User Comments - chris

Posted on: Borrowing Money

Sorry, me again.  Related question to my above query - what are the grammar rules for "huan2" (to return).  From the first Expansion 5 sentence, I thought that "huan2" needed to co-locate with "gei3".  However, from the second sentence it appears it doesn't need to.  Is this an occasion where it's up to the speaker whether to use the "gei3" or not.  Or does omission of the "gei3" change the meaning?

The more I think about it, "gei3" probably deserves a QW to itself!

thanks, chris

Posted on: Borrowing Money

Hi all, I have a question regarding Expansion sentence 4(c) below:-

这本书是他借给我的

Zhe4 ben3 shu1 ta1 jie4 gei3 wo3 de

(He lent me this book)

I am really struggling with the grammar here.  I would've translated the English as:

Ta1 jie4 le wo3 zhe4 ben3 shu1; or

Zhe4 ben3 shu1 ta1 jie4 le wo3.

Can someone explain the purpose of "gei3" and also the "shi" and "de".  I thought maybe that this could be an example of the infamous "shi......de" construction??

Many thanks, Chris

Posted on: Karaoke

Further to one of Jenny's comments above, in KTV bars in Shanghai why do all the Cantonese and Mandarin songs have the proper videos (either of the live performance or the official music-video) but all the English language songs have naff panaromas of beaches, etc?  I presume it is something to do with copyright - if so, the KTV management companies are clearly more ethical than many DVD sellers!  Thanks, Chris

Posted on: Interview with Cassie

Hi Cassie, great interview.  My other half is from Quanzhou in Fuijian Province and although we live in Shanghai we do quite often go for trips back to Fujian (mainly Quanzhou, Xiamen and Fuzhou).  A fantastic province - but so many dialects....I must learn Min Nan Hua once I've finally mastered Pu Tong Hua!

Posted on: Dirty Little Hands

Checkingoutchina, Jenny, Amber,

Just a quick follow-on from your posts above.  There is a fantastic cortisone cream called "Betnovate" that is brilliant at combating eczema.  Coincidentally, I have just run out of my latest supply from UK and wondered whether you knew the Chinese name for this brand (including pinyin).  It's actually a prescription cream back in UK, but I suspect it's possible to get it easily over the counter at a pharmacy in Shanghai.  I could just try taking my old tube into a pharmacy to see if they recognise it, but the Chinese name would be helpful.

Any help, as ever, would be much appreciated.

Thanks, Chris

Posted on: Public Speaking Tips

I should just clarify the above - when I say the lesson was great timing, I didn't mean I plan to discuss company performance and opening new markets at my wedding!

Posted on: Public Speaking Tips

Hi everyone,

This lesson is great timing.  It's my wedding tonight and I've finally finished writing my speech (in chinese - well, pinyin!).  It's only a couple of minutes long, but I'm still nervous as anything.  I have to thank CPod because without my CPod lessons I could never have written the speech.  In fact, reading through it again now there are a good few "cpod'isms" dropped in - perhaps I could be up for breach of copyright ;-)

I'm sure it is still littered with grammatical errors - but my wife has promised to correct them as I go if she senses none of the 160 Chinese guests understand my point!  Should be an interesting experience.

Anyway, must dash!

Chris

Posted on: Dirty Little Hands

Hi all,

I often see 洗手间 （xi shou jian - wash hands room) as the sign for public toilets in Shanghai.

However, when asking where the toilets are it is often "ce4 suo3" that is used.

Are there any rules here - or can one use the above two terms completely interchangeably.  Xi Shou Jian, in my mind, sounds a bit more polite.

Thanks, chris

Posted on: Clearing the Table

Thanks rjberki,

Makes sense - I assume the "kai" is the kai that means "to drive".  I think I was originally confused because I thought it was the kai that means to open!

Chris

Posted on: Clearing the Table

Hi all,

Expansion sentence question:

"Yi1 liang4 che1 kai1 guo4lai le"

"A car came over here".

What is the function of "kai1" in this sentence?  It appears redundant to me.

Thanks, Chris