User Comments - changye
changye
Posted on: The Old Man Who Moved a Mountain
June 21, 2007 at 12:19 PMHi Bazza, A good seggestion, but I know why they didn't do so. There was another mountain there.
Posted on: The Old Man Who Moved a Mountain
June 21, 2007 at 10:50 AMHi Lantian, I suppose that the second 了, which is usually optional, modifies the whole sentence and indicates that something has just happened or changed. The sentence stands without the second 了, but it may be more natural, rhythmical and a little emphatic by adding the second one to the sentence. As far as I know, there may be no perfect equivalent for 了 in Japanese. That's why I still cannot use 了 correctly. And that's also why I enjoy learning Chinese.
Posted on: Global Warming
June 21, 2007 at 6:44 AMI don't think it is practical to correct mistakes in comments posted in Chinese by nonnative talkers. As a matter of reality, such works should be too much to carry out even for Chinesepod staff. On the other hand, it might be a good idea for Chinesepod to offer something like a correct-mistakes service. You translate some sentences, and Cpod will correct them. But such a service would be expensive.
Posted on: The Old Man Who Moved a Mountain
June 21, 2007 at 5:03 AMThe usage of 了really is an eternal mystery to me. I've read its explanations many times, but have never felt comfortable with them yet. Now let me talk about today's topic. I had been a bit ashamed of the traditinal laziness in my family line right up until yesterday. But today, I am very happy I did not have an extremely diligent ancestor like the old man. If I had such a weird great-grandfather, I would have no time to post comments here due to the family business.
Posted on: Global Warming
June 20, 2007 at 9:38 AMHi Clarence, You are right. You must be careful when reading those posts written in Chinese by non-native Mandarin speakers, including mines Nevertheless, I still like to read those postings very much. Each time I find a word I don't know, I look it up in a dictionary/Google and see if its usage in the posting is correct and natural. The only reason I post in Chinese is that I would like to improve my writing. To write in a foreign language every day would be a very good way to enhance your writing ability. Of course, you have a right not to read such postings to avoid inputting bad Chinese. But please note that you can learn even from a bad example. By the way, this thread is very long. I tried to read all the posts, but gave up. It's not an easy job for me to read so many profound comments written in English at once. I wish they were all written in Japanese or Klingon!
Posted on: Transferring a Call
June 20, 2007 at 3:09 AMToday's lesson is nice and useful, especially 打来 was completely new to me. I think that is just like native English speakers say, "I will come to you", which is a bit confusing for Japanese.
Posted on: Sweet Watermelon
June 19, 2007 at 11:19 AMHi John, You are right. 东瓜 must be a typo. See the title of this page. http://www.tsfr.heagri.gov.cn/default3.aspx?id=8326
Posted on: 反烟第一人
June 19, 2007 at 11:04 AM中国有个俗话叫做烟酒不分家。 意思是有烟有酒大家一起享受。 抽烟喝酒的时候不分你的我的。 你当然可以不抽不喝但问题是 你还是不能不吸别人吐出的烟。 这就是烟酒不分家的当代解释。
Posted on: Sweet Watermelon
June 18, 2007 at 1:19 PMHi user0001, Are pumpkins(南瓜） fruit or vegetable? They are definitely vegetable at least in Japan. Anyway, I'm afraid they are still too big for the fridge. There're 东瓜 and 北瓜 in China. You can find them with search engines. The most awful melon in China might be 傻瓜 !
Posted on: Global Warming
June 21, 2007 at 1:40 PM我同意蓝天的看法。 我们不必互相指出 彼此的错误或病句。 逐一指出错误一定 会带来麻烦的事情。