User Comments - pretzellogic
pretzellogic
Posted on: A Trip to the Dry Cleaner's
October 12, 2009 at 4:36 AMHi John, now that you mention it, you're probably right, changing the default search to include the lesson introduction, dialogue and vocabulary is probably the most effective way to handle this quickly. I was thinking that default search brought up things like intro and dialogue when i wrote that post, but it didn't. Live and learn.
Thanks for your reply!
Posted on: Drunk Driving
October 12, 2009 at 1:17 AMFunny, i've not seen that many accidents here in China, but I've seen enough businessmen in restaurants/bars playing rock/scissors/paper to think there should be a big problem with drunk driving here. Maybe they all have drivers.
Posted on: Taxi Conversations: Suggesting a Route
October 9, 2009 at 11:21 AMFYI, the Gao1Su4gong1lu4 is the exact road that you take from Beijing airport into the city proper. At some point into your ride, the driver might ask you (again, if you're in Beijing),
"kěyǐ yòng sān huán lù ma?"
(literal translation: can use 3 ring road?)
"mind if I take 3rd ring road?"
since this might be your first time in Beijing, just say, "kěyǐ". I just want you to be aware that he/she might say this. Don't expect a cpod lesson to be this specific about Beijing roads, but you'll hear references to 3rd ring road, and 4th ring road plenty of times in Beijing. You might as well learn them if you're going to be in Beijing by yourself for a bit.
Posted on: Taxi Conversations: Destination
October 9, 2009 at 11:08 AMWhen taking a taxi from Bejing airport, after you tell the driver where you want to go, and he says ok, after a couple of miles, he might turn around to you and ask you:
"kěyǐ yòng sān huán lù ma?"
"mind if I take 3rd ring road?"
since this might be your first time in Beijing, just say, "kěyǐ". I just want you to be aware that he/she might say this. Don't expect a cpod lesson to be this specific about Beijing roads, but you'll hear references to 3rd ring road, and 4th ring road plenty of times in Beijing.
Posted on: Fast Food
October 7, 2009 at 2:29 PMtimslsm, after looking through that very detailed, very helpful link you provided from the 70s, all I can say is i'm really glad that cpod doesn't take that overall approach to language instruction. Or maybe I just wouldn't subscribe to cpod if it did.
Posted on: Fast Food
October 6, 2009 at 4:12 PMJust FYI, at one of the many SPR coffee shops in Beijing, I was told that you could say, "zài zhè háishì dàizǒu". For some reason, I was told that "Tángchī háishì dàizǒu" isn't Beijinghua.
Posted on: Where is the Supermarket?
October 6, 2009 at 11:27 AMHi Chris, they're not blocked, at least not in Beijing, and at least not at 7:24pm local.
Posted on: A Trip to the Dry Cleaner's
October 4, 2009 at 1:14 PMjust FYI, I searched on "dry clean" for this lesson, and then received "there are no related lessons for this term". Then I put "dry clean" in expanded search, and received this lesson and the others. Is search something that CPOD is addressing or correcting in some way?
Posted on: National Day
October 3, 2009 at 1:11 PMtgif, during the inspection, the Chairman says
Tóngzhìmen hǎo
(comrades hello!)
soldiers reply: I wasn't quite sure.
2nd time: Hu says
Tóngzhìmen xìnkǔ le
(comrades suffer!)
soldiers reply:
wèi rénmín fúwù
(to serve the people!)
Posted on: Drunk Driving
October 12, 2009 at 5:18 AMooka, where do you live? In Beijing and in Lanzhou, I only saw a electric bike on the ground once with a person on the ground looking dizzy, and a group of people standing around 2 guys that ended up in a fight between the two in the middle of the street. I've seen way more major league traffic accidents in the US, in addition to seeing more speeders and people doing things that should result in accidents.