User Comments - kaixin_in_tampa
kaixin_in_tampa
Posted on: Stopped at the Gate
July 8, 2009 at 3:17 PMThanks a lot Connie. The last time I was in China, I brought some gifts for some of my MSN 中文老师 。 It was funny, only one person knew his address in English! So I had to help the others a little bit. Also, I learned I have been writing my address backwards all these years! The Chinese way makes much more sense! ^_^ Everything I sent made its way to its recipient, I am very happy about that.
Posted on: Stopped at the Gate
July 7, 2009 at 4:19 PMYes thank you Gesang, I had the same question.
Wow, so weird that the same word is used both for "floor" and "building". I know when we are in a packed elevator and we want someone to press the 4th floor button for us, 我们说：四楼.
So if I want to send a physical letter to this person (her friend), I write on the envelope:
十五 楼， 二零零六 室
?
Or is "fángjiān" more common than 室 when writing addresses on an envelope?
Thanks!
Posted on: Leaving Luggage with the Hotel
July 5, 2009 at 5:31 PM你好，what is the difference between
ránhòu
and
yǐhòu
?
Seems like people use "ránhòu" a *lot*. Is the difference that ránhòu is used for past events? Like this:
Wǒmen kànle yìchǎng diànyǐng, ránhòu jiù huíjiā le.
(We watched a movie, then we just went home.)
Thanks!
Posted on: What's your (animal) sign?
July 3, 2009 at 1:22 PMstanimal, I think it's just 我比你大. Can anyone else confirm?
A very famous rat in 美国 was appointed the Grand Marshall of the 2008 (Year of the Rat) Chinese New Year Parade. ^_^
http://www.flickr.com/photos/mellemusic/2253995353/
Posted on: Son or Daughter?
July 3, 2009 at 1:02 AMYong Ho in his book Beginner's Chinese comments that whether or not we use the particle de (的) could be suggestive of our relationship to an object/person. Most people would drop 的 when talking about their immediate family, i.e., wǒ tàitai (my wife). Depending on context, he says the use of 的 might actually make the speaker sound a little possesive, i.e., wǒ 的 tàitai could be taken to mean MY wife. ^__^
As far as entities/organizations that are dear to us (or not), he says whether we use 的 can also give the listener a hint as to the relationship the speaker has with them. For example, if someone says "Wǒmen Zhōngwén xì" (our Chinese department), it probably means that she is a member of the department (student/professor) and she cares about it, whereas if she uses 的 it might mean that she doesn't have strong feelings towards the department.
Posted on: Son or Daughter?
July 2, 2009 at 4:32 PMNi hao, how do we say "little emperors" in Chinese? Thank you.
Posted on: How Long Has This Been Going On?
June 30, 2009 at 3:31 AMThank you Pete.
Meiwenti Shenyajin, thanks!
Posted on: How Long Has This Been Going On?
June 29, 2009 at 6:31 AMThanks a lot shenyajin!
in "The Forbidden City is more than 600 years old."
you said:
Gùgōng yǐjing yǒu liùbǎi duōnián dìlì shǐ le.
Did you mean:
Gùgōng yǐjing yǒu liùbǎi duō nián de lìshǐ le.
?
Similarly for the "...around 600 years old...".
Is there a common, respectful term in Chinese to refer to older folk? As you said, in English (US at least) we refer to them as senior citizens. Maybe niánjìdà rén? ^__^ Thanks again, I really appreciate you taking the time.
Posted on: Stinky Feet
July 8, 2009 at 3:36 PMBy the way that dude snickered/chuckled, we know he is mildly proud of those stinky feet of his. I mean, no "hello" or anything, just "may I (please) take off my shoes?" Just could not wait to show them off!
^_^