Like Al Pacino in Coppola's rickety Godfather series, our mob boss is getting cranky as he ages, longing to pass the yoke of his responsibilities to the next generation, but torn by its lack of competence and inclination to familial disloyalty. In this Chinese podcast we delve into his struggle to keep his criminal syndicate intact, and come to terms with the fact we're only a single degree of separation from the real Chinese mob. So listen up, and feel free to let us know if you need any kneecaps broken in the comments section.

This is the third podcast we've done in our Big Boss series, but the first which merits classification at the Elementary level. So if you missed our first two because they weren't at your level, listen to this and then check out the originals once you're done. Because we hear the mob is hiring, and if you want to get into the Beijing or Shanghai underworlds, it's good to sound like you belong right from the start.
 said on
April 7, 2011
Never seen The Godfather? Really?
 said on
April 8, 2011
I agree. I think it's near criminal of Brendan. Missing #3 is understandable, but #2 is particularly good. :)
 said on
April 8, 2011
I read the novel, and I grew up in South Philly, so I feel justified in saying that I've seen the movies by osmosis.
 said on
April 9, 2011
The novel is CRAP compared to the films, which are magnificent! (Well, 1 and 2 are magnificent; 3 is OK--I'd even say very good, though not many would agree with me. The final sequence of 3 is magnificent.)
 said on
April 9, 2011
A messy job to "...pass the yolk of his responsibilities..." when he probably could just get out from under that heavy yoke ;-)
 said on
April 9, 2011
@tibult99,

Thanks for the correction. Another couple of years and my English will fall apart completely.

--david
 said on
April 9, 2011
@Brendan (何毖大哥)

So you've never seen the Godfather series? Aren't you a film buff who is a fan of one of the greatest films ever made? I'm speaking specifically of 《银翼杀手》, one of the classics of all classics. 真是大吃一惊!
 said on
April 11, 2011
I've heard more than one native speaker (albeit all 南方人) use first tone with 当 in this usage (把老师当朋友 etc..) Is this still considered incorrect these days?

Also, in the sentence 他当医生了。 I believe it is also first tone, making the first tone/fourth tone = noun/verb distinction in the popup notes inaccurate.
 said on
April 11, 2011
@toneandcolor,

In the sentence 他当医生了, it's certainly first tone.

I think people still have different opinions about 当 in 把老师当朋友, although most people would use first tone. I don't think it is considered wrong anymore, but in the word 当作, it is still considered incorrect if you use first tone in an exam.

--Echo

echo@popupchinese.com
 said on
July 3, 2018
re: use of 都 for emphasis in `女儿都嫁给你了’ so ..`I even let you marry my daughter' ??