User Comments - amber

Posted on: Pretty Clothes

hi mike,

So strange, I've tested it a few times and it works fine for me!

Posted on: The DVD Vendor

hi chris,

所有...都...
Suǒyǒu...dōu...

Is a sentence pattern that is used emphasize that 'everyone' or 'everything':

所有的人都来了。
Suǒyǒu de rén dōu lái le.

You need both the 所有 (suǒyǒu) and the 都 (dōu) here.

Posted on: The Panda's Secret Wish

hi jakebhone,

Here you go:

make a wish
许愿  (xǔyuàn)

toss a coin and make a wish
扔一个硬币，然后许愿。
Rēng yī ge yìngbì, ránhòu xǔyuàn.

Posted on: Requesting a Raise

hi geek4china,

质量 (zhìliàng) and 品质 (pǐnzhì) both mean the quality of something, as in:
中国瓷器品质优良。
(Zhōngguó cíqì pǐnzhì yōuliáng.)
中国瓷器质量优良。
(Zhōngguó cíqì zhìliàng yōuliáng.)
Chinese porcelain is of excellent quality.

In the above context, either word can be used.  However, if you are speaking of a quality or character of a person or behaviour, you can only use 品质 (pǐnzhì), i.e.

道德品质 (dàodé pǐnzhì)  moral quality
他的道德品质有点儿问题。
(Tā de dàodé pǐnzhì yǒudiǎnr wèntí.)
His moral character is questionable.

Posted on: Do you have a menu?

hi mikegreiner,

Chinese punctuation includes the use of question marks, yes.  The 吗 (ma) is a particle that indicates that it is a question.

Posted on: Where are you from?

hi mikegreiner,

的 (de) is not used on its own.  I think you are hearing 对 (duì), perhaps just spoken very quickly.

In stores, you are hearing:

欢迎光临
(huānyíng guānglín)

which is a welcome greeting.

Posted on: What'll it be?

hi macallus88,

Thanks, that is fixed.  As far as:

你想去北京？Nǐ xiǎng qù Běijīng？

You don't necessarily need the 吗, etc.  The context and tone of voice here would indicate that it is a question.

Posted on: Wake-up Call

hi chris and amfool,

Amfool answered your question correctly.  Thanks!

Posted on: Traffic

hey eyux,

卡车 (kǎchē) and 大巴 (dàbā) are transliterations from the English words.

Posted on: Traffic

hi xuchen,

车 (chē) and 车子 (chēzi) both are used for 'vehicles' of assorted varieties.  Most often, if you just hear 车 (chē) on its own, it refers to a car.