User Comments - amber
amber
Posted on: Time for Class
February 27, 2008 at 9:51 AMhi mdtubio, 快 (kuài) can mean 'quick' on its own. When combined with le it becomes 'happy' -- 快乐 (kuàilè). It is a character that can have more than one possible meaning.
Posted on: London
February 27, 2008 at 9:48 AMhi richnirish, 老和尚对小和尚说. Lǎo héshang duì xiǎo héshang shuō. Here the 对 (duì) indicates to whom the person is speaking, as in, "The old monk said to the young monk..."
Posted on: The Fourth Tone
February 27, 2008 at 7:10 AMtriphazard, that's so great to hear! congrats and yay!
Posted on: Long Distance and Cultural Mysteries
February 27, 2008 at 6:22 AMHi brianj, Thanks so much for telling us. That's why Dear Amber is interactive! Cause we all can learn from each other. That's a great tip!
Posted on: What's up?
February 27, 2008 at 5:31 AMhi evaseige, 干吗你 (gànmá nǐ) is used between friends, yes! I haven't heard it as much, but it is used too.
Posted on: Making Comparisons Using 比 bǐ
February 27, 2008 at 1:59 AMhey kids, The sentences! Sorry late! Clay比我好。 Clay bǐ wǒ hǎo. Connie比Amber聪明。 Connie bǐ Amber cōngming. 但是Amber比我漂亮。 Dànshì Amber bǐ wǒ piàoliang. 我比你们困。 Wǒ bǐ nǐmen kùn. Girl Two 比 Girl One 粗鲁。 Girl Two bǐ Girl One cūlǔ. 你的女朋友比我矮。 Nǐ de nǚpéngyou bǐ wǒ ǎi. 用了Chinesepod以后，他的汉语一天比一天好了。 Yòng le Chinesepod yǐhòu， tā de Hànyǔ yī tiān bǐ yī tiān hǎole. 天气一天比一天好。 Tiānqì yī tiān bǐ yī tiān hǎo. 我比Amber悲观。 Wǒ bǐ Amber bēiguān. 他一天比一天累。 Tā yī tiān bǐ yī tiān lèi.
Posted on: Long Distance and Cultural Mysteries
February 26, 2008 at 8:20 AMhi wolson, Weird! I have a 136 prefixed number, and the phone cards work fine for mine. Maybe I will have to investigate this. beaubeau, I think you need the country code of the country you are dialing. If it is the US or Canada, once you put in all the calling card numbers and passwords, you just dial 001+(area code)+(number). That works for me. Text messages overseas I was told cost 1RMB, but it might depend on which plan your cellphone is on.
Posted on: Why, why, why??
February 25, 2008 at 2:52 AMhi calkins, 我们为什么要休息？ Wǒmen wèishénme yào xiūxi？ 为什么我们要休息？ Wèishénme wǒmen yào xiūxi？ The 为什么 (wèishénme) can come in either position, before the subject or after, without changing the meaning. 因为 can also precede the subject, or follow it: 他因为妈妈生病回国了。Tā yīnwèi māma shēngbìng huíguó le. 因为妈妈生病他回国了。Yīnwèi māma shēngbìng tā huíguó le.
Posted on: To Love or Be Loved
February 25, 2008 at 2:41 AMhi windwalker, 自虐狂 (Zìnüèkuáng) is generally used to speak of causing harm to yourself. 虐待狂 (Nüèdàikuáng) is used when speaking of abusing or harming others. Yes, you can say: 我很喜欢自虐 (Wǒ hěn xǐhuan zì nüè)
Posted on: No Kidding
February 27, 2008 at 9:54 AMhi joeeee, Yes, 废话 (fèihuà) is on the ruder side of the scale.