User Comments - amber
amber
Posted on: Taxi Conversations: Small Talk
February 14, 2008 at 2:46 AMhi mervyn, It would be most natural to say: 是的，这是我第一次来。 Shìde, zhè shì wǒ dì-yī cì lái.
Posted on: What meat is this?
February 14, 2008 at 2:41 AMhi urbandweller, I've never seen it in China yet, but in Chinese Buffalo meat is: 美洲野牛肉 Měizhōu yěniú ròu
Posted on: Lesson
February 14, 2008 at 2:28 AMhi kbens, 想 (xiǎng) and 要 (yào) can both mean "to want". 想 (xiǎng) is a little softer, more like "would like". You can definitely say "我要吃面“ (Wǒ yào chī miàn.)
Posted on: Gymnastics
February 14, 2008 at 2:07 AMhi baillies, Because the 了 (le) is neutral tone, it is quite under-stated, so it may sound a little unclear. But in the recording, she does say 'le'. There are a lot of le's! To help you out, here are a few more in combination with 没 (méi) and 不 (bù): The more common le's: 1) show a completed action 2）indicate a change in situation The meeting hasn't started yet. 会议还没开始。 (Huìyì hái méi kāishǐ.) You don't need a le 了 here because there isn't a completed action, nor is there a change. Most 没 (méi) and 不 (bù) sentences don't use 了 (le). Except in certain circumstances, for example: 他不想去了。 (Tā bù xiǎng qù le.) it indicates a change--perhaps before he wanted to go, but now he doesn't. Sometimes when there is a number plus measure word in the sentence, the le is added to show that an action is continuing, ongoing, i.e.: 了表示现在还没来上班。 (Tā yǐjing sān tiān méi lái shàngbān le.) Here the le indicates that he hasn't come to work for 3 days.
Posted on: The Neutral Tone
February 13, 2008 at 9:44 AMhi danmacleod, Yes, the (huan) in 喜欢 (xǐhuan) is neutral tone!
Posted on: Study Abroad
February 13, 2008 at 9:35 AMHi Bazza, You could also say: 哦！忘了它吧！ Ò! wàngle tā ba!
Posted on: #37
February 13, 2008 at 9:06 AMTo all you new guessers (and old) out there, the way to submit your guess is to click on my profile or Clay's, and "send message". You have a week! Let the games begin!
Posted on: #36
February 13, 2008 at 9:04 AMHey beloved contestants. You know we love you all, but alas, there can only be one winner... and the winner is... ninja3030!!! You win... now the question is, do you want Dave's love, or one month's free Premium subscription?
Posted on: Study Abroad
February 13, 2008 at 8:21 AMWhat are grits anyway?
Posted on: Being Seated in a Restaurant
February 14, 2008 at 2:49 AMhi annietheeslteacher, You can just say: 欢迎回来。Huānyíng huílai.