User Comments - amber
amber
Posted on: How do you take your coffee?
September 7, 2007 at 10:26 AMwildyaks, To say I quit coffee two years ago, your sentence was correct: 两年以前我戒喝咖啡了。 Liǎng nián yǐqián wǒ jiè hē kāfēi le. You could also say: 两年以前我就不喝咖啡了。 Liǎng nián yǐqián wǒ jiù bù hē kāfēi le.
Posted on: How do you take your coffee?
September 7, 2007 at 10:23 AMHi Bazza, 牛奶和两块糖。 (Niúnǎi hé liǎng kuài táng.) Milk and 2 sugars.
Posted on: How do you take your coffee?
September 7, 2007 at 10:21 AMHannahlm, 深度烘焙 (shēndù hōngbèi) dark roast 中度烘焙 (zhōngdù hōngbèi) medium roast
Posted on: How do you take your coffee?
September 7, 2007 at 10:19 AMyeroca, espresso is: 浓缩咖啡 (nóngsuō kāfēi)
Posted on: How do you take your coffee?
September 7, 2007 at 10:17 AMhi Hannahlm, 我每天早上在家自己磨，自己煮咖啡。 Wǒ měitiān zǎoshang zàijiā zìjǐ mó， zìjǐ zhǔ kāfēi 我每天早上在家自己泡咖啡。 Wǒ měitiān zǎoshang zàijiā zìjǐ pào kāfēi. Coffee pot is 咖啡壶 (Kāfēihú). The specific word for "French Press" is a little hard to find, as coffee is not as common in China. But i will try asking at Starbucks and let you know when i find the specific term! :)
Posted on: In-Laws and Drinking
September 7, 2007 at 9:25 AMHi poddies, Please feel free to leave any of your own experiences or insights about the questions we discussed in the podcast today. We would all love to hear what you have to say on these unique Chinese subjects! :) And don't forget to send me any questions you would like answered to dearamber@praxislanguage.com, or a message to my profile!
Posted on: How do you take your coffee?
September 7, 2007 at 5:50 AMWell, here is the exposé for you all... John performs the very unmanly ritual of putting sugar in his coffee, and I, on the other hand, am a real man... and don't put any sugar in mine. I put milk in my coffee, but only 高级 (gāojí) milk, 'cause I am a milk snob. Oh, and forgot to mention, the coffee beans at that coffee shop are organic Yunnan coffee beans. So you can even drink with a clear conscience, supporting local industries.
Posted on: How do you take your coffee?
September 7, 2007 at 5:20 AMHeads up: The best cappuccino in Shanghai is at the Element Fresh rooftop deck, overlooking the Donghu Hotel trees. It is yum yum yum. Oh i want one now...! AND only 20 kuai, cheaper than gross multinational chain "coffee" shops.
Posted on: All About 所有 (suǒyǒu) and 都 (dōu)
September 7, 2007 at 2:04 AMHi all, 会 (huì) has different meanings in different contexts. It can mean to have the ability to do something. It can also mean "will; would". It depends on the context. We can take some of your example sentences above: 如果你的薪水够高，你会买车吗 Rúguǒ nǐ de xīnshui gòu gāo, nǐ huì mǎi chē ma If you made enough money, would you buy a car? 如果你有钱了，你会怎么办? Rúguǒ nǐ yǒuqián le, nǐ huì zěnme bàn? If you had money, what would you do? This 会 (huì), used in combination with the 'if' is expressing possiblity, i.e., if this happens, will you do this? 今天他会不会来？ Jīntiān tā huì bù huì lái？ Will you come today, or not? This 会 (huì) is the 'will'. 如果你的薪水够高，你要买车吗? Rúguǒ nǐ de xīnshui gòu gāo, nǐ yào mǎi chē ma? If your salary is high enough, will you want to buy a car? This sentence is also future tense, but the 要 (yào) adds the feeling of "to be going to." It's not incorrect, but it would be more natural to say it using 会 (huì), rather than 要 (yào). This 会 (huì) is the 'will'. 我永远不会爱你的。 Wǒ yǒngyuǎn bù huì ài nǐ de. I will never love you. In contrast, these sentence use the 会 (huì) that means 'to have the ability to do something': 我不会喝酒。 Wǒ bù huì hē jiǔ. I can't drink alcohol. 你会唱中文歌吗？ Nǐ huì chàng Zhōngwén gē ma？ Are you able to sing Chinese songs?
Posted on: In-Laws and Drinking
September 7, 2007 at 11:49 AMhey goulnicky, good question... a very good question for an upcoming Dear Amber episode, hehe!