Anyone interested in Chinese?

Hey Pragmatic not sure if you're out there or not. I was just wondering though what's it like being an Asian-Aussie? Do you take more on the culture of Aussie's or asian? Developed an Aussie-English accent compared to the North American counterpart (if you've heard us speak before).

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petros wrote:

Is it the "ma" that creates something akin to "how" in the sentence?
In Hebrew, "ma" is used as such a word in questions:
e.g., "ma shalowm" ("how are you" [lit. "what is (your) Shalowm"?]).
the word "Mannah" is a word derived from a sentence meaning "What is it?"

Oh wow, that is really interesting information, that Ma is not common only in the chinese dialogue. Speaking of this, I am reminded of "ka" or "deska" in the Japanese dialogue which I understand turns a sentence into a question. Is that right?

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AbleIIKnow_wong wrote:

Hey Pragmatic not sure if you're out there or not.

Here's a hint - check the forum's page and on the bottom there is a list of names of those who are logged on.

AbleIIKnow_wong wrote:

I was just wondering though what's it like being an Asian-Aussie? Do you take more on the culture of Aussie's or asian? Developed an Aussie-English accent compared to the North American counterpart (if you've heard us speak before).

I think I am still very much an asian in the mental/emotional sense - very conservative and I seee things differently from my western friends. As for my english, its very much Australian english but tinted with a chinese accent - people over the phone can tell I'm not a native australian. What I would love to develop is an British/European accent.

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Yes, the use of "desuka" turns the sentence into a question.

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cicerone imposter wrote:

Yes, the use of "desuka" turns the sentence into a question.

How did one ask for another's name? Na-ma-e-wa? Is that right? I have forgotten all my hirigana.

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It's not necessary to always ask a question with "desuka." Namaewa can be asking or answering a question of one's name. Usually, when asking somebody's name, it'll be preceded with "anata no namaewa nandesuka?" Or when giving one's name voluntarily, one can say, "boku (or watakushi) no namaewa c.i. desu."

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cicerone imposter wrote:

It's not necessary to always ask a question with "desuka." Namaewa can be asking or answering a question of one's name. Usually, when asking somebody's name, it'll be preceded with "anata no namaewa nandesuka?" Or when giving one's name voluntarily, one can say, "boku (or watakushi) no namaewa c.i. desu."

sumimasen! (excuse me - is that right? or does it mean sorry?) And i remember boku is used for boys, while watashi is for anyone in general?

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Sumimasen is excuse me, but it can also mean sorry. Boku is for boys and watashi can is gender neutral.

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Sumimasen, gomen = sorry.
Doomo sumimasen = sorry (very formal)
Chotto sumimasen! = Excuse me.

And when you guys write "namaewa" or whatever I think it's two separate words "namae wa" not one whole word. The same for "desuka" is usually written as "desu ka." Or at least the way I learned it let me know if I'm wrong.

Only "ka" is the part where you use for a question and this is in a formal tense.

As for asking another person's name if you were to ask casually I would just say, "Dare?" (Who are you?)

Well "dare" literally means "who?" I just use it in that sense because Japanese has become "second nature" (like English) to me.

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AbleIIKnow_wong seems to understand the Japanese language much better than I. I attended Japanese school for three years as a youth, but rarely used the language since then except to talk to my mother - in broken Japanese (mixed with English)m but she passed away over 20 years ago. I haven't used Japanese in such a long time, my abilities have deminished tremendously. I can still watch Japanese movies and understand the general theme of what's going on, but that's about it. I can still read and write a little.

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I don't know I just took an Introductory course and I'm a great fan of Anime. I guess that helps a little to keep the Japanese reinforced.

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Oh yeah forgot this was the Chinese board I want to keep it Chinese..... hmmmmm.... let's see.... shien shien.

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Is that anything like 'thank you?'

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Yep, that's exactly what it is in Mandrian. Pretty much that's all I know in Mandrian.

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AbleIIKnow_wong wrote:

shien shien.

shien shien is thank you? Did you mean shie shie? Or maybe in cantonese - dor tse?

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I've always heard it as "shie shie."

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cicerone imposter wrote:

I've always heard it as "shie shie."

That is the correct pronounciation, I am pretty sure.

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Oh okay you're probably right then. I don't know Mandrian too well.

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No big deal. You're originally cantonese arent' you? Have you heard some HK people try to speak mandarin? My gosh, its so funny.

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Yeah one of my Mandrian friends told me and it he said that some of their accents were all right and some of them were pretty funny. I think in some ways Mandrian is a "beautiful" language just the way it sounds... yes I know that sounds "g@y" it's just what I think.

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