Comments on: Language Learning is Messy V: Celebrate Your Mistakes http://laowaichinese.net/language-learning-is-messy-v-celebrate-your-mistakes.htm Tips and Strategies for Learning to Speak Mandarin Chinese Mon, 30 Aug 2010 20:57:50 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0 By: Tez http://laowaichinese.net/language-learning-is-messy-v-celebrate-your-mistakes.htm/comment-page-1#comment-6317 Tez Sun, 31 Aug 2008 20:55:36 +0000 http://laowaichinese.net/language-learning-is-messy-v-celebrate-your-mistakes.htm#comment-6317 Hey, I just started reading your blog, i`m hooked! I also mix up two syllable words all the time so I had to post. I have even done the Honey/Bee one you discussed. I am scared of saying the word 秘密 too, incase i pronounce two first tones. :| haha, keep up the good work. Hey, I just started reading your blog, i`m hooked!

I also mix up two syllable words all the time so I had to post. I have even done the Honey/Bee one you discussed.

I am scared of saying the word 秘密 too, incase i pronounce two first tones. :|

haha, keep up the good work.

]]> By: Sharon ZY http://laowaichinese.net/language-learning-is-messy-v-celebrate-your-mistakes.htm/comment-page-1#comment-3987 Sharon ZY Sun, 09 Mar 2008 02:26:27 +0000 http://laowaichinese.net/language-learning-is-messy-v-celebrate-your-mistakes.htm#comment-3987 I really had a good laugh here..Albert said People can’t laugh at you if you’re already laughing, because then they’re laughing with you, which I totally agree. The first rule in my class is to "ENJOY LOSING FACE":) I really had a good laugh here..Albert said People can’t laugh at you if you’re already laughing, because then they’re laughing with you, which I totally agree. The first rule in my class is to “ENJOY LOSING FACE”:)

]]> By: Kelvin http://laowaichinese.net/language-learning-is-messy-v-celebrate-your-mistakes.htm/comment-page-1#comment-3821 Kelvin Mon, 07 Jan 2008 18:17:08 +0000 http://laowaichinese.net/language-learning-is-messy-v-celebrate-your-mistakes.htm#comment-3821 Albert, thanks for putting the blog about language learning. In fact, I'm looking for effective ways to teach my kids Mandarin. My daughter goes to Chinese school 2 hrs per week. I don't think it is effective. I want to find some interactive ways we can do at home daily. You blog gives my some great insights about language learning. keep it going! Albert, thanks for putting the blog about language learning. In fact, I’m looking for effective ways to teach my kids Mandarin. My daughter goes to Chinese school 2 hrs per week. I don’t think it is effective. I want to find some interactive ways we can do at home daily. You blog gives my some great insights about language learning. keep it going!

]]> By: null http://laowaichinese.net/language-learning-is-messy-v-celebrate-your-mistakes.htm/comment-page-1#comment-3629 null Sun, 09 Dec 2007 08:40:02 +0000 http://laowaichinese.net/language-learning-is-messy-v-celebrate-your-mistakes.htm#comment-3629 In Chinese, you can use "xiao xiong di" meaning the person who is younger than you, but this word is always used by old people.The second word you can use it only with "shui jiao" behinde of it, like "shang chuang shui jiao", but we always use "shui jiao" to stand for "go to bed". In Chinese, you can use “xiao xiong di” meaning the person who is younger than you, but this word is always used by old people.The second word you can use it only with “shui jiao” behinde of it, like “shang chuang shui jiao”, but we always use “shui jiao” to stand for “go to bed”.

]]> By: Joel http://laowaichinese.net/language-learning-is-messy-v-celebrate-your-mistakes.htm/comment-page-1#comment-3622 Joel Fri, 07 Dec 2007 03:21:04 +0000 http://laowaichinese.net/language-learning-is-messy-v-celebrate-your-mistakes.htm#comment-3622 right, it's just 弟弟, no need for 小。 For "go to bed," I don't know. We just use 睡觉 (shuì jiào), but if you really wanted to parse out the different meanings (like "get in bed (and read a book)" vs. "go to sleep"), I haven't done that yet. I'm working on translating a dog restaurant menu at the moment, and after that I want to get basic family member titles straightened out. right, it’s just 弟弟, no need for 小。 For “go to bed,” I don’t know. We just use 睡觉 (shuì jiào), but if you really wanted to parse out the different meanings (like “get in bed (and read a book)” vs. “go to sleep”), I haven’t done that yet. I’m working on translating a dog restaurant menu at the moment, and after that I want to get basic family member titles straightened out.

]]> By: Albert http://laowaichinese.net/language-learning-is-messy-v-celebrate-your-mistakes.htm/comment-page-1#comment-3581 Albert Tue, 04 Dec 2007 12:42:37 +0000 http://laowaichinese.net/language-learning-is-messy-v-celebrate-your-mistakes.htm#comment-3581 Joel, So let me make sure I can avoid these blunders. 1) For the first one I shouldn't say the "xiao," just say "didi" right? 2) How would you say "go to bed?" Should I say, "qu shuijiao?" 3) I can see how you could say that since a common word for "napkin" is "can jin zhi" which includes both. If anyone else who has left a comment isn't too bu hao yisi to share the details, I'd love to know how exactly to avoid making the same little faux pas. (apparently that was a sentence only to be understood by polyglots.) Joel,

So let me make sure I can avoid these blunders.

