User Comments - xiaophil
xiaophil
Posted on: Kaixin Wang Farm Thieves
October 26, 2009 at 7:02 AMTal
My surname is Beckwith, an obviously English name, so at least one branch of my family has spoken English as far back as you 差不多. I guess isiz3245 is refering to the fact that the largest ethnic group is German, then Irish, then African American and then finally British (but you probably already know this).
Wow, I just had to go back and check out that scene. Now that is funny. I never really noticed it before. However, she totally reverts back to her American accent when she exclaims, "What!" It seems they never got around to teaching her how to make more guttural sounds in a faux Brit accent. Anyway, if she had said 'laser brain' in British English, it would have just been wrong. I'm not budging on that one. Haha.
Posted on: Kaixin Wang Farm Thieves
October 24, 2009 at 5:04 PMI'm an American who likes American English. But wait, I like British English too. Actually, both countries have quite a few variations, so it is a bit strange to lump them into two completely distinct dialects. Regardless, I have met a few Brits that sound pretty much like Rowan Atkinson in Blackadder (I love that show), yet I have also met some that I just wish they would pronounce their vowels. Then again, like oh my God you know, sometimes it can be soooo hard to listen to some, like, Americans and stuff. However, if every man in the world sounded like Harrison Ford, and every woman sounded like Carrie Fisher, I wouldn't complain much, which I guess that probably reveals which generation I belong to.
Anyway, way to go ousijia!
Posted on: Nothing More Than Only and Just
October 17, 2009 at 2:46 AMHi miantiao,
I think you're right.
Haha, as for your question, well, if I answered your question, I'd definitely be 一知半解. Hopefully the pros stop in later to shed some light on this.
(Sorry for not adding tone markers earlier, everybody.)
Posted on: Lao Wang's Office 7: A Firing Afoot?
October 17, 2009 at 2:40 AMTal, Kylie
I seem to remember John saying in a lesson (possibly this one) that Chinese sometimes use third tone when saying 等会儿.
Posted on: Nothing More Than Only and Just
October 17, 2009 at 2:03 AMGot a question.
I recall my teacher told me that 只 and 只是 have the same meaning. For example, I could say 只觉得 or 只是觉得, and they have the same meaning. The thing is, I was never sure if I understood her correctly. Can someone confirm this?
Good lesson by the way.
Posted on: Lao Wang's Office 7: A Firing Afoot?
October 17, 2009 at 1:41 AMKylie, it is a mindbender for sure if you want to translate it into English directly. Maybe you can just think of it as 等会儿到..来一下, as in 'come to my ... in a bit', instead of just 等会儿 if it can help you keep it straight in your head.
Posted on: Lao Wang's Office 7: A Firing Afoot?
October 17, 2009 at 12:41 AMkylie
You can usually (always?) omit 一 if it is before a measure word. As for why they would ever put 一 in if it isn't needed, I guess it is the same reason why we put 'that' in this sentence: "I think 'that' it is right." No reason at all.
That's my amateur answer.
Posted on: Two Tough Ladies
October 10, 2009 at 2:31 AMChinesepod, are you sure about that 十三点 explanation? I just told my Chinese teacher about it, and he said that when they use to hit the gong to tell time (does 敲钟 mean hit a gong?), they would have only hit it a few times a day because they didn't use modern hours then, and the exact time wasn't so important. Is this supposed to be a modern phrase? If so, why would they be hitting a gong in modern times? Maybe I just don't get the story.
Posted on: Anybody home?
October 26, 2009 at 7:15 AMbodawei
Haha, I was thinking they should adopt it because it would give some of those hard studying students a chance to lighten up. 反正，各人有各人的想法.