User Comments - xiaophil

Posted on: Gone Fishing

谢谢老师们！

Actually, I always get sloppy and not notice when a 再 comes out as 在.

关于上面的情况，我怎么表示I'm sloppy？我老是不太认真？ 

Posted on: Gone Fishing

Good lesson.

请告诉我这两个句子合适不合适：

我抓鱼了！(I've caught a fish!)

太小，把它在扔进水里去吧。(It's too small.  Throw it back in.)

谢谢

Posted on: Hong Kong Visa Run

I won't tell people what they should or shouldn't say.  We are all adults.  It's our choice what we say, and obviously I couldn't stop anyone if I wanted to, but I really hope this Taiwan discussion ends here and moves somewhere else.  It's the sort of discussion that can change this from 'a Chinese language forum that also talks about other topics' to 'an uncomfortable debate that hopefully can manage to slip in a morsel of Chinese language teaching'.

Just my 2 cents.

Posted on: Hong Kong Visa Run

Yeah Sam and Wchan, Pete said, "I'm not actually a fan of the 民进党," which definitely isn't saying he supports Taiwan's independence. 

Posted on: Dog Meat and Animal Rights

Anyway, don't lose your edge, Chinesepod.  I think the new intro is too blunt... as in dull, not as in speaking directly.  I have found other resources on the net that are free, but I come here because you guys are so much more vibrant and provacative than the others.  I don't want to be shocked, but I also don't want all rainbows and unicorns (although a lesson on unicorns and other mythical creatures would be quite awesome).

Posted on: Dog Meat and Animal Rights

Yang986, all those animals you mentioned are domesticated, and to say they don't have personalities is just wrong.  Sure, they may not be hyper-excited to see you when you come home, but does that mean they should be condemned to pain and death?  Are poodles used in the military and army?  And for that matter, are these dogs raised to be eaten used in the the military and army?  The answer is "no."  I appreciate the sentiment you are trying to express, but you are trying to justify your own bias through rationalizing and not reasoning.

PS: Many informed people think pigs are smarter than dogs.

Posted on: Dog Meat and Animal Rights

I'm a vegetarian.  If I did eat meat, though, I would have no problems with eating dog.  It just strikes me that a lot of people's thinking is a bit willy nilly when it comes to condemning eating dog.  I really don't see the difference between eating pig and eating dog.  As someone already pointed out, pigs are quite smart, and make good pets from what I hear.  That being said, I would like to emphasize "I don't eat meat."  If you really are disturbed about animal conditions, this lifestyle is the best way to go, not getting upset about pictures and short paragraphs.

Because this is about language education, I don't mind too much that the picture and intro were taken down, but I would like to say that the knife cuts two ways.  Obviously some people were upset that these two things were put up, but I feel a little urked when material is removed from my viewing because some people are too sensitive.  I feel like people are forcing blinders on my face.  Actually, I saw the picture, and I read the intro.  I thought so little of it that I can't remember them!  I wish I could see them again so I could know what the fuss is about... but yeah, I come to learn Chinese, so I can live with it.

Posted on: About Face! A Multi-faceted Look at 面子

Of course there are plenty of Americans who value face.  Then again, there is no short supply of people who have the "I am not concerned with that" attitude (and I am sure plenty of people from other countries are the same).  What I would like to know from a Chinese, is there a significant portion of Chinese society that shuns and looks down on paying attention to face?  I am also curious to know if Chinese people think 爱面子 has some value, as in people are better off with this outlook than without it?

Posted on: About Face! A Multi-faceted Look at 面子

I don't want to rag on Chinese culture, but for the sake of letting people know my experience, I have to say this aspect of Chinese culture once in awhile causes me grief.  My girlfriend is Chinese, and she is often worried about what other people think, which means she sometimes asks me to do something that I see as impractical and pointless just for the sake of "face."  I have to remind myself that being in a relationship with someone from a different culture almost always results in differences that will boggle the minds of both sides.  But no matter how sensitive I am, it sure is annoying at times.

Oh well, it's all part of the excitement.

Posted on: Mexico City

I really miss burritos.  Sometimes I want to describe a burrito to Chinese people, but I never feel like I can quite paint the picture in their minds.  Does anybody know a good way to describe the following?

• tortilla
• salsa

I'm sure for tortilla and salsa there are official words, but I guess maybe many Chinese are unaware of them.