User Comments - changye
changye
Posted on: 无性婚姻
June 23, 2009 at 2:06 AM大家注意，无性婚姻和无性生殖完全是两码事！
Posted on: Funny Business, Part Two
June 23, 2009 at 1:50 AMHi christine30550
The 活 in the phrase "活该" is an adverb that means "indeed, very", and the 该 is probably equal to 应该 (should). So 活该 should be translated as "It serves you right" or "You get what you deserve". Of course, "your own fault" is also OK.
P/S. Pete, I'm so relieved to see your comment. We agree on this issue!
Posted on: Hungry Traveler: Dongbei
June 22, 2009 at 11:47 PMP/S correction
On the other hand, one of my archaic Chinese dictionaries defines "小姐" as "宋元时对地位低下女子的称呼" (an address term for daughters women of lower-class families in the eras of Song and Yuan).
Posted on: 对症下药
June 22, 2009 at 11:43 PMHi kuaizihaizi
"白加黑" is a well known cold medicine in the PRC. There are two kinds of medicine in the package, white tablets and black tablets. White ones are for "taking in the daytime", maybe they are not sleep-inducing, and black ones are for "night".
Posted on: Hungry Traveler: Dongbei
June 22, 2009 at 1:58 PMHere are the definitions of 小姐 in 现代汉语词典. It says that 小姐 was commonly used when servants address their master's daughters in the past (probably 明清时代～). You often hear this "小姐" in Chinese period dramas and movies.
(1) 旧时有钱人家里仆人称主人的女儿。
(2) 对年轻的女子或未出嫁的女子的称呼。
On the other hand, one of my archaic Chinese dictionaries defines "小姐" as "宋元时对地位低下女子的称呼" (an address term for daughters of lower-class families in the eras of Song and Yuan). Looks like the meaning of 小姐 varies across the ages.
Posted on: Pin Number
June 22, 2009 at 5:04 AMThe English word "pin number" (= password) is completely new to me.
PIN = Personal Identification Number
= 个人识别号码 (ge4ren2 shi2bie2 hao4ma3)
Posted on: 沙漠寻踪三
June 22, 2009 at 2:32 AMHi tvan
連喝涼水都會塞牙縫
even cold water stucks between the teeth (and smarts)
This is just an exaggeration. As you know, water usually doesn't stuck between the teeth, even if you are a very unlucky guy.
Posted on: Finally
June 22, 2009 at 1:00 AMHi mikeinewshot
我买了几十年（的）彩票。
我学了三年（的）汉语。
The 的 is omitted in these "object phrases".
Posted on: Hungry Traveler: Dongbei
June 21, 2009 at 9:46 AMLooks like 服务员 is the most neutral/innocuous word for addressing a waiter/waitress in China. After all, "politeness" would largely depend on your tone of voice and attitude.
Incidentally, how do you say the same thing in English? Japanese people usually just say "すみません (su-mi-ma-se-n, excuse me)", which is a versatile/convenient phrase.
Posted on: Pin Number
June 23, 2009 at 3:46 AMHi xiaophil
我的电脑不能读你的DVD光盘 or 不能读取你的DVD光盘.
My computer can't read your DVD.
P/S. 光盘 is optional.