User Comments - JasonSch

Posted on: Construction

I gotta tell you, those 土方车 tear through the streets of Shanghai without much regard for anything else on the road. (not even buses it seems, let alone pedestrians) The nickname comes from recent media coverage (finally) about how many accidents are caused by these trucks and why. The media's conclusions seemed to be a 'payment-per-load' like commission system that has led to drivers putting time/money ahead of safety, and also legal responsibility lying with the companies rather than with the individual drivers themselves.

Either way, improvement is still needed! Our own little 万航渡路 has more than few plow by every day. One would like to hope that the most potentially dangerous vehicles on the road would also be the most safety-conscious. (keyword - hope!)

Posted on: The Frog Prince in the Well

This is actually the way it's told in China. We thought it was a bit strange as well, but then after looking into it we realized that the story has changed quite a bit over time and from place to place. As Tim pointed out below, the kissing was actually added quite a bit later. I'd like to know what the moral of the story is though. I always figured it was about loving things regardless of their appearance, but I guess I was wrong!

Posted on: The Frog Prince in the Well

Neither had we! We had a fun discussion about the differences between the versions. (Particularly a kiss as opposed to a smashing of the frog as a way for him to transform back into the prince)

Posted on: Being Seated in a Restaurant

From the hostess at the restaurant I ate at this afternoon as I left.

谢光临，请慢走! xiè guānglín, qǐng mànzǒu! Thanks for coming, take care*! [Literally: walk slowly!]

Posted on: Renting an Apartment through an Agent 3

养 is one of those very interesting words with a ton of different uses. It usually means something along the lines of providing for something, or simply looking after it. With 养车 the 养 means to 'maintain', or 维修 wéixiū, the car.

Posted on: Giving Instructions to the Ayi

I'd say 阿姨 is the general term (and 比较亲密的, or more intimate) term for any sort of 保姆 or 家政服务员 (housekeeper), and is also what you would call any (female) help of the sort. So, as to what an 阿姨 does according to definition can vary quite a bit.

Mine does only housework. I had a friend whose 阿姨 bought and cooked dinner a few times a week. I'd say it was well worth it. I tried to be there before dinner as often as I could...

Posted on: Giving Instructions to the Ayi

There's actually a little agency on ChinesePod's own 万航渡路 that arranges maids (保姆) and cleaning ladies (阿姨). It's quite prevalent in Shanghai and the surrounding area. However, mostly for mid-upper and upper class families, I'm sure. Not because it's too expensive, but b/c most people would probably prefer to just do it themselves.

It is affordable for most foreigners around here though, and a big portion, if not the majority of them, seem to have one. In my experience 10-20块 an hour is the average rate.

I finally succumbed after years of resisting and I have to say, as busy as I've been this last year, it's been a godsend.

Posted on: Set the Alarm Clock

There is also a temple in Nanjing called 鸡鸣寺. (Rooster Crowing Temple) One of my favorite places to visit in Nanjing.

Posted on: Set the Alarm Clock

No problem. Yeah, these are interchangeable for instances in which you would be reserving or booking anything.

As for 待, it should in fact be 1st tone when meaning 'to stay'. Fixed!

Posted on: Here is your change

Strange, I replied to your comment a few hours ago. Hmm...maybe I didn't hit reply properly or something.

The sentence 那个巧克力多少钱一盒？nèigè qiǎokèlì duōshaoqián yī hé?, does in fact mean, 'How much is a box of those chocolates?'.

You can use this structure with other amounts and measure words as well. For example, ...多少钱一包，多少钱一个.