User Comments - wendelie

Posted on: Signing a Lease

意思上没有区别，可以通用，不过语气不一样，“否则”的语气比较正式一点……

Posted on: Registering for 3G Service

There are different technological standards both in 2G and 3G networks, which seems to be confusing for a lot of people. Most carriers worldwide (including China Mobile; not sure about China Telecom) use GSM technology for their 2G network. Mobile internet access isn't exclusive to 3G, you can connect on 2G as well, either using GPRS (at any place with 2G coverage, speed is slow to the point of being unusable for anything but the most simple tasks, like sending/receiving an e-mail) or using EDGE (only where the carrier upgraded its 2G network, speed is better, but still slow in comparison with any 3G network). So, even with China Mobile number, the mobile internet connection is still possible, albeit slow (almost any phone out there supports GSM network, including iPhones). With 3G however, the situation is much more interesting/confusing (take your pick). Basically, you have three different technological standards, each used by one Chinese carrier. First, there is WCDMA which got licensed to China Unicom. This is the most widespread 3G network type, adopted by most carriers in all European countries and in the US. Compared to the other networks, it is also the fastest (with highest theoretical download/upload speeds, topping at some >40 Mbps in areas with HSPA+ coverage). It is only natural, that it is also the most popular technology with cellphone manufacturers (highest number of potential customers, both carrier and individual). Second place belongs to CDMA technology, used by China Telecom - in the US, I think it's operated by Verizon, and there are also some European carriers using this type of 3G network. Overall, it's still widespread enough to be considered a solid business opportunity by the manufacturers, so almost every major cellphone manufacturer has a few CDMA devices in their lineup, still something to choose from (the majority of their product line is made out of WCDMA devices though). The speed is slower, but the overall experience might be slightly better and more stable than on Unicom network, since Telecom is said to have the most developed servers and internet network as a whole. Third place goes to the TD-SCDMA network standard operated by China Mobile. This one was developed here on the mainland, so as not to be totally dependent on western technology in mobile communications. And at this point, it is used exclusively in the PRC. Though the Chinese market is huge and China Mobile might easily have more subscribers than the other two carriers combined (I'm only guessing here), TD-SCDMA is still the least appealing 3G standard for the cellphone manufacturers. They usually come up with a TD-SCDMA version of their most popular models (like Samsung Galaxy S) and a few other devices to be branded and sold by China Mobile, but if you want to use their number AND the 3G service at the same time, your overall choice of a device is very limited (and no iPhone, that's for sure). Hope this post will be of some help...

Posted on: Interpreting Gig at the Exhibition

Depends. If we are talking about booth interpretation, then I would agree - that's the highest level and I have yet to see a 老外, who is doing this on regular basis. Other than that, I have met many foreigners working as interpreters in other areas... and I consider myself a part of their ranks :)

Exhibitions, business meetings, personnel training and many other occasions - these are my daily bread. Most of my translation and interpretation jobs have something to do with mechanical engineering, but I have also done some chemistry and even went down to Chinese coal mines once :) Once you get your Chinese to a certain level, it all comes down to technical vocabulary - sometimes you get some materials beforehand, sometimes you don't and you have to do some research yourself...

Posted on: 美国国债

Eurozone

欧元区

Domino effect

骨牌效应/多米诺骨牌效应/多米诺效应 (my first guess was 骨牌效应 and I found the other two when I was googling it for number of hits... all of them make sense methinks)

http://www.hudong.com/wiki/%E9%AA%A8%E7%89%8C%E6%95%88%E5%BA%94

http://baike.baidu.com/view/73953.htm

Posted on: The Clogged Toilet

I faced the problem of the clogged toiled today. I used the word 马桶拔 in conversation with the lady at the reception desk in our building (their job is similar to 物业), but she didn't know that word. I ended up learning a new word and a new character at the same time - 搋子 chuāizi. It even got its own entry in the 现代汉语规范词典 (the definition reads as follows: 疏通下水道的工具，木棍一端安装橡胶碗而成), while 马桶拔 doesn't come up in any of my dictionaries. Is this regional difference, like northern vs. southern way of expressing things?