As you step out your front door in the morning to go to work, the same as you would on any other day, something seems off. Could it be the fruit vendor floating down the alley? Or the cat drifting past the front gate of your apartment? Listen in to this Intermediate podcast for a short briefer on what mother nature has in store for Shanghai. Suffice it to say that things will continue to be hot and wet.
gaford
said on July 7, 2009
Shanghai is definitely a good walking city. I was surprised by how little there really was to do though. Lots of clubs and bars but not very Chinese at all. Have known a couple of people who've spent years there without picking up any mandarin too. Expat bubble and all.
luolin
said on July 8, 2009
Okay, I am not sure where to go to put this question. What