User Comments - changye
changye
Posted on: Turn Right, Turn Left
October 17, 2009 at 1:18 AMHi jimijames
It seems to be the same in northeast China (东北地区). Also, I can't find the words "大拐/小拐" in any of my Chinese dictionaries (and online ones). It's highly possible that they are dialect words mainly used in southern China (or only in Shanghai?).
I just found a very interesting blog article written by a Taiwanese who came to the PRC on business, which is about language difference between Taiwan and the PRC (including Mandarin/dialects). Below is an exerpt taken from it. Sorry, Chinese only!
再说个在上海(Shanghai)地区搭出租车时，司机最常会问乘客的话：
「你下个路口是大拐还是小拐啊？」
北京(Beijing)师傅则是爱问：「你是要往东奔还是往西奔？」
在台湾(Taiwan)，司机的问法是：「你要往左拐还是往右拐？」
http://bbs.financeun.com/bbs22986.html
P/S. The most standard ones should be "往左拐/往右拐".
Posted on: Playing the Stock Market
October 16, 2009 at 1:41 PMHi calicartel
The correct English translation should be "Last year the inflation in the housing market of the city (该市) was not terribly apparent"
Posted on: Is China Scary?
October 16, 2009 at 6:07 AM从“一山不容二虎”这句俗话来看，好像老虎难找配偶。怪不得中国老虎濒临灭绝。
Posted on: Chinese Idol 2
October 15, 2009 at 11:08 PMHi timbrace
You can also use "弹" for string instruments that are plucked with a plectrum, such as 柳琴 (China), 三味弦 (Japan), and 吉他 (when you play using a plectrum). A plectrum is translated as "拨片" (bo1pian4) or "拨子" (bo1zi) in Chinese.
As for "打钢琴", you can use "打" when you play avant garde piano music.....just a joke. Actually, "打钢琴" might be more appropriate than "弹钢琴" for some music works, for example, by Bartok (巴托克) and Prokofiev (普罗高菲夫), hehe.
Posted on: Chinese Idol 2
October 15, 2009 at 1:15 PMHi monix
Just saying "我什么乐器都不会" would be OK.
你会乐器吗？ Do you play a musical instrument?
你会汉语吗？ Do you speak Chinese?
Posted on: Chinese Idol 2
October 15, 2009 at 8:54 AMHi jimijames
Chinese people use the word "弹" (play) for the piano not based on its structure/mechanism, but just based on its name "钢琴". The same goes for 风琴 (Organ). That said, people say "拉手风琴" (play the accordion), hehe.
why 弹 instead of 打 is used because the music of the piano comes from its strings.
Posted on: Chinese Idol 2
October 15, 2009 at 8:29 AMHi jimijames
Probably the word "strike" might be appropriate for a piano (钢琴), and "pluck" should be for a cembalo/harpsichord (大键琴).
Posted on: Going to the Dentist
October 15, 2009 at 6:56 AM上上个月我在家吃糖的时候补牙材料突然掉了，那没办法，只得去牙科再补。好在我家附近有一家看起来很"先进"的牙科诊所，我的邻居都说那里的技术水平很不错，设备也好，加上大夫都是漂亮的女人，所以我当然赶紧就去看大夫。
邻居说的没错儿。那家诊所确实很好，但是有点遗憾，还有稍微进行改善的余地。女大夫给我补牙时不停地跟护士聊天开玩笑，这却让我觉得非常恐怖。不管怎样，我在中国的第一次牙科治疗圆满成功，比我想像的还要顺利，谢天谢地！
Posted on: Lao Wang's Office 7: A Firing Afoot?
October 17, 2009 at 2:02 AMI agree with tal.
it may also simply mean: 'in a moment'.
"等会儿" means "soon", but when your boss uses this phrase, it virtually means "immediately", hehe.