Archive for the ‘Rants’ Category
Tuesday, July 28th, 2009
Sticking with the number theme, here's a little quiz. Now don't be nervous, and don't read ahead to the answers (I tired to find an upside-down font for the answers, but you'll just have to be on your honor).
Anyone who's studied Chinese for a few weeks or months should ...
Posted in Rants | 16 Comments »
Friday, October 31st, 2008
Chinese has no cognates with English (one of the reasons it's difficult to learn). So, when I come across words like these, I know one of the words has been imported from one language to another (yes yes, I know, that means there are some cognates NOW--but precious few):
1. ...
Posted in Rants | 35 Comments »
Sunday, October 5th, 2008
I always say (and hear) "xǐzǎo" 洗澡 for "to take a shower."
One time, I wanted to ask at a hotel if the room had a shower. So I asked if they had a "yùshì" 浴室. The front desk worker said, "xǐzǎo ma?" 洗澡吗. Ok, sure. So, ...
Posted in Rants | 29 Comments »
Thursday, October 2nd, 2008
I had a guy who came to my first (ever) English corner in China who was obsessed with little idioms and sayings. I called him "Jingle" because everything he said sounded like it had come out of a TV commercial.
Me: So now let's hear from one of the students ...
Posted in Rants | 17 Comments »
Sunday, August 3rd, 2008
For some reason, one of the most common words ever is a huge communication problem.
Spoon (sháozi 勺子).
Why? I don't know.
I can't tell you how many times I've asked for a spoon, or another spoon, or a clean spoon in a restaurant, and the fúwùyuán 服务员 didn't understand me. ...
Posted in Rants | 16 Comments »
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