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Posted on: Wait!
June 26, 2008, 12:56 AM

Hi rjberki

I guess my wife thinks my driving is pretty bad too.  Every morning she says "plenty of room."  Shorthand for "keep a safe distance from the car in front of you."

Along with "be careful" there is "take care." I was thinking of this phrase the other day... pretty typical farewell, but I have heard it used in a menacing way as well.

Posted on: Wait!
June 24, 2008, 02:15 AM

To ask if something is dangerous, e.g., "is that dangerous?" can I say the following?

 

那个危险吗 ?

 

or somthing like this?

 

那个是危险吗 ?

 

Posted on: When is the meeting?
June 21, 2008, 01:42 PM

I just got to this lesson today... it's funny how things get reinforced.  Last night some Chinese friends were telling me to be careful with a word because in certain contexts it would be calling someone dumb.  Then they also said (er4) could be used to call someone dumb (I am guessing here on the Chinese character).  I suppose it is related to 二百五?  Now if I could just remember the first word they told me, I could stay out of trouble.

Posted on: Who is that?
June 16, 2008, 05:49 PM

Hi moniqueferreras,

I'm a newbie as well.  Someone on CP recommended Reading & Writing Chinese: Simplified Character Edition by William McNaughton.  It has helped me a lot with character recognition.

As for the pronunciation, I am in the same boat.  I am going to be getting together with some Chinese students in my area to see if that helps.

 

Posted on: When will he return?
June 07, 2008, 03:26 PM

In the sound files 喂 sounds like it is second or maybe third tone.  In the vocab it is written with the fourth tone.  Is this one of those words that can mean the same thing even though the tone changes - like bu (I think)?  If so is there a pattern to when to use what tone, or is it just what is comfortable to say in the context of other tones?

Thanks