User Comments - xiaophil
xiaophil
Posted on: Studying Chinese
June 3, 2011 at 3:30 AMGood question (CPod, there is a question here)
I always think of zài as 'be verb+ing', i.e. the present continuous.
As for xiànzài, that is pretty much like the word 'now'.
My question is if they both can be in the same sentence, e.g. nǐ xiànzài zài xuéxí zhōngwén ma? I have found very few occurrences of this, so I wonder if it shouldn't be done.
Another question I have that is related to yours is if it would be okay to answer a question with zài
For example:
Q: nǐ zài xuéxí zhōngwén ma?
A: zài
It seems wrong to me, but I don't know if it is.
Posted on: Shopping in China
June 2, 2011 at 11:59 AMMy wife sometimes goes to the bookstore and writes down the ISBN number for books she likes and then buys them on taobao for a fraction of the price. I kind of feel guilty about it, but it is effective.
Posted on: A Little Hint of Mystery, a Theme Week, and a Job Offer
May 28, 2011 at 11:44 PMI think after celebrating Christmas and birthdays, many Americans couldn't afford another day for children. I like how Children's Day is for all children. Christmas is a family day, and birthdays are only fun if children know the person who is having the birthday.
Posted on: I want to buy this one
May 28, 2011 at 12:44 AM想 + verb = would like to (verb)
想要 = would like to have
想 + no verb = think
要 = want or need according to the context
Posted on: Signs in China and Mistranslation
May 27, 2011 at 12:50 PMMy favorite is number 10. I always love how momentous the Chinese make it seem to move one step forward near the toilet. I never thought inching towards the civilized life could be so easy.
Posted on: Signs in China and Mistranslation
May 23, 2011 at 11:12 PMWhile I disagree with you that China Police is correct, you do make a good point. It seems to me they should at least add 'department' to the end. It still seems too short to be official to me, but possibly acceptable. I would go for Police Department of China.
Posted on: Signs in China and Mistranslation
May 23, 2011 at 7:22 AMChinese Police is grammatically correct, but it is too informal for a serious institution such as the police department.
Posted on: Signs in China and Mistranslation
May 23, 2011 at 4:42 AMChina is a noun, not an adjective. Probably best to go with 'The Police Force of China' or something like that.
Posted on: Studying Chinese
June 4, 2011 at 12:23 AMThe bu is said so quickly in this pattern that the 4th tone is dropped to neutral.