǔ is "hard work." Your boss was praising you for your labors!

If you give someone a task, you can say 那就辛苦你了 to give a bit of face.

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lujiaojie
July 30, 2009, 09:28 AM

cinese

是......的 pattern aslo can be used to express a particular tone, like 你是要去美国的吗?

It often referring to past when it is used to emphasize the time. I think 你是要去美国的吗?is not used to emphasize the "time".

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rossonordest
June 17, 2009, 01:32 AM

hi!! so I was sweaping and mopping this time and 刘总 tells me again 辛苦阿 how do I reply? Thanx again..!

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rossonordest
June 17, 2009, 03:47 AM

how on earth everyone in this city knows my phone number will remain a mistery, but I've just got a phone call from a guy that needed Italian Chinese translation,it was during day time and working days, so I had to deny.

I said "对不起,在工日时候没有空"

was it very rude? and more, was it correct?

^-^ thanx

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rossonordest
June 17, 2009, 03:27 PM

pls someone reply :)

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rossonordest
June 05, 2009, 06:34 AM

多谢!

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rossonordest
June 18, 2009, 02:48 AM

shenyajin, thanx!!!

don't be sorry, I'm very 焦躁的!

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rossonordest
July 29, 2009, 03:42 AM

hi! two questions: 1.I'm really confused about the different use of 每,各 and 所有...help...

2.I think I heard John say, during a lesson, that the pattern 是。。。的,when used to enphasise ,is only correct when used referring to the past.

比如 "你什么时候来?" -->when did you came and not -->when are you coming.

Is this right? If yes, I always used it wrongly. :(

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connie
July 29, 2009, 09:09 AM

Hi  cinese

Question 1.
每 and 各 both mean "every, each". They are interchangeable sometimes. 
每 can be used before a time word, but 各 can't.
So you can say, 每天,每月,每年,每小时.
Before a measure word, 每 is more commonly used than 各.  All measure words can be followed by 每, but only a few measure words can be followed by 各.

所有 means "all".
eg, 他所有的歌我都听过。
这里所有的东西都是我的。
公园里所有的花都死了。

Question 2.
"是...的" pattern is used to emphasize an element of the sentence of a completed action.
 你是什么时候来的? When did you come? (emphasize the time)

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rossonordest
July 29, 2009, 09:24 AM

Question 2.
"是...的" pattern is used to emphasize an element of the sentence of a completed action.
 你是什么时候来的? When did you come? (emphasize the time)

ok, it is used to emphasize the time, but you can use it referring to the present or future too?

比如》 你是要去美国的吗?

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helenshen_counselor
June 18, 2009, 01:54 AM

@cinese, you can say: 真是对不起,我在工作日的时候没有空,zhēn shì duìbuqǐ,wǒ zài gōngzuòrì de shíhou méiyǒu kòng,it's in a more acceptable tone. “对不起,在工作日的时候没有空” is correct, but the tone is a little bit strong and rude.

Is it too late? I'm sorry!