User Comments - amber
amber
Posted on: Where's the bus stop?
May 14, 2007 at 3:45 AMhi pharmine, 这里有三个车站。(Zhèlǐ yǒu sān ge chēzhàn.) There are three bus stops around here. Tucson Michael, 公交车 (gōngjiāochē) is the most commonly used word for public bus in China. In addition, a long-distance coach bus is called: 长途汽车 (chángtú qìchē).
Posted on: When the Taxi Takes the Long Way
May 14, 2007 at 3:24 AMhi nicolas, 我有这个时间，不会去多做点生意？(Wǒ yǒu zhège shíjiān, bù huì qù duō zuò diǎn shēngyi?) In this sentence, the driver means that him taking the passenger the long way around would be a waste of his time as well. He could use that extra time to go get more customers. 现在像你这样的顾客我见多了 (Xiànzài xiàng nǐ zhèyàng de gùkè wǒ jiàn duō le) This statement means that the driver has seen this type of passenger before... the type that wrongly accuses drivers of cheating them, etc.; he is a bit jaded.
Posted on: When the Taxi Takes the Long Way
May 14, 2007 at 3:17 AMHi revkenny, That's right, 得 is a character that has more than one possible pronunciation. It is pronounced "děi" in some contexts, as you can see from these example sentences: 这么晚了，我得回家了。(Zhème wǎn le, wǒ děi huíjiā le.) 听说他生病了，我得去看看他。(Tīngshuō tā shēngbìng le, wǒ děi qù kànkan tā.) In this context, the character 得 (děi) means "must, to have to".
Posted on: When the Taxi Takes the Long Way
May 13, 2007 at 10:15 AMHi Mike in London, Usually to my place in central Shanghai (Puxi) it's about 140RMB. If you're going to Pudong side its cheaper. Lielar, Yes, most welcome! We are always happy when our listeners stop by the factory for a little tour and chat. Just drop us a line and let us know when you're coming.
Posted on: Ordering Xiaolongbao
May 10, 2007 at 9:13 AMHi AlexYe, It's just a crab filling-- sometimes has crab roe in it as well. But not powder. You'll have to try them and find out ;)
Posted on: Hotel, Motel, Holiday Inn
May 10, 2007 at 4:15 AMHi alworcs, The Holiday Inn is: 假日酒店 (jiārì jiǔdiàn) downtown is: 市中心 (shì zhōngxīn) and the street that hotel is on is called: 恒丰露 (Héngfēng Lù)
Posted on: Lili and Zhang Liang 14: Seeking Comfort
May 10, 2007 at 3:40 AMHi AlexYe, 适合 (shìhé) is a verb, it means to sit, to fit 合适 (héshì) is an adjective, it means suitable, appropriate here are a couple example sentences to help: 这件衣服不适合你。(Zhè jiàn yīfu bù shìhé nǐ.) 我这样做合适吗？(Wǒ zhèyàng zuò héshì ma?) Your sentence using 弥补 (míbǔ) was right, just the "de" was the wrong "de", it's corrected below: 你打算怎么弥补你以前做的坏事? (Nǐ dǎsuan zěnme míbǔ nǐ yǐqián zuò de huàishì?) Here is another example sentence using 弥补 (míbǔ): 你撞死的是一个人，用钱弥补得了吗？ (Nǐ zhuàngsǐ de shì yī gè rén, yòng qián míbǔ dé liǎo ma?) Dave, I think your imaginative story ideas warrant a storyline all of their own!
Posted on: Capital Punishment
May 10, 2007 at 2:30 AMrobertk, 秩序 (zhìxù) is not used in combination with 安定 (āndìng) or 交通 (jiāotōng). It is usually used as follows: 秩序好 (zhìxù hǎo) orderly 秩序不好 (zhìxù bù hǎo) disorderly 秩序混乱 (zhìxù hùnluàn) very disorderly; chaotic I think the chengyu you mean is this one, right?: 群魔乱舞 (qún mó luàn wǔ), the dictionary definition of which is: rogues of all kind running wild It wouldn't really be used in this circumstance. It is not a very commonly used chengyu.
Posted on: Mosquitoes
May 10, 2007 at 1:56 AMhi wande, here are those pesky critters names in Chinese for you: 臭虫 (chòuchóng) bedbug 壁虱 (bìshī) tick 马蜂 (mǎfēng) hornet 黄蜂 (huángfēng) wasp 牛虻 (niúméng) gadfly 蟑螂 (zhāngláng) cockroach Ew! :(
Posted on: When the Taxi Takes the Long Way
May 16, 2007 at 1:39 AMHi Alex Ye, 要 (yào) can have different meanings in different contexts. In this case, it doesn't mean "to want," it means "to be going to," i.e.: 我肯定要迟到了。(Wǒ kěndìng yào chídào le.) You can also use 会 (huì), as you mention, to mean "I will definitely be late", but the sentence pattern would change slightly, and become: 我肯定会迟到的。(Wǒ kěndìng huì chídào de.) This 的 (de) doesn't have a function, it just adds emphasis. If you really wanted to say "I want to be late", you could say it like this: 我想迟到。(Wǒ xiǎng chídào.)