User Comments - ptsmith

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ptsmith

Posted on: A Disappointing Delivery
October 26, 2011, 06:54 PM

A large belly and the word 'delivery' in the title.  I completely went there.  So I roll with it - a good lesson regardless.

Posted on: Explaining Your Job
April 13, 2011, 03:48 AM

There is also a special character which means 'belong to the group' of zodiac animals. shǔ 属 (3rd tone) so I would answer "wǒ shǔ hǔ" 我属虎“ meaning " I am tiger".

Posted on: Away on Business
September 25, 2009, 03:27 AM

I've noticed many city names end in -zhou 州 (such as Guanzhou or my favorite Suzhou).  Is there a common meaning to this character?

Posted on: Express Train or High-speed Train?
September 24, 2009, 05:46 PM

When I studies trains last, the faster express trains were 'kuai che'.  Where is kuai che on the scale now?  Should I always first ask for 'dong che'?

Posted on: Express Train or High-speed Train?
September 24, 2009, 03:19 AM

At the end of the conversation, he says na jio (那就) which Ken said was "in that case".  The dialog flyover says "I'll take".  I'm wondering if the phrase could also have been "na me"?  (那么） Would that also be acceptable?

Posted on: Which Finger?
April 03, 2009, 05:45 PM

Can I assume zhi3  指  is a measure word for fingers?

Excellent lesson, very creative!

Posted on: To bag or not to bag?
December 03, 2008, 03:44 AM

no cost for plastic bags in the midwest of USA, but there is a growing concern about them.  My family has starting using reusable canvas bags and refusing the plastic bags.  The stores do offer recycling of the old plastic bags and sell store-branded canvas bags. 

So far I can't get my family off the bottled water but I'm working on them.

Posted on: Checking Baggage
September 17, 2008, 09:43 PM

Can anyone help clarify for me, the greeting here is

huan(1) ying(2)

But when I enter restaurants in Suzhou I frequently hear...

huan(1) ying(2) guan (1) ying(2)

What is the difference between the two?  It also sounds like the 2nd and 4th word sound different to me.  Almost as if the final 'ying' is pronounced as 'ling' starting with an L.  If anyone can elaborate on the greeting, I'd appreciate it.  Thanks!