User Comments - clay
clay
Posted on: Taxi Conversations: Arriving at your Destination
January 24, 2008 at 3:02 AMrustblue, this reminds me of a sing I saw at a bar in Austin, "There is no Tiping in China, but there is in Texas" Ive only seen some tipping at foreign establishments by foreigners used to this western tradition. Cabs and restaurants in china do not expect it. I do it from time to time out of my detest for coins. Anything under 5rmb in china will tend to come back in coins. So if i have a 18rmb cab ride, ill more often give him a 20 and tell him; 不用找了 （bù yòng zhǎo le） keep the change -clay
Posted on: The First Tone
January 23, 2008 at 11:13 AMRJberki, not only are you getting the other 3, we are going to give a little bit extra. stay tuned....
Posted on: #34
January 23, 2008 at 11:09 AMThis past weeks winner is Suburbanite aka Bill. Congrads to Bill on guessing School of Rock. One free month of premium access Bill. enjoy JiaoJie has the transcripts up from last week posted on MM#33. Go and check it out.
Posted on: 橄榄球在中国
January 23, 2008 at 6:40 AMtim77, we are glad you like the lesson. As for what is technically the right for the usage of 橄榄球, the dictionaries and the professors may all say it means rugby, but we just go by what is the standard in modern day China. One good way to do this is to type any word in question into Baidu to see what pops up (the chinese google if you will). Baidu pulls words from independant websites from native chinese speakers, and it completely objective. We didnt get a rugby photo until page 8 of 21,000 or so photos when we did a 橄榄球 search. And 美式足球 gave us 975 photos including American Football, Rugby, Tiger Woods and Britney spears.
Posted on: The First Tone
January 23, 2008 at 6:19 AMYeah, singing is what did if for me. After a year of study at UH, I still couldnt do a first tone. When Tang Laoshi told me to think of it like you are holding a note, I finally was able to get it.
Posted on: 橄榄球在中国
January 22, 2008 at 8:03 AMuser44238, 橄榄球 （gǎnlǎnqiú） is also the term used for Rugby. Confusing perhaps, but i think to the Chinese the see both bewildering sports using a simliar shaped ball, so they call 'em both oliveball. Most Chinese will think of the American version upon hearing the name though. Our girls in the office didnt even realized there was another 橄榄球 （gǎnlǎnqiú) that we westerners know as Rugby. You can be more specif however by saying: 英式橄榄球 （Yīngshì gǎnlǎnqiú） Rugby and 美式橄榄球 （Měishì gǎnlǎnqiú） American Football
Posted on: Lesson
January 22, 2008 at 3:23 AMOk, all better now. sorry folks
Posted on: Is someone in here?
January 22, 2008 at 2:42 AMPattyt you see it from time to time. At least in shanghai, it is not the norm however.
Posted on: Hawaii
January 22, 2008 at 2:30 AMBryan, Yes, I am a Rainbow Warrior. Graduated in '06. Not a bad place to get an education huh? yeah, Cantonese has a stronger presence, but that pretty much goes for most China towns in the west unfortunately (for us mandarin learners that is). Which is also why you generally see the traditional characters on all the restaurants and shop fronts.
Posted on: Romance in the Beauty Pageant
January 24, 2008 at 8:49 AMhening, ha, not censored. We are just drawing out the suspense. next episode will be aired in feb.