User Comments - amber
amber
Posted on: Taking a Shower
August 12, 2008 at 1:53 AMhi garry,
The 在 (zài) in:
我在洗澡 (Wǒ zài xǐzǎo)
derives from 正在 (zhèngzài), which means to be in the process or course of doing something. 正在 (zhèngzài) is often shortened to 在 (zài).
现在 (xiànzài) is a time word. if you used it in this sentence, as in 我现在洗澡 (Wǒ xiànzài xǐzǎo) it means I'm going to take a shower now.
洗澡 (xǐzǎo) is a verb, meaning to take a shower/bath. So the English translation reflects that.
Posted on: Choosing a Chinese Name and Safety
August 11, 2008 at 9:32 AMhi kevin,
凯 means triumphant and victorious
文 means cultured or civil
so it's a pretty good name!
Posted on: Lao Wang's Office 1: A New Manager
August 11, 2008 at 3:25 AMhi sabrinaguenier,
The 在 (zài) here:
你们在说新老板啊？
Nǐmen zài shuō xīn lǎo bǎn a?
indicates that the action is currently happening, as in:
Are you talking about the new boss?
The full term sometimes used is 正在 (zhèngzài), but it is often just shortened to 在 (zài).
Posted on: The More Than One Child Policy and Taking Trains
August 11, 2008 at 1:28 AMhi hitokiri,
You're correct, the one child policy is not in effect in 香港 (Xiāng Gǎng), 澳门 (Àomén) and 台湾 (Táiwān).
Posted on: The More Than One Child Policy and Taking Trains
August 10, 2008 at 2:04 AMhi Jeff,
It's "Young Folks", by Peter Bjorn and John. :)
Posted on: What would you like to drink?
August 8, 2008 at 9:51 AMhi zani11,
王小姐吃这些就够了。
(This is enough for Ms. Wang to eat.)
The context would be that you are telling someone else that this is enough for her.
Posted on: Rock, Scissors, Cloth
August 8, 2008 at 7:10 AMalmajors,
Re: the third tone rule. Often textbooks will simplify it and make a blanket statement like that, but in fact, it's not that simple. Just to give you an example, it's more about how words group together. In the following sentences, i've indicated the way the tone would be pronounced by a number below it:
我 也有
Wǒ yě yǒu
3 2 3
我想 找你
Wǒ xiǎng zhǎo nǐ
2 3 2 3
我有 两把 小 雨伞。
Wǒ yǒu liǎng bǎ xiǎo yǔsǎn.
2 3 2 3 3 2 3
Posted on: Getting Internet at your Apartment
August 7, 2008 at 1:40 AMhi ningmeng,
差不了 (chàbuliǎo) always will have an amount or quantity following it, i.e.
差不了多少 (chàbuliǎo duōshao)
means 'not much of a difference,' i.e.:
100块和90块差不了多少。
(100 kuài hé 90 kuài chàbuliǎo duōshao.)
差不多 (chàbuduō)
just means 'more or less' or 'close enough'.
Posted on: Hiring a Courier
August 7, 2008 at 1:26 AMhi lazypupil,
Bonded: 有担保的 (yǒu dānbǎo de)
Apparently, the courier companies here are not generally 'bonded'.
Posted on: Taking a Shower
August 12, 2008 at 1:57 AMuser14047,
洗澡 (xǐzǎo) means either take a bath or take a shower, it's generally context.
But, if you really want to specify taking a bath, you can say: 泡澡 (pàozǎo)