User Comments - amber
amber
Posted on: She's Easy
July 3, 2007 at 2:01 PMLantian, Canada rulez.... hahahaha!
Posted on: Confession of Love
July 2, 2007 at 7:29 AMhi artkho, Yes, Chinese girls sometimes let their men down easy with the same line you mention, "You're like a brother to me". Here are a few ways of saying that: 我一直把你当作哥哥。 (Wǒ yīzhí bǎ nǐ dàngzuò gēge.) 我们做兄妹吧。 (Wǒmen zuò xiōng-mèi ba.) 你就跟我的哥哥一样。 (Nǐ jiù gēn wǒ de gēgē yīyàng.) And yes, 我喜欢你 (wǒ xǐhuan nǐ) is often used to express affection. The Chinese use 我爱你 (wǒ ài nǐ) less frequently than in the west.
Posted on: She's Easy
July 2, 2007 at 1:17 AMMan2Toe, Sorry about the confusion. That sentence had been re-written before publication, but the website was reflecting the original sentence that was later changed. Everything has been fixed now, fix and expansion sentences included.
Posted on: Experiencing Agricultural Life
July 2, 2007 at 1:04 AMhi henning, Yes, students from Shanghai still have to 学农 (xuénóng). However, in other areas, they may have different types of work assigned. But there will usually be something assigned to do with manual labour. For example, Connie says that at their school in another province, they had to move rocks to help build a bridge in the area.
Posted on: Using 看 (kàn) and 看起来 (kàn qilai)
June 29, 2007 at 2:59 AMhi mngirl, In many cases you can use 看上去 (kànshangqu) and 看起来 (kàn qilai) interchangeably. However, in some cases where you use 看起来 (kàn qilai) it is not possible to use 看上去 (kànshangqu). Here is a small explanation of the difference, as well as some examples to illustrate: 看上去 (kànshangqu) is generally used to express an inference to do with something's outward appearance. For example: 你今天看上去不太高兴。 (Nǐ jīntiān kànshangqu bùtài gāoxìng.) (You could also say 你今天看起来不太高兴。(Nǐ jīntiān kàn qilai bùtài gāoxìng), and it would mean the same thing.) Using 看起来 (kàn qilai) expresses a feeling or impression of something, or how something looks or appears to the speaker: 你看起来很年轻。 (Nǐ kàn qilai hěn niánqīng.) (You could also use 看上去 (kànshangqu) here, because it has to do with outward appearance). 看起来你的想法是对的。 (Kàn qilai nǐ de xiǎngfa shì duì de.) (here you could not use 看上去 (kànshangqu), because the meaning is more "it seems to me"... it has nothing to do with outward appearance.) The difference is very slight. I hope this helps to clarify it a little!
Posted on: Studying Japanese
June 27, 2007 at 9:24 AMxiaohu, The correct pinyin for the 琢磨 used in the context of this dialogue is "zuómo". Actually, this word is a 多音词 (duōyīncí). But when it is pronounced 琢磨 (zhuómó), but it has a totally different meaning, according to the dictionary: 琢磨 (zhuómó) to carve and polish (jade); improve (literary works); polish; refine; study and improve; mold (oneself) It is not a very commonly used word.
Posted on: Reduplication of Verbs
June 27, 2007 at 6:04 AMHi PaulC, SInce 闭嘴 (bìzuǐ) is more of a command, you wouldn't really reduplicate in this case--because it would soften it, and saying "shut up" is pretty strong, more of a command. user10598, Wow, so brave to come to Shanghai in August! (hot) Yes, just send us an email and let us know when you're coming, we'll be happy to meet you!
Posted on: Two Little Tigers Song
June 27, 2007 at 5:35 AMclay, thanks! fixed!
Posted on: Celebration Plans and New Year’s Resolutions
June 27, 2007 at 5:29 AMhi mihobu, Yes, you can use this sentence pattern. Your example is good, except that with 天 (tiān) you don't use any measure word. So it would be: 走了整天的路。 (Zǒu le zhěng tiān de lù.) Here is another example for you: 开了整天的会。 (Kāi le zhěng tiān de huì.) Just a side note, you don't necessarily have to use 整 (zhěng), it could be any period of time, i.e. 打了一个晚上的牌。 (Dǎ le yī ge wǎnshang de pái.) 玩了一个下午的游戏。 (Wán le yī ge xiàwǔ de yóuxì.)
Posted on: #6
July 4, 2007 at 3:14 AMLet the games begin! Friendly reminder: DONT LEAVE YOUR GUESS HERE or you're 完蛋 (wándàn)!! Come visit my profile and leave your guess in a message for me... to win the great great prize!! The contest only lasts 24 hours, and then we will reveal all, including the winner! Have fun!