User Comments - changye
changye
Posted on: About Face! A Multi-faceted Look at 面子
March 16, 2009 at 2:13 AMChinese "vulgar prosperity" is not necessarily a bad thing. It's virtually an only way to redistribute the wealth in the PRC today, where the tax system doesn't work well especially in the fields of income tax and inheritance tax. The humble/frugal rich is much worse than the arrogant/spendthrift rich from the standpoint of wealth redistribution.
Posted on: About Face! A Multi-faceted Look at 面子
March 16, 2009 at 12:18 AMI hope that Chinese 面子, including 面子工程, would greatly contribute to expanding domestic demand, and consequently stimulate world economy.
Posted on: About Face! A Multi-faceted Look at 面子
March 15, 2009 at 1:28 PMA similar phrase 丢脸 (diu1 lian3) also means "lose face/丢面子". Maybe 丢脸 sometimes sounds more reproachful/critical than 丢面子 in a given context. 他不要脸 means "he is shameless', and 我没脸见你 "I can't face you/I'm too embarrassed to see you."
By the way, there is an interesting word "面子工程" (face-saving project), and this indicates, for example, an extravagantly luxurious city hall or something like that. Of course, 面子工程 is a very good opportunity for corrupt bureaucrats to make big money.
Posted on: 山寨
March 14, 2009 at 2:13 AMcorrection
There is no problem with you imitating something, as long as you don't sell imitatations.
Posted on: Hungry Traveler: Xinjiang
March 14, 2009 at 2:11 AMHi davebodesax
Maybe a measure word "个" is most commonly used for 羊肉串, like "十个羊肉串", and you can also use "根" (gen1). "串" is a measure word too, however, it's used for "something beaded", just like "一串烤羊肉" or "一串钥匙(keys)".
And therefore, theoretically speaking, you cannot say "一串羊肉串" becasue 串 itself is not beaded (beaded things are 羊肉). That said, "～串羊肉串" is actually used as follows,
http://www.ccppg.com.cn/kuaibao/shehui/2005-12-15/36492.html
http://ent.qq.com/a/20051112/000001.htm
http://ms.peoplexz.com/7175/20090206101159.htm
Please don't ask me why, hehe.
Posted on: 山寨
March 13, 2009 at 11:15 AMHi urcto
There is no problem with you imitating something, as long as you don't sell things you've imitated.
China began modernization late, and therefore your country could utilize a lot of technologies and know-hows other countries had already developed, which is a primary reason for China's fast growing economy.
In short, the PRC could skip the most time/money-consuming processes in the past three decades, namely "research and development" and "trial and error". All you need has been imitating/copying something.
At the same time, unfortunately for China, you are required to respect intellectual property rights today, unlike 50 years ago. Times have changed. After all, there is no such thing as "a free lunch", as Chinese people well know.
Posted on: Zombies!
March 13, 2009 at 8:36 AM八十年代有一个台湾电影系列叫《幽幻道士》。这个系列一共有六部以僵尸为主题的恐怖喜剧片，每个作品都受广大日本人欢迎。剧中有一个非常可爱的女角色叫《恬恬》，这个天真活泼小姑娘让全日本男孩儿入迷了。我认为这系列电影在日本的成功多半是《恬恬》的功劳。听说现在她在日本演艺界工作，太好了！
http://i3.6.cn/cvbnm/bc/dd/ea/d03256b4eb201adc407f8e2ab0418817.jpg
Posted on: Reporting a Loss
March 13, 2009 at 3:44 AM我只有一张信用卡。我在日本的时候一次都没刷过卡，买什么都用现金，不过还是丢失过一次信用卡，哈哈。
Posted on: Stinky Feet
March 13, 2009 at 3:08 AMHi urcto
Yeah, you are right. Actually 不好意思 is a very "versatile" (and convenient) phrase that is used to mean "ashamed/embarrassed", "I'm sorry", "excuse me", and even "thank you" in everyday conversation.
On the other hand, an expression such as "对不起，请问一下" is more formal than a 不好意思 version. I admit that maybe I'm the guy who most frequently use "对不起" in the office, hehe. 我却不好意思说“不好意思”！
Posted on: 中国和西方的农民
March 16, 2009 at 6:56 AM中央给农民的补贴越多地方贪官越发财。几年前我看到一条新闻说，每年中国中央政府给农民发放各种补助金，但是其中只有三分之一的钱才能到农民的手里。那么另外三分之二的钱到底去哪儿？中国官人的传统思想作风很难改变，农民的日子还是不好过哇。