User Comments - sushan
sushan
Posted on: Evading Nosy Questions
January 25, 2008 at 8:13 AMEntertaining and very useful lesson in both practical and cultural aspects. I had been using 不 容易 告诉 你 (bu4 rong2yi4 gao4su4 ni3), that is hard to say, as an answer to all the nosy questions. And yes, often they come from cab drivers. Anyone know what is considered a nosy question, or taboo subject, for Chinese people?
Posted on: The Non-Chinese Speaking Tourist and Toilets
January 21, 2008 at 4:48 AMhey nicolas, 可以 用 厕所嘛 ke3yi3 yong4 ce4suo3 ma? - more of a questions, but works....
Posted on: Choosing a Chinese Name and Safety
January 19, 2008 at 1:32 AMJP, actually I have had people in China try to speak to me in Spanish here if they didn't know English or Chinese very well since several of my American friends can get by in Spanish and it can be the 'lingua franca' in some circles Oh, they can also use 豆瓣酱, dou4ban4jiang4 on the jian bings, a really spicy preserved chili and bean paste. can't resist one more street food 耶儿粑 ye1er2ba1, pretty sure the first char is wrong though. Steamed little glutinous rice dumplings with the bottom part wrapped in a leaf, sometimes coloured yellow or green, with seasoned meat inside. Not sure if they ar local or if you can find them everywhere. But the glory of street food is the serendipity - you don't really need to know what things are called, and often the only way to find out what something really is, is by biting into it. (Another good street food phrase: 里面 是 什麽? li3mian4 shi4 shen2me? - What is inside?)
Posted on: Choosing a Chinese Name and Safety
January 18, 2008 at 1:36 PMNice to hear from Rebecca again. Street safety: when you get off the bus in my city you are stepping into the bike lane so you need to look right. The car and bike drivers kind of aim for where you are not going to be in a minute so you don't want to suddenly change direction or speed up/slow down.
Posted on: Choosing a Chinese Name and Safety
January 18, 2008 at 1:29 PMDon't get me started on street food, which is the most accessbile through a language barrier - you can see what is available without having to puzzle through a menu and you can order and pay with hand signals. It's really good, convenient, and cheap. I've never been sick on it either, but common sense should be used - I watch the vendor to see how sanitation concious they are and examine their ingredients and cooking methods. Sniff the meat, etc. Oh, and the magic phrase - 新鲜 的 吗？ xin1xian1 de ma - Is that fresh? The jian bings are fantastic, and such nice hand warmers in the cold weather. Do they seriously put plum sauce on jian bings in Shanghai? Usually here (Sichuan) it is 芝麻 酱 zhi1majiang4, sesame sauce. The egg mc-muffin type sandwiches are called 蛋暴 dan4bao4 - not sure about the second character. They are great with coffee, here in Sichuan they can be stuffed with preserved vegetable or seasoned sausage. I also love 烧屏 shao1bing3, the little breads with spicy/salty or sweet flavouring for 5 mao each. 蛋 烘糕 dan4hong1gao１, palm-sized crepes folded over fillings, again for 5 mao each. Here in Chengdu we can get 串串 chuan4chuan4, hot pot's poor cousin, on the street - vegetables, eggs, or meat on skewers cooked in spicy broth. Again in Chengdu、 锅馈 guo1kui4 fried or or baked/filled flatbread or sandwich. Some of the filled ones are very similar to the Shaanxi rou jia mo. I like the fried ones best. on and on and on..
Posted on: No Kidding
January 17, 2008 at 4:42 PMJenny's Chinese is golden. 'Hotel' has been a source of great confusion to me in China. Usually I think it is 宾馆 bin1guan3, but sometimes I see 酒店 jiu3dian4 on signs. I was trying to direct the pedicab driver to go to my hostel in Beijing and was telling him it wasn't a 宾馆 bin1guan3, but didn't know how to say hostel. Then when we get there the sign says 宾馆 bin1guan3. (And then he suggested I give a 小费 xiao3fei4, tip....hate how touristy Beijing already is!) And I often direct taxis to a hotel near a place where I teach since it's the easiest landmark. I say (hotel name) 宾馆 bin1guan3, and then they nearly always repeat the name with 饭店 fan4dian4。 It's not a restaurant! One of these days I will figure out the magic pattern...
Posted on: Trip to the Chinese Doctor and a Special Guest
January 16, 2008 at 2:49 PMBeauty - Chinese people seem to like big ears too - they style their hair to show them off and hang big earrings in them.
Posted on: Getting Your Hair Done
January 16, 2008 at 3:47 AMThere is already a really good dentist lesson and a massage lesson (though 洗脚 (xi3jiao3), foot washing or foot massage, would be a good topic). There was a Dear Amber on massage but the file has been missing every time I try to download it. The manicures/pedicures where they will paint a flower garden on your nails for ten yuan are great. Sometimes you need a Google site search to find the lessons you want since the local lesson search function can be wonky.
Posted on: Getting Your Hair Done
January 15, 2008 at 6:16 AMOooh, I have to make some guesses. spiked 老80 长钉 chang2ding1 feathered 老 80 羽毛 yu3mao2
Posted on: Group Photo
January 26, 2008 at 3:31 AMThe first time I was in a picture and heard 茄子 I burst out laughing. A bit stronger reaction than the photographer was looking for.