User Comments - calkins

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calkins

Posted on: All the Things You Can Hit: 打 (dǎ)
January 4, 2009 at 2:15 AM

Connie, much thanks for posting the dialogue so early and on the holiday weekend!  新年快乐！

Posted on: Food Oddities and Eye Exercises
January 4, 2009 at 2:12 AM

I can finally think about food again, after 3 days of what I think was food poisoning from some NYE oysters here in Taipei.

The only other Westerner with us that night also got sick around the same time I did, with the same symptoms.  Ironically, none of the Taiwanese we were with (6 of them) got sick.

Chinese have stomachs of steel!!!

Posted on: Always in Chinese: 总是 (zǒngshì) and 老是 (lǎoshi)
December 30, 2008 at 10:59 AM

After some research, it looks like 辆 liàng is also the measure word for bikes.

Posted on: Always in Chinese: 总是 (zǒngshì) and 老是 (lǎoshi)
December 30, 2008 at 10:41 AM

Light, I think your sentence says:

I would like a sports car, however I will buy a bike.

The measure word for cars is 辆 liàng.  I'm not sure if it's the measure word for bikes though.  Anyone know?

Posted on: Paying a Bill
December 30, 2008 at 8:46 AM

Thank you Connie, Jiaojie, and chistudent...you helped me successfully pay a bill today without sounding like [too much of] a moron ;)

Posted on: Paying a Bill
December 30, 2008 at 4:46 AM

Perfect, thanks lujiaojie.  One final question...If I'm asking in person and am holding the bill, can I take out the 帐单 zhàngdān and just use 这张 zhè zhāng, since it's clear that I'm referring to the bill in my hand?

这张最晚什么时候付？
zhè zhāng zuì wǎn shénme shíhou fù?

Posted on: Paying a Bill
December 29, 2008 at 12:37 PM

chistudent, much thanks for your explanation!

I'm back again with another "fun with paying bills" question.  Would the following be okay to ask when a bill is due, or is there more specialized vocabulary for this?

我什麽时候必须付这张？
wǒ shénme shíhou bìxū fù zhèi zhāng？
When do I have to pay this [bill]?

Posted on: Taxi Culture in China
December 28, 2008 at 12:33 PM

sarahlct, go to the search box (top of every page) and type "taxi"...you'll get about 11 lessons on taxis, with lots of vocab.

I agree with kevina, the drivers in Taipei are really friendly.  And also a great opportunity to practice the Chinese, even if theirs is a mixture of Mandarin and Taiwanese (mixed with an extra slur of betlenut!).

And wow, 真便宜.

Posted on: Late December News
December 28, 2008 at 10:44 AM

That's a dinosaur blast from the past.  Mr. Boran, 好久不见...nice to see you on the boards.

Posted on: Being Vague: 大概 (dàgài), 左右 (zuǒyòu), 上下 (shàngxià)
December 28, 2008 at 4:01 AM

Fun QW!  Thanks for the dialogue.

Here are some other ways to hide your age:

我二十出头。
wǒ èrshí chūtóu.  (you can drop the suì)
(Use this one if you are in your lower 20's).

我二十多了。
wǒ èrshí duō le.
(Use this one if you are older than 25).

我二十多岁。
wǒ èrshí duō suì.
(Use this one if you don't want anyone to have a clue how old you are in your 20's).

I don't think that Chinese use the first one too often, because they want to be polite...kind of like deflecting a complement or answering "How are you?" with "馬馬虎虎".