1) For the first one I shouldn’t say the “xiao,” just say “didi” right?

2) How would you say “go to bed?” Should I say, “qu shuijiao?”

3) I can see how you could say that since a common word for “napkin” is “can jin zhi” which includes both.

If anyone else who has left a comment isn’t too bu hao yisi to share the details, I’d love to know how exactly to avoid making the same little faux pas. (apparently that was a sentence only to be understood by polyglots.)

]]> By: Joel http://laowaichinese.net/language-learning-is-messy-v-celebrate-your-mistakes.htm/comment-page-1#comment-3572 Joel Tue, 04 Dec 2007 06:12:13 +0000 http://laowaichinese.net/language-learning-is-messy-v-celebrate-your-mistakes.htm#comment-3572 These all just happened either this week or last, and I promise they were all totally innocent mistakes: 小弟弟 (xiǎo dì di)- I meant to say "little brother" (弟弟) in a homework sentence, but was in a hurry and wrote 小 in front without thinking. It means penis, kind of like "wee-wee." 上床 (shàng chuáng) - Also in a homework sentence, I just wanted to say "go to bed" but this is a euphemism for "have sex." 卫生巾 (wèi shēng jīn) - We were talking at lunch with some Chinese associates and I meant to say toilet paper (卫生纸 - wèi shēng zhǐ), but pronounced "jīn" instead of "zhǐ." Turns out I was talking about maxi pads. This one got me a couple dirty looks. My female teacher is too embarrassed to actually tell me about these kinds of mistakes in class. But my wife has this same teacher (we're both in one-on-one classes), so she tells my wife and they laugh their butts off. These all just happened either this week or last, and I promise they were all totally innocent mistakes:

小弟弟 (xiǎo dì di)- I meant to say “little brother” (弟弟) in a homework sentence, but was in a hurry and wrote 小 in front without thinking. It means penis, kind of like “wee-wee.”

上床 (shàng chuáng) – Also in a homework sentence, I just wanted to say “go to bed” but this is a euphemism for “have sex.”

卫生巾 (wèi shēng jīn) – We were talking at lunch with some Chinese associates and I meant to say toilet paper (卫生纸 – wèi shēng zhǐ), but pronounced “jīn” instead of “zhǐ.” Turns out I was talking about maxi pads. This one got me a couple dirty looks.

My female teacher is too embarrassed to actually tell me about these kinds of mistakes in class. But my wife has this same teacher (we’re both in one-on-one classes), so she tells my wife and they laugh their butts off.

]]> By: Fanfan http://laowaichinese.net/language-learning-is-messy-v-celebrate-your-mistakes.htm/comment-page-1#comment-3538 Fanfan Sat, 01 Dec 2007 11:19:24 +0000 http://laowaichinese.net/language-learning-is-messy-v-celebrate-your-mistakes.htm#comment-3538 A friend I live with in Xi'an was in beginners' level class trying to patch up a sentence on the pattern "我喜欢…", and in spite of the hugeness of the array of possible solutions he managed to come up with "我喜欢...老...东西", thinking he was just saying that he liked things from the past. But his teacher had a hard time suppressing laughter. Fortunately he was not himself a 老东西, he would have got mad. A friend I live with in Xi’an was in beginners’ level class trying to patch up a sentence on the pattern “我喜欢…”, and in spite of the hugeness of the array of possible solutions he managed to come up with “我喜欢…老…东西”, thinking he was just saying that he liked things from the past. But his teacher had a hard time suppressing laughter. Fortunately he was not himself a 老东西, he would have got mad.

]]> By: Pen http://laowaichinese.net/language-learning-is-messy-v-celebrate-your-mistakes.htm/comment-page-1#comment-3510 Pen Thu, 29 Nov 2007 02:45:58 +0000 http://laowaichinese.net/language-learning-is-messy-v-celebrate-your-mistakes.htm#comment-3510 Not actually my mistake... One of my classmates didn't have anything to write with in class so he turned to our female teacher and asked if she did. One problem... he switched the tone on bi from third to first. Our teacher looked shocked and horribly offended. Then she realized what he actually was asking for. She politely suggested that he be a little more careful with his tones, esp. the one for pen. Not actually my mistake…

One of my classmates didn’t have anything to write with in class so he turned to our female teacher and asked if she did. One problem… he switched the tone on bi from third to first. Our teacher looked shocked and horribly offended. Then she realized what he actually was asking for. She politely suggested that he be a little more careful with his tones, esp. the one for pen.

]]> By: Jim Mahler http://laowaichinese.net/language-learning-is-messy-v-celebrate-your-mistakes.htm/comment-page-1#comment-3507 Jim Mahler Wed, 28 Nov 2007 15:16:37 +0000 http://laowaichinese.net/language-learning-is-messy-v-celebrate-your-mistakes.htm#comment-3507 I learned *expletive deleted* from a textbook. I figured it must be a pretty mild expression, like "darn" maybe -- otherwise, my teacher wouldn't have taught it class, would she? Later I used the expression at a banguet, surrounded by a group of Chinese lawyers. Can you imagine a Chinese restaurant becoming so quiet you could hear a pin drop? I learned *expletive deleted* from a textbook. I figured it must be a pretty mild expression, like “darn” maybe — otherwise, my teacher wouldn’t have taught it class, would she?

Later I used the expression at a banguet, surrounded by a group of Chinese lawyers. Can you imagine a Chinese restaurant becoming so quiet you could hear a pin drop?

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