User Comments - amber
amber
Posted on: Lili and Zhang Liang 17: It's Over (Again)
July 23, 2007 at 8:38 AMHi Henning, Here, your best buddy 了 (le) is just trying to fool you. Because both the sentences are correct! (sorry about the glitch). But the fact that you noticed just goes to show you have mastered your friend 了 (le)! :)
Posted on: Lili and Zhang Liang 17: It's Over (Again)
July 23, 2007 at 8:37 AMHi Henning, "parallel universe" 平行宇宙 (píngxíng yǔzhòu) "alternative ending" is best expressed by saying: 可供选择的结局 (Kě gōng xuǎnzé de jiéjú) or 这个故事还有另外一个结局。(Zhège gùshi háiyǒu lìngwài yī ge jiéjú.) 玩弄 (wánnòng) "to toy" wouldn't be used in the context you mention. Instead, you could use: 思考 (sīkǎo)，琢磨 (zuómo)，考虑 (kǎolǜ)，想 (xiǎng), i.e.: 我在思考这个问题。(Wǒ zài sīkǎo zhège wèntí.) 这个想法我琢磨了很久。(Zhège xiǎngfa wǒ zuómo le hěn jiǔ.)
Posted on: Lili and Zhang Liang 17: It's Over (Again)
July 23, 2007 at 8:27 AMHi Rich, I think what the real issue is with the 期待 (qīdài) debate is that we use the word much more frequently in English than it is used in Chinese. Connie says that although your sentences aren't wrong, they don't usually say these sorts of things with their friends. At least not as much as we do in English.
Posted on: Lili and Zhang Liang 17: It's Over (Again)
July 23, 2007 at 3:35 AMkitty, It was Jenny + John that take the credit for this lesson!
Posted on: Lili and Zhang Liang 17: It's Over (Again)
July 23, 2007 at 3:33 AMHi Lantian, These would be a bit more natural, for your examples: 我很期待明天的见面。 (Wǒ hěn qīdài míngtiān de jiànmiàn. ) 我很期待明天和你见面。 (Wǒ hěn qīdài míngtiān hé nǐ jiànmiàn.) 真想早一点见到你。 (Zhēn xiǎng zǎo yīdiǎn jiàndào nǐ.) "Sounds great, see ya tommorrow, looking forward to it." - they don't really say it like this in Chinese, so I wouldn't recommend a direct translation. Get that English outta your head! More common in Chinese, after making a plan, would be to just end off saying something like: "挺好的。好的，好的， 明天见!" (Tǐnghǎo de.. Hǎo de, hǎo de, míngtiān jiàn!)
Posted on: Social Networking
July 23, 2007 at 2:40 AMhi kien, The phrases you asked for in Chinese are: 这是私事。 (Zhè shì sīshì.) That's a private matter. 私人信件。 (Sīrén xìnjiàn) Private and confidential (letter). 不要侵犯我的隐私。 (Bùyào qīnfàn wǒ de yǐnsī.) Don't infringe on my privacy.
Posted on: Lili and Zhang Liang 17: It's Over (Again)
July 23, 2007 at 2:27 AMHi Lantian, An excellent question. I was so happy the day I learned this word in Chinese! 期待 (qīdài) to look forward to 我很期待听今天的课。 (Wǒ hěn qīdài tīng jīntiān de kè.)
Posted on: Confession of Love
July 23, 2007 at 2:22 AMhi sparechange, hehe... they made me say it! It's not true, it's not true!! :)
Posted on: My Dog
July 23, 2007 at 2:19 AMHi Bazza, It depends on the context. This translation is assuming you were buying something, and someone asked who it's for: 只给我和我的狗。(Zhǐ gěi wǒ hé wǒ de gǒu.)
Posted on: Why, why, why??
July 23, 2007 at 9:07 AMHi Rich, Actually, 该 (gāi) is just a less formal version of 应该 (yīnggāi), often used in everyday spoken Chinese. When you use 应该 (yīnggāi) in spoken Chinese, it adds emphasis. Your explanation of 该...了 (gāi...le) is spot on. It means that it is time you should do something, i.e.: 该睡觉了。 (Gāi shuìjiào le.) I should go to bed. 该走了。(Gāi zǒu le.) I should be going.