User Comments - amber
amber
Posted on: Paying a Bill
May 18, 2007 at 8:29 AMHi LeiGaoRui, 承诺 (chéngnuò) can be used as either a verb or a noun. It is more serious in tone, meaning to commit, gurantee or promise to do something. 答应 (dāying) is a verb. It means to agree to or to promise to do something. Sometimes an example sentence or two can be the best way to get the difference clear in mind: 本店承诺绝对不销售假货。 (Běn diàn chéngnuò juéduì bù xiāoshòu jiǎhuò.) This store absolutely guarantees it doesn't sell fake merchandise. 你们打算如何解决这件事情，请给大家一个承诺。 (Nǐmen dǎsuan rúhé jiějué zhè jiàn shìqing, qǐng gěi dàjiā yī ge chéngnuò.) Please give everyone a commitment as to how you plan to resolve this matter. 爸爸答应在我生日的时候给我买玩具。 (Bàba dāying zài wǒ shēngri de shíhou gěi wǒ mǎi wánjù.) Dad promised to buy me a toy on my birthday. 今晚一起去看电影，他答应了吗？ (Jīnwǎn yīqǐ qù kàn diànyǐng, tā dāying le ma?) Did he agree to go see a movie together tonight?
Posted on: Future Plans
May 18, 2007 at 5:57 AMHi idiotsavant, This sentence contains the 是...的 (shì...de) construction: 他是从北京大学毕业的吗? Tā shì cóng Běijīng Dàxué bìyè de ma? This construction is used to emphasize or specify a certain element of the sentence, in this case what is being emphasized is "从北京大学毕业 (cóng Běijīng Dàxué bìyè)". You don't use "了 (le)" because the sentence already implies that the person has graduated, this sentence is just confirming which university he graduated from.
Posted on: Late Getting Back
May 18, 2007 at 5:43 AMHi user15188, In this sentence, the 的 (de) is just a 语气词 (yǔqìcí), or mood particle.
Posted on: Talking about Illness
May 18, 2007 at 5:39 AMhi Brokensword, Dry cough: 干咳 (gānké)
Posted on: Just a Flesh Wound
May 18, 2007 at 4:14 AMHi Brokensword, Sorry, there is no such word, but if you wanted you could say: 重病 (zhòngbìng) - serious illness
Posted on: The Clogged Toilet
May 18, 2007 at 4:11 AMHi Rich, Here are a couple more possible terms for "plunger": 马桶吸 (mǎtǒng xī) 通马桶的工具 (tōng mǎtǒng de gōngjù) was it one of those?
Posted on: Lili and Zhang Liang 13: A Dad Gives Advice to a Broken-Hearted Son
May 18, 2007 at 3:52 AMHi shankou, In this sentence, the 还不是 (hái bù shì) means the same as 就是 (jiùshì), the english equivalent of most certainly, or precisely. It adds emphasis.
Posted on: Paying a Bill
May 18, 2007 at 3:43 AMhi foleadu, 这些杂志是过期的。(Zhèxiē zázhì shì guòqī de.) In this sentence, the 过期 (guòqī) is a state, as in: These magazines are expired. The 是过期的 (shì guòqī de) actually means 是过期的杂志 (shì guòqī de zázhì), but it is not necessary to repeat the noun. In this sentence, you need both the 是 (shì) and the 的 (de). Your second sentence is fine, except needs 了 (le) at the end, i.e.: 这些杂志过期了。(Zhèxiē zázhì guòqī le.) In this sentence, the 过期 (guòqī) is used as a verb, as in: These magazines expired. Now for your other sentences: Your 是...的 (shì...de) pattern sentence is right: 我朋友是很高的。(Wǒ péngyou shì hěn gāo de.) However, this probably wouldn't be use to just tell someone your friend is tall. If you are just stating a fact, you can just use: 我朋友很高。(Wǒ péngyou hěn gāo.) This use of 是...的 (shì...de) would only used if someone didn't believe you, that kind of a situation. 我朋友是很高的。(Wǒ péngyou shì hěn gāo de.) is also a little different than our expansion sentence, in that in this sentence, the 是 (shì) can be omitted or used.
Posted on: Cold Beer
May 16, 2007 at 6:15 AMHi Lantian, To ask for two more, it would be most natural to say: 多来两杯 (Duō lái liǎng bēi) 再来两杯 (Zài lái liǎng bēi) To illustrate the difference, if you were to say: 多了两杯 (Duō le liǎng bēi) It would mean "two extra glasses", as in two too many.
Posted on: Paying Child Support
May 21, 2007 at 1:13 AMhi henning, yes, this was a user request, I seem to recall. So, any requests? Feel free to let us know, everyone.