User Comments - xiaophil

Posted on: Turn Right, Turn Left

Yes, if you are in Shanghai, 小姐 is very commonly used in restaurants, stores and so on.

Posted on: World Cup and Diamonds

Jen

The Chinese I know also tend to like the winning teams. However, I happen to know that there is at least one well-known Chinese saying that says something to the effect, "People root for the underdog." I really wish I knew what that saying was exactly. I just attempted to find it, but no dice. Does anyone or any lovable, chubby dogs know this? hehe

Posted on: Doing the math with 算 (suàn)

I'm really surprised that there was no mention of 算得上 and 算不上.

Posted on: World Cup and Diamonds

I just found out the meaning (warning, mature content):

http://onlineslangdictionary.com/definition+of/root

That indeed must be fun for you guys.

I can relate. I used to work with two British women at an English training center, and quite often they would say, "Where's a rubber?"

The New Zealanders always said 'duster', though. Perhaps you Aussies do as well.

But something that I could poke fun of you guys is that I happen to know that a thong is a lot less 色 in your country.

Back to 'root'. I think though that prepositions are critical in English. I guess 'root' wouldn't collocate with 'for' in the naughty sense.

Posted on: "Thinking" in Chinese: 觉得 (juéde), 认为 (rènwéi) and 以为 (yǐwéi)

The funny thing is that I normally say it without 了, but when I thought about it, I decided it should have it. Lesson: don't think to much.

Posted on: "Thinking" in Chinese: 觉得 (juéde), 认为 (rènwéi) and 以为 (yǐwéi)

Thanks, jjinfrance

And darkstar94, sorry man, looks like I'm totally off. Sorry dude.

Posted on: "Thinking" in Chinese: 觉得 (juéde), 认为 (rènwéi) and 以为 (yǐwéi)

darkstar94

基本上应该是可以，但是我会说：

哦，我听错了，我以为你说了我喜欢你。

So I think you need a 了 in there to indicate it happened in the past, but I am not sure. If you haven't found out already, 了 is tricky for us non-Chinese.

Another thing. I think you were trying to say this in English:

Can you say "Oh, I didn't hear you right. I thought you said 'I like you.'"

But I feel like Chinese would probably say it this way:

Can I say "Oh, I didn't hear you right. I thought you said you like me."

我可不可以说：

哦，我听错了，我以为你说你喜欢我。

I could be all wrong, though. Hope someone can clarify before I confuse us both.

Posted on: World Cup and Diamonds

Well, as bodawei says, he really isn't influencing the language in America, and to be fair, I don't actually think he is spreading "Australianism" to America, but rather "Murdochism". (I for one would be up for more Australian culture, especially if it sounds like AC/DC.) My big beef with him is that his Fox News is blatantly and intentionally biased towards the American political right. To be fair, the rest of American media is generally slightly left leaning, but I think that is because these sorts of people are drawn towards journalism, and is thus a sort of unintentional bias. Fox News on the other hand, hires people who were former Republican strategists to high level positions, so the fact that their slogan is "Fair and Balanced" is quite frustrating to say the least. Another problem I have is that their brand of conservatism is so anti-intellectual and/or confrontational, e.g. Glen Beck, Bill O'Reilly, and Sarah Palin. I am not necessarily anti-conservatism, although I admit I am generally center-left. I would be a lot less anti-Fox News if they could produce conservative commentators along the lines of England's David Cameron. This of course is one American's opinion. Surely some other American poddies would disagree with me.

I'm sure Rupert's mother is a fine lady, and who knows, perhaps Rupert is an okay guy in person.

Posted on: World Cup and Diamonds

Okay bodawei, it is time for you to head the resistance against the American colonization of English. You need to start Aussiewood. But by the way, occasionally it goes both ways. I personally wish Rupert Murdoch would stop influencing America.

Oh yeah, Chinese...

Posted on: World Cup and Diamonds

我觉得Tiger Woods忙着吃豆腐，所以他不理美国。