User Comments - xiaophil

Posted on: How was your flight?

Well, I can't speak for CPod, but I think xìnxī is correct. That's what my textbooks taught me, and that's what nciku.com says. Where are you getting your info from?

http://www.nciku.com/search/zh/detail/%E4%BF%A1%E6%81%AF/1316985

Posted on: Fun at the Beach

This reminds me of another product that is relatively hard to find here: deodorant. Overpriced sports sprays and roll-ons seem to be available, but not just a plain deodorant, at least not at a reasonable price. Anybody care to say I'm wrong? I sure hope I am. I am tired of having this stuff mailed in.

Posted on: Fun at the Beach

I have to admit that I didn't read the transcript until you mentioned it. In cases such as this, it would almost have to be a woman saying it, at least from what I have been told. Actually, I almost would say a better translation from an implied perspective would be "you are so fake," but I guess that strays too far from the literal meaning.

Posted on: Fun at the Beach

讨厌 is generally used for exaggerated hate. For example, "I 讨厌 math."

狠 is generally used for real hate. For example, "I 狠 that man for what he did to my family."

Probably the reason they translated 讨厌 as 'annoying' is because it would be misleading. In English we don't generally have the habit of saying "I hate you" for petty matters, but in Chinese it is completely normal.

Posted on: Future fun with 会 (hui4), 要 (yao4), and 将 (jiang1)

Thanks John. I got it!

Posted on: An Unplanned Tan

Well, gulp... on accident sounds correct to my ears, while by accident sounds correct but not as correct...

That said, I know what you mean. I fear the day that 'cuz' replaces 'because'. It may take fifty years, but I bet it will, and it will be my turn to stand up for the purity of English language.

Posted on: An Unplanned Tan

I couldn't tell you. Perhaps it's as Catherine's article suggests, language change sometimes flies under the radar until someone points it out. I recall the recent debate over "sb. forgot sth. at some place". I never really noticed this construction, and it sounds strange to me, but I guess it is common. Go figure.

I think accidentally got a tan is okay. Somebody was lying on the beach, didn't pay attention, then voila--big ol' dark tan. It wasn't on purpose, so couldn't we say it was by/on accident? hmmm...

Posted on: An Unplanned Tan

But since when does English make logical sense? If we want language to be logical, might as well give up English and start speaking Spanish.

Posted on: Future fun with 会 (hui4), 要 (yao4), and 将 (jiang1)

Welcome aboard, Dan! Your next task: beg for a team logo under your avatar, 哈哈.

Posted on: An Unplanned Tan

Wait, I missed a joke? Oh my, I don't even see what was supposed to be funny. I blame myself.