Comments on: Unlimited Wireless Internet

By: Paula Gerat

Paula Gerat — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 09:56:36 +0000

I still have problems with access to wireless Internet. Things have changed in Poland since I arrived here, but still there is a lot to do to catch up with the world. But I’m satisfied

By: Ty Hism

Ty Hism — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 23:47:16 +0000

I thought it is Shang Yue instead of Xiang Yue. But some people might say Xiang Yue though.

By: Nicki

Nicki — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 13:38:21 +0000

I for one appreciate the honesty. Thank you for sharing these incidents with us. Everybody makes mistakes and we can learn from each other.

By: sqjtaipei

sqjtaipei — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 12:37:21 +0000

American Han:
Since this website and the book are geared more towards strategies and tips instead of drilling vocabulary and sentence patterns… it seems appropriate to me to share this anecdote. I did re-read the original post after your comment and definitely agree that it should not have taken *many* questions to figure it out. But it seems to me that to miss the meaning upon first hearing it is not a big problem.

The 3 key takeaways from this post could be: listen carefully to what people actually say not what you think they will say, practice, and keep practicing.

By: American Han

American Han — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 04:54:51 +0000

It’s surprising to hear it took you this long to hear “享月”, i.e., appreciate the moon (on the Mid-Autumn Festival). It is a common phrase to hear and see in print as the holiday approaches and occurs. Is your book-writing venture a little premature? I believe that “享月” was one of the first expressions I ever learned as used in the culture back in Taiwan in 1992, my first year of extended acquaintance with the language. Get a girl, my friend. Then, if she likes you enough, she’ll say to you, “我們一起去享月吧!”

Also I beg to differ that it is that difficult to take 无线 for 无限 in hearing the phrase “wúxiàn shí shàngwǎng”. The concept of unlimited time in contracts for internet, cell phone or other communication connections is quite prevalent and should readily spring to mind, and therefore taking 无线 for 无限 in the context of 上网 is tautological and redundant. It should not take “MANY” questions to find this out. Perhaps one or two at the most. Again, is your book-writing venture a little premature? If this is the skill level of the author, I am sure not to buy it.

By: Nicki

Nicki — Sun, 11 Oct 2009 07:38:03 +0000

Sigh. This is not encouraging to hear.

By: sqjtaipei

sqjtaipei — Sat, 10 Oct 2009 07:38:55 +0000

Although 慢慢學吧 *is* good advice, you can’t be faulted for hearing it the way you did. This will still happen years later or at least it does for me. Your account is also a reminder of how precise we have to be when *speaking* Mandarin, too. Sometimes I know I’m not saying the word exactly right, but I figure I’m close enough that context and non-verbals will make up for it, but people just stare at me and really don’t know what I’m saying. It *is* a hard language, but that is part of the attraction in learning it, right?

By: Albert

Albert — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 03:34:39 +0000

Ho Sun Yan,
I think you’re right! I did confirm later by saying, “Now was that 享受的享?” and she said it was. But maybe she was just saying that that also means enjoy. I also thought it strange that she didn’t use 欣赏, because I thought that was the most common verb for “appreciating the moon.” I think you’re right and I just misheard it and then she misunderstood was I was trying to clarify.

Beijing Sounds,
I can’t be sure what tone that second one changed to, but I’ll be it wasn’t man4man4. I would guess either man4man1 or man4man5. But definitely no “r” at the end. We don’t have that down here very often.

By: Ho Sun Yan

Ho Sun Yan — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 01:29:01 +0000

Re your last paragraph: I would have guessed that you had misheard shang3 yue4 (賞月) as xiang3 yue4. But if she confirmed your theory herself, then…

By: Beijing Sounds

Beijing Sounds — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 23:50:50 +0000

Curious: did she really say mànmàn or was it mànmān(r)? I just looked up the relevant analysis in Chao’s grammar (4.2.4.1 for the record) and it seems to be saying this 2nd syllable tonal change doesn’t occur in Southern Mandarin, but I haven’t finished my coffee yet and hesitate to say that I’ve really read it that carefully.