User Comments - changye
changye
Posted on: Turn Right, Turn Left
October 20, 2009 at 1:35 PMHi bodawei
I pronounce the Chinese name the same as a Chinese native does; but the Chinese for some (unfathomable?) reason converts my name to a five syllable noise that sounds remarkably unlike my name in English.
Do you mean that your Chinese friends say your name using Chinese sounds even when they are speaking in English?
Posted on: Buying a Bike
October 20, 2009 at 7:34 AMHi zhenlijiang
Really? I've been forgetful these days. Probably I'm getting old, hehe. Incidentally, "a basket" is also called "篮" (lan2) or "篮子" (lan2zi) in Chinese, including a bicycle basket.
Posted on: Buying a Bike
October 20, 2009 at 4:54 AMHi miantiao
> 带烟灰缸的自行车
Really? That's just hilarious! Actually, I sometimes see local people smoking a cigarette when bathing at a public bath. I just can't stand it.
Posted on: Buying a Bike
October 20, 2009 at 4:35 AMIn addition to JasonSch's comment, military helmets are usually called "钢盔" (gang1kui1) or "头盔" (tou2kuui1) in Chinese, but not "安全帽". For the record, "安全套" (an1quan2tao4) is "a condom", which is also called ""避孕套" (bi4yun4tao4). I think the former makes more sense, especially in the era of "AIDS".
Posted on: Buying a Bike
October 20, 2009 at 4:15 AM在中国，我从来没看过带灯自行车，但是看过很多人打着雨伞骑自行车！
In China, I've never seen a lamp-equipped bicycle, but instead I've seen a lot of people who ride with an open umbrella.
Posted on: Buying a Bike
October 20, 2009 at 3:57 AMHi miantiao
I heard that 脚踏车 is also commonly used in 上海 (Shanghai) and some southern regions in the PRC.
Posted on: Buying a Bike
October 20, 2009 at 3:45 AMHi miantiao
Is "脚踏车" (jiao3ta4che1, a bicycle) commonly used in 四川 (Sichuan)？ Semantically, the word “脚踏车” makes more sense thant "自行车" does！
PS. A bicycle is "自转车" (zi4zhuan4che1, self-rotating vehicle) both in Korean and Japanese.
Posted on: Buying a Bike
October 20, 2009 at 3:21 AM这里有没有人在中国看过带灯的自行车？
Has anyone here ever seen a bicycle equipped with a lamp in China?
Posted on: Drunk Driving
October 20, 2009 at 2:09 PMHi sabrinaguenier
"驾驶" (to drive) can be used not only for cars but also for many other kinds of vehicles, planes, ships and even spaceships. In short, 驾驶 is a generic term. So a car driver and a pilot are both translated as "驾驶员" (jia4shi3yuan2) in Chinese. A pilot is also called "飞行员" （fei1xing2yuan2）, and a car driver (and other vehicle drivers) is usually referred to as "司机" (si1ji1). 驾驶员 is more formal than 司机.