User Comments - byronmeinerth
byronmeinerth
Posted on: Buying a Prepaid Cell Phone Card
January 22, 2012 at 5:03 AMThe true name in Chinese is 用户身份模块卡, but in the same way that we don't say Subscriber Identity Module card in English, I haven't heard this phrase in Mandarin. Nevertheless, it makes perfect sense, as 用户, 身份 and 模块 all correspond with subscriber, identity, and module.
Posted on: Two 'Iffy' Words
January 21, 2012 at 3:24 PMWhat does Connie say at 5:13? Also, I like Amber's Chinglish when she says, "When you were small. . ."
Posted on: Most Frequently Asked Question in China
January 21, 2012 at 3:16 PM我不是吉尔吉斯斯坦的。还有我没去过，但是知道它中文名字是在中文里最长的国名之一。
请纠正我的错误。
Posted on: Most Frequently Asked Question in China
January 21, 2012 at 2:01 PMRead some of her other comments - they'll likely cheer you up for the simple fact that they're different and often don't make sense.
Posted on: Taking the Plunge into Intermediate
January 7, 2012 at 7:48 AMI find talking about food is a great way to continue a conversation, especially if you're already past the 你吃饭了没 part of it. I think many Chinese people are much more interested in talking about different types of food, where the food comes from, whether it's spicy or not, if they can eat spicy food or not, and what food from your country is like. Some words for food are esoteric, but every person I've met has been interested, whether it's 华夫饼 (waffles) with 槭糖浆 (qītángjiāng, maple syrup) or 兰州拉面.
You can learn about the local specialties and ask people if they know a good restaurant nearby to try it. You'll get to practice food words, directions, and maybe that person will even offer to show you how to get there.
Posted on: Taking the Plunge into Intermediate
January 7, 2012 at 7:33 AMHey Chris, what type of dictionary are you using?
Posted on: When are you Coming to Hong Kong?
January 3, 2012 at 12:23 PMThe written form is always the same, just as you wrote it. The standard pronunciation, or at least the pronunciation you'll find in a dictionary is nǎ. However, I hear něi all the time and think nǎ would sound very official at certain times. I believe in this case, both pronunciations would be acceptable, but I'm more familiar with něi. Also, only nǎ is acceptable in 哪儿 and 哪里. If in doubt, go with nǎ.
If any of the above advice is incorrect, I invite other poddies to amend it or add to it.
Posted on: When are you Coming to Hong Kong?
January 2, 2012 at 7:20 AMI've never been, so I can't say much on this. Their Enlglish may be poor, but as long as their English level is higher than the Canto level of the foreigners who live and visit there, the status quo will continue as is.
Posted on: Scheduling a Time
January 1, 2012 at 9:00 AMThanks a lot for your answers. It's definitely not something I thought much of before studying foreign languages.
Posted on: Buying a Prepaid Cell Phone Card
January 22, 2012 at 5:22 AMA couple technical terms that I find helpful for increasing vocab both in Mandarin and English. They may not have immediate, practical purposes but can still be interesting. GSM in Mandarin is 全球移动通讯系统, and CDMA is 码分多址. GSM stands for Global System for Mobile Communications. Looking at the Chinese, 全球 means global, 移动 means mobile, just like the telecommunications group, 通讯 means communication or radio dispatch, and 系统 means system.
CDMA, or Code Division Multiple Access, is a bit shorter and simpler in Mandarin. 码 means code, 分 means division, 多, many or multiple, and finally, 址, means location or site, as in 地址, 网址.
Perhaps some of this seems very specific, but I find it helpful for looking at words in a different light to remember them.