User Comments - xiaophil

xiaophil

Posted on: Using a Character Dictionary

November 20, 2009 at 4:46 AM

Cpod, I have a request!

This is one half of one of many lessons I have dreamed about (and I honestly thank you for that). The other half would be a lesson where someone teaches another how to write Chinese characters. I always envisioned a grandfather patiently telling his granddaughter how to write some basic characters. He would say which stroke goes first, use the correct chinese names for the strokes, point out mistakes, say things like "go diagonally from up to down" and so on. I think it really impresses Chinese people when foreigners can write characters. I think they would be twice as impressed if we can talk about it 对不对? Is this something you guys can consider?

tvan

我猜“剪切然后复制”, 你的问题有可能是个"rhetorical question"吗？ "rhetorical question"怎么说？哈哈哈

Posted on: A Phone Call to the Moving Company

November 17, 2009 at 7:08 AM

Jason

I do the same. In fact, sometimes it affects my English (I'm embarrassed to say).

Posted on: A Phone Call to the Moving Company

November 17, 2009 at 3:56 AM

I believe this is the translation in question:

你累的话，早点休息吧。If you're tired, you should rest a bit early.

Yes, the English is awkward, but I think it is useful. Why? Because now we can see clearly that the usages of 休息 and 'rest' are slightly different. I will remember this the next time I want to tell my Chinese wife in Chinese that I want to go to bed/'rest' a little early. If Jason hadn't made this rather odd translation, I probably would have limited myself to the word 睡觉.

My 2 cents.