User Comments - calkins
calkins
Posted on: I'm really full!
February 12, 2008 at 4:53 AMCould someone please explain the difference between ma (嘛) and ba (吧)? My understanding is that they both indicate suggestion, I'm just not sure when to use one over the other. I definitely see ba (吧) used more often. Maybe a good topic for a 請問。
Posted on: Chinese New Year!
February 9, 2008 at 3:48 PMWow, amazing fireworks display zaifuzhong! That even puts 4th of July in America to shame.
Posted on: Finding a Seat
February 9, 2008 at 3:34 PMThanks John! That helps.
Posted on: How do you say...?
February 9, 2008 at 3:33 PMThe exercises looked good to me. Maybe describing your problem with more than the word "crap" would help a bit.
Posted on: Where are you from?
February 8, 2008 at 8:48 PM我是荷兰人。 (Wǒ shì Hélánrén.) I am Dutch. (literally: I am Netherlands person.)
Posted on: Chinese New Year Plans
February 7, 2008 at 4:33 PMI wonder what language monisha is speaking.
Posted on: The Fourth Tone
February 7, 2008 at 3:40 AMI second Changye's suggestion of a lesson on the neutral tone. I'm always wanting to add a tone to it and it drives me crazy. Great series!
Posted on: Chinese New Year Plans
February 6, 2008 at 11:03 PMbutterfly29, the character 福 (fú) is always posted upside down during CNY. 福 means "good fortune, happiness, luck, etc." The character for "upside down" is 到 (dào), which also means "to arrive." So when you hang 福 upside down on your door, it means that good fortune will arrive at your doorstep. Pretty cool ! The only reason I know this is because I recently studied the following lesson, and Jenny explains this quite nicely: What Character?
Posted on: #36
February 6, 2008 at 3:21 AMamc7tx, find one of their posts...click on their avatar...send them a message. I get half of your winnings right? :)
Posted on: Valentine's Day
February 14, 2008 at 2:22 AMThis dialogue cracked me up! The combination of the sound effect and the actress' xiǎoqìguǐ was perfect.