User Comments - boran
boran
Posted on: I Have Class
February 16, 2008 at 11:49 AMThanks everyone for your answers. I didn't realize I was opening up a grammatical can of worms with my seemingly innocent question. ingmar, we do say "I have class" in the U.S. to state that we are attending a class. As you said, this can have another meaning which sometimes results in someone who is going to a class saying "I have class, in more ways than one!" - a very bad joke.
Posted on: I Have Class
February 16, 2008 at 4:51 AMRegarding asking someone about the time: When you want to ask someone "what time is it?", you say: "现在几点 (xiànzài jǐ diǎn)". In this case, the qualifier "xiànzài" is at the beginning of sentence. However in the third line of dialog "几点下课 (jǐ diǎn xiàkè)" the qualifier "xiàkè" is at the end. Is it valid to also say "下课几点 (xiàkè jǐ diǎn)"? Any specific rules for this?
Posted on: Valentine's Day
February 14, 2008 at 8:10 AMThanks Jenny. I think we now have a lesson topic for November 11. You have 9 months to prepare so take your time.
Posted on: Valentine's Day
February 14, 2008 at 5:25 AMI wonder how you would say in Chinese, "Single People's Awareness Day", the other name for Valentine's Day. :) or :( depending on your outlook.
Posted on: Whatever...
February 8, 2008 at 6:25 AMdownunder, Welcome. The general rule is that you only use "méi" to negate the verb "yǒu" (to have). In all other cases you use "bù" for negation.
Posted on: The Fourth Tone
February 8, 2008 at 12:02 AM"Dude" is a total Chinese word. It can have different meanings depending on its tone. dūde = common greeting word dúde = expresses agreement or joy dǔde = expresses disbelief dùde = expresses disagreement or displeasure Also, see the recent Bud Light commercial that's airing in the U.S right now for the variations on "dude" - funny stuff. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RUPvFAjpsVE
Posted on: Athlete Injuries
February 7, 2008 at 8:48 PMIn the key vocabulary section of the transcript, 没事 (méishì) is translated as "it". Shouldn't it be something like "no matter"?
Posted on: Whatever...
February 6, 2008 at 5:22 AMVery good lesson. Can you leave "去” (qù) out of first line and just have: 我们看电影吧! (wǒmen kàn diànyǐng ba!) Does it have the same meaning or does it imply that you want to stay home and watch a movie on 电视。
Posted on: Diving
January 22, 2008 at 10:50 AMWhat makes the third line in the dialog a question as opposed to just a plain old declarative sentence? There's no question word in it or 吗 (ma) at the end of it. Is it the presence of 还是 (háishi) which indicates you are giving the other person a choice and thus a question is inferred?
Posted on: 还是 háishi OR 或者 huòzhě
February 18, 2008 at 3:15 PMI think the real Qing Wen here was asking Amber what kind of guy she likes. You just put it into the context of a Chinese lesson - very clever. Clay, no need to vote for yourself. I'm sure your Claymaniacs will support you. Re: Vote. I'll abstain. Choosing a favorite is like picking your favorite Skittle - they're all good.