User Comments - timlb

Posted on: The Red Spectrum of Meaning

Can you use 开门红about starting anything? A business, a relationship?

Also, I want to hear Connie speak English more! Her pronunciation is very good!

And you can use hongli 红利 metaphorically? Would you say to "pay" dividends, or "have" dividends? If I do such-and-such, 肯定会有红利？

Posted on: Getting into the habit with 习惯 (xíguàn)

Great lesson as always; every time I think I understand a term or phrase, there's something I hadn't thought of or heard yet that you introduce to me -- thanks!

Oh, and BTW John: you blew it with your sister (LOL); watching 京剧 on TV is a terrible way to introduce someone to that subtle art form. 京剧 TV is for 京剧 fans; to experience 京剧 fairly you have to see it live and up toward the front so you can clearly see the facial expressions. (sorry, off topic probably)

我觉得早上洗澡是美国人的习惯。我为我未婚妻把这个习惯变化了，越来越习惯睡觉前洗澡。

Posted on: Suffixes for Describing People

These days, classical guitar is becoming more and more popular with Chinese audiences, and some very good performers are coming out of conservatories (esp. 中央音乐学院， the Central Conservatory in Beijing). I've heard these and other famous guitarists referred to as 古典吉他家 or 古典吉他演奏家. The most famous (in the States at least) is 杨雪霏 (Yang Xuefei):

http://www.tudou.com/programs/view/OZ-rZAImQz4/

Posted on: Lao Wang's Office 10: Lao Wang Plans to Sue

From what I can tell, 白日梦has a negative connocation to it; in English the word "daydream" doesn't always carry that connotation. Is there another term in Chinese that would describe the activity of letting your mind wander a bit, maybe letting your imagination play? I tried 发呆but that also seems negative.

Posted on: Beards Are for Old Men

Back in the late 80s, I went to Beijing to do grad school research, and had a beard not unlike the one in the picture for this lesson. A Chinese friend told me I should shave it; that the Chinese would not trust me (kind of fits in with the "gangster" idea) -- I didn't want to test that, so I shaved it before I went. Freaked out my little daughter (4 at the time), as she had never seen me without it. :-)

Posted on: Man-to-Man Advice on Women

I'll throw my $0.02 in favor of more explanation as well; I like hearing this, and also more examples outside of the dialogue. That way I'm not limited to maybe knowing just one application of a new word or term.

Posted on: Hang Up and Ride!

I always learn something coming to these boards -- thanks to all who leave messages!

helen_shen_counselor, thanks for the help distinguishing 'n' from 'ng' -- your way of explaining it resonates with me.

And, like John, I am amazed at the Chinese ability to navigate the streets with so many people going in different directions on so many different kinds of vehicles (and on foot). To me it appears very chaotic （很乱 hen3luan4）, but I've rarely seen accidents. As John said, the attention level must be tremendous.

Posted on: Picking things up: 拿、带、取

Jason,

thanks, I should have known the "qu" for "taking a wife" (娶) would have a woman in it! 太有道理吧！哈哈

Posted on: Picking things up: 拿、带、取

I also love what Liliana brings: I think her accent is beautiful, and she definitely adds spice to the interactions.

On the difference between 取 and 拿 （thanks to Changye I won't forget how to write 取!）if I'm asked if I brought (带) an umbrella and I didn't, would I go back home and 拿 one or would I 取 one?

Also, isn't it interesting that a man chooses or obtains a wife (取) but not the other way around?

Posted on: Using a Character Dictionary

Oh, and I have an idea for a Qing Wen: the use of 算。In the dialogue there's this sentence:

而且就算不知道部首

I would have come up with a much more complicated way of saying that; it seems 算 is a very useful term and I usually understand it when I hear it, but don't think to use it much.