User Comments - stevemisch

Profile picture

stevemisch

Posted on: Which Hilton?
April 10, 2011 at 4:14 AM

  1. If you like male shifu's voice check out the old Tortise and Hare lesson in elementary (I've been an ele forever!)
  2. Ayn Rand said if you praise the mediocre you bring down the masterful. I don't know how the term shifu, meaning "master" can be used for taxi drivers. For Kung Fu or Tai Chi masters, sure, but the driver is really a master? Similar for electricians etc.... If simply is a polite "sir," is fine.
  3. Under your matching you have "lao" matching with "only" instead of "old" (there is no "old"). Partial refund?

Posted on: Checking out at a Hotel
April 3, 2011 at 3:11 PM

In the expansion you mixed up "wo" with "ta" for english "he."  And just below that the pingyin and English said "Nimen" and "you guys," but the spoken voice said "ni." Come on guys....

Posted on: Handsome Foreign Student
March 26, 2011 at 2:55 PM

When John unveiled his "tone envy" of the Aussies, he addressed a question I've had for a long time. Is the "default tone" or most common tone in English the 4th? Seems easiest....

Posted on: Handsome Foreign Student
March 25, 2011 at 12:55 AM

This foreign student sounds strangely similar to the tortise in the old tortise and hare lesson (for which he will ever be remembered).

Posted on: Annoying Ringtone
February 3, 2011 at 8:03 AM

I just discovered google's translation link and it rocks! Of course goes English to Chinese (and many others), but also really easy to go both ways (swap). Also, is really fun because in addition to translating you can click on the "Listen" icon and it will read out loud--great learning tool. Also, really helpful when chatting--copy and paste. Seems better than other sites like yahoo. Have a look and share:

http://translate.google.com/#auto|en|

Posted on: Switching Seats on a Plane
January 31, 2011 at 5:22 AM

  1. Is the zou3 of "aisle" the same zou3 meaning to walk? It would be helpful to point this out if so--easier to remember if you can tag it to a reason.
  2. I was once told that there  are three degrees of happiness with the ending particles: -a meaning very happy and enthusiastic, -de meaning a neutral "OK" and -ba, willing, but not so happy (hao3a, hao3de and hao3ba).

Posted on: A Special Christmas Gift
December 28, 2010 at 2:45 AM

Jenny's kind style is that of a beloved, old university professor that everyone adores--super knowledgable, but shows no signs of boredom despite expertise far exceeding the course material. This really helps make a difficult task (learning Chinese) so much more approachable. She's a franchise player!

And, from the sublime to the silly, I'm just wondering, is Homer Simpson's "Doh!" pronounced the same as "dou1," meaning all?

Lastly, I believe in the commentary it was said that "zhu3yi" was second tone, but has 3rd tone in script.

Thanks.

Posted on: Don't Eat the Snow
December 26, 2010 at 2:33 AM

Your title "Don't eat the snow" reminds me of Frank Zappa's famous "Don't Eat the Yellow Snow." For the uninitiated the link is below. "....unmitigated audacity..." It's better than black snow.

http://box.zhangmen.baidu.com/m?word=mp3,,,[yellow+snow]&cat=0&gate=1&ct=134217728&tn=baidumt,files+frank+zappa+dont+eat+the+yellow+snow&si=;;;;0;;0&lm=-1&mtid=1&d=3&size=3355443&attr=0,0&titlekey=3520069284,1162400593&mtype=2

I actually saw him perform this song in concert, Detroit, Cobo Arena.... Enjoy....

Posted on: Cats Are Cool
October 12, 2010 at 2:56 AM

A study suggestion for my fellow students: can listen to the dialogues (about 15 minutes) WHILE eating a meal, since it's mainly listening and your mouth is full. During the rest of the lessons you must be able to repeat out loud. Saves a bit of time, before one's attention span expires. Lesson seems shorter.

And, I knew John was a "dog person" and not a "cat person" even before he answered the query.

Posted on: City Districts in Shanghai
October 8, 2010 at 3:05 AM

Please, can we make the accent marks a little bigger? For anyone over 45 (and the inevitable presbyopia, reading glasses etc.) the accent marks are almost indiscernable. Given that they are also small in our brains, given our toneless upbringing, it makes it doubly hard to burn into our brains. Spare a few more pixels please?

In Matching you have zhi4, fourth tone, when it should be zhi3, third tone. Thanks.