User Comments - JasonSch

Posted on: 人类的起源

好像是跟环境和气候有关系吧。不过说实话我也不太确定！

Posted on: Which tone was that again?

I love this lesson because I've done the same thing oh so many times. This kind of mistake can lead to some pretty comical situations.

Posted on: Turn Right, Turn Left

小姐 (xiǎojié) can have bad connotations depending on where you are in China, and how it's said. (It can also mean a 'lady of the night'.)

But, don't fret. If you say it politely and with a smile, it shouldn't be a problem. This is at least true in the area of China that I'm most familiar with. (Shanghai/Jiangsu/Zhejiang area)

If you want to avoid any misunderstandings all together though, a 服务员 (fúwùyuán), or 'server', is always OK too.

Posted on: Football and Dragon Boats

Baba 万岁！

Posted on: Working at the United Nations

Hmm...

Although 见过 is sometimes translated as 'to see' (especially objects/places), usually with people, and in this context, I'm pretty sure 'meet' is the best translation.

For one, I think the tone of the question, ‘你肯定见过好多国家的领导', implies being impressed by actually meeting people. (maybe not in a formal way, but at least being in the same room/meeting, etc)

宋老师, then goes on to talk about what it's like working with the various 安理会常任理事国的代表, (being 和气) and also mentions having worked there for 20 years, so I think the implication is that he's worked with a lot of people, as opposed to just seeing them in passing.

Posted on: Doing the math with 算 (suàn)

Yeah, I didn't know what an actuary was myself. You learn something new every day!

I ended up suggesting 保险计算员 simply because the word includes some indication of what an actuary might do.

I asked around the office though, and a few people didn't even know the Chinese! However, our other (Chinese) Jason's ex-girlfriend happened to be an actuary herself. According to Jason, 精算师 is what she called herself, and he's never heard 保险计算员. (Although, he said he could infer what it was given the way the word is structured.)

So, 精算师 jīngsuànshī it is!

Posted on: Doing the math with 算 (suàn)

Hey Bob,

Good question for this lesson. It's even got 计算 in it.

'Actuary' is 保险计算员, or bǎoxiǎnjìsuànyuán.

Posted on: Chinese Idol 2

Well he pointed out the first mistranslation, so I figured I'd throw him some credit as well. ;)

Posted on: Chinese Idol 2

Thanks for pointing those out! Both corrections are correct and we'll have em changed soon.

Posted on: Sina's Microblogs

Here's a recent article about the status of Facebook entering China over at China Hush.