User Comments - jacob

Posted on: Student or Teacher?

I have only ever heard 先生. What other term is there?

Posted on: Son or Daughter?

I checked it out, the iPod app doesn't seem to be much more useful than using the the web site. Maybe it has more features now?

Posted on: Son or Daughter?

You can (and usually do) drop the 的 when the first noun is closely related to the second one, ie:

我(的)弟弟

他(的)媽媽

中國(的)熊貓

澳洲(的)袋鼠

Posted on: A Mouse Upstairs

There are so many words like this in chinese. Rat or mouse? Barbecue or roasted meat, etc.. It intriques me as to why! Its like they have never had a need to express the difference.

Posted on: This is mine!

Huh, what are you trying to say? They are three distinct separate words.

Posted on: Give Me a Kiss

抱抱 bàobào

Posted on: 会 (Huì) and 能 (Néng) Face-off

The first sentence translates to mean you have learnt and hence can now speak a little bit of chinese.

我会说中文一点儿

The second sentence is different, it means you are only (physically) able to speak a little bit of chinese, ie maybe you have a sore throat or headache preventing you from being able to speak.

我能说中文一点儿。

Posted on: 会 (Huì) and 能 (Néng) Face-off

Exactly, a true linguist will agree that grammar and dictionaries are meant to describe how a word or grammar point is used, not prescribe how a word or grammar point can be used.

People will use a word or phrase how you want them to use it, there is nothing you can do to stop them (:

Dictionaries are not suposed to define how a word should, or was used in a time gone past. They are supposed to define modern/actual usage.

Posted on: 会 (Huì) and 能 (Néng) Face-off

The dictionaries I have say that 骂人/罵人 means to swear or curse at someone. The dialogue here translates it as yelling at or scolding someone.

Posted on: Baijiu or Beer

That is an excellent idea for another memorable lesson.