User Comments - changye
changye
Posted on: Paying a Bill
December 30, 2008 at 12:50 PMHi light487,
I think your example is OK. You can also say "咱们坐在这里谈一下吧。"
Posted on: 山寨
December 30, 2008 at 11:48 AM"草根" is the literal translation of "grass roots", which was probably imported to China a few decades ago. It is basically equal to "老百姓" or "基层民众", but I suppose it could sometimes connotes "nongovernment" or "antigovernment". And this might be the reason that "草根" is still not listed in state-sponsored 现代汉语词典, perhaps. Just a guess.
Posted on: 山寨
December 30, 2008 at 7:28 AM农业学大寨，制假业学山寨。
Posted on: Karaoke
December 30, 2008 at 2:02 AMHi sarahlct,
This is not a direct answer to your question, but there is a word "跑掉" (pao3 diao4, run away) in Chinese.
Posted on: Being Vague: 大概 (dàgài), 左右 (zuǒyòu), 上下 (shàngxià)
December 29, 2008 at 10:18 AMHi kimiik,
离开你左右
这个“左右”就是“旁边”的意思。
Posted on: Instant Noodles
December 29, 2008 at 8:17 AMHi guys,
The boy is called "出前坊や" (de-ma-e-bo-ya) in Japan. It literally means "a delivery kid". Here are TV commercials broadcast in HK and in Japan.
Posted on: Karaoke
December 29, 2008 at 6:15 AM阿牛《对面的女孩看过来》 这首歌曲很有趣！
Posted on: Karaoke
December 29, 2008 at 4:23 AMHi John,
Yeah, and you would end up having an empty wallet.
Posted on: Karaoke
December 29, 2008 at 4:13 AMProbably most people already know it, but let me explain the etymology of Karaoke here.
The word "Karaoke" consists of two parts, "kara" and "oke". "Kara" is "空 (kara)" in Japanese and it means "empty". "Oke" is a shortend form of "okesutora" (orchestra). So "karaoke" literally means "empty orchestra", which doesn't make sense in English, and it implies that there is only pre-recorded accompaniment, but no live orchestral accompaniment.
Posted on: Saying Sorry
December 31, 2008 at 1:42 AMHi ewong,
I think that "打扰" is usually used when you call at someone's house or office. In your case, "给你们添麻烦了" might be more appropriate. Or, just saying "谢谢你们的帮助" would be OK.