User Comments - JasonSch

Posted on: World Cup Talk

What a great game! I was definitely frustrated/anxious (in a fun way) the whole game. It was quite the build up before that final goal. Looking forward to the next game!

Posted on: Fun at the Beach

Hmm...it could be a newer use of the word, but I think the issue of what language 'sounds educated' is a pretty complex issue actually, so I won't comment on that. All that aside, I did just find this on the first result of a, "forget defintion" Google search. (which gives, 'leave' as a synonym for 'forget', here):

4. forget - leave behind unintentionally; "I forgot my umbrella in the restaurant"

So, in the end, I guess it just depends on who you ask.

Posted on: World Cup Talk

USA!!!

Posted on: Fun at the Beach

Yes, an Australian friend told me he hasn't heard it and wouldn't say it. I did find it in the Corpus of Contemporary American English, however, so it must be an American thing.

At the very least, it's helpful in understanding how "忘"(在什么地方) can be used in Chinese. :)

Posted on: Fun at the Beach

Hi RJ,

That's interesting that you wouldn't say you "forgot something (in/at/on) somewhere". I've always used this pattern. Out of curiosity, I've been asking American friends and colleagues and I can't seem to find one that thinks it's strange and/or doesn't use it.

Posted on: Describing a Girlfriend

Yes! I think 'high maintenance' is pretty good for 作.

Let me elaborate a bit on what I know about the 3 words.

嗲 actually has two connotations. One is the whole cutesy, pouty act, (which can specifically be implied by saying 发嗲), but it can also apparently describe a 'cute' girl just based on her looks.

作 can be good or bad, depending on how excessive it is. It can also be split between 小作 and 大作 to differentiate. It generally implies a girl who seems to like stirring up trouble, criticizing or bossing around her boyfriend, etc. That's definitely high maintenance in my book. :) I also think 'feisty' is a pretty good fit, given that it too can be good or bad.

撒娇 is specifically to act like a spoiled child to get one's way, and it's really close to 'throwing a tantrum'. It too, however, can vary in excessiveness, so it can include 嗲 and 作 at times I think.

So, they're all quite related, but they have their subtle differences. I love these kinds of words. :) I find it really interesting trying to understand words that don't have exact equivalents in English.

Posted on: Describing a Girlfriend

A lot of Shanghainese people, especially cab drivers, have said to me,

上海女人都很"作" (shànghǎi nǚrén dōu hěn "zuō").

Shanghai women are all very "zuō". Anyone know or want to take a stab at what this"zuō" means? :)

Posted on: 人类的起源

It should be noted that the Chinese teacher who wrote this does in fact believe in evolution. Any perceived bias is simply the result of the author attempting to be sensitive to the fact that some users may not chose to subscribe to the idea.

I wouldn't read so much into the wording of Catherine's comment above. It's clearly a common euphemism/expression, not a scientific analysis.

Posted on: Are You Free?

Hi eisenhower,

上午 (shàngwǔ) is a term that specifically describes the time before noon. (as opposed to 下午 (xiàwǔ), or afternoon)

早上 (zǎoshàng), on the other hand, is a general term meaning, 'morning'. (its opposite being, 晚上 (wǎnshàng), or, evening/night)

So, choosing which to use is more a matter of how specific one wants to be.

Hope that helps!

Posted on: Horseback Riding

上馬 means 'to mount a horse', whereas, 騎馬 means 'to ride a horse'. So, you could say: 上腳踏車, meaning 'to get on a bike'.