User Comments - timlb

Posted on: Light and Dark Colors of Clothing

rjberki: Two of John? Hmm, that would make about 13 feet of him, right?

I thought there was an interesting moment of cultural exchange between 6:00 and 7:00 when talking about how the customer expressed displeasure with the light gray color. Jenny seems to prefer that the expression 不好看 be translated as "it's ugly" or "it's not good-looking." John (rightly I think) points out that, in America at least, it would not be common in this context (borderline rude, I would say) to say anything much stronger than "I don't like that one."

It's fascinating how much translation is not about "what do these words mean" but rather "what would native speakers say in this situation."

Thanks again for a great lesson -- y'all have wonderful rapport and it's a pleasure to listen to the lessons you do together.

Posted on: To Tip or Not to Tip

for bodawei: "I am still unclear as to whether it is a reward for service [in the US] - can it be withheld for bad service?"

I'd say it's so entrenched it's no longer considered a reward but an expectation -- however, the amount of the tip (generally 10-20%) can be varied in accordance with your feelings about the service. Sometimes I've cut down to 5% for bad service; leaving no tip at all would be seen as either very rude or an indication of being very upset with the service.

A new practice that elicits quite a lot of grumbling now is the practice of tip jars at places like coffee shops. Folks complain about being expected to leave a tip for someone who is just taking a coffee order and handing it to you as you stand there. On the other hand, these folks are usually not well paid.

Posted on: Embrace your Fears! 怕 (pà)...Adj

So at the end of the podcast, they used pa to express being afraid of a person; but if it can also mean to not like something, how do you distinguish between not liking a person and being afraid of him/her? Is that where you'd definitely use "bu xihuan" for dislike?

Posted on: Clarifying how to use "every" 每（měi）

Amber, you say y'all beautifully!

Tim in Austin

Posted on: Hard of Hearing

would a middle-aged person use this same expression (lao3 xian1sheng) for addressing an older man (say 60 or older)? (sorry to repeat this question, but the online 'answerers' seem to have missed it.) ;-)

Posted on: Hard of Hearing

would a middle-aged person use this same expression (lao3 xian1sheng) for addressing an older man (say 60 or older)?

Posted on: Paying a Bill

I mean "Exactly what we all were thinking!"

Posted on: Paying a Bill

Ken: "spurned by a recalcitrant apparatchik"?!? Exactly what we all we thinking! ;-)

Posted on: How embarrassing!

Jenny, please don't apologize for your cultural "ponderings:" they're one of the reasons I keep coming back! Tim in Austin

Posted on: Haircuts

I just want to put in a good word for John; the chemistry is definitely different, but I enjoyed his quiet thoughtfulness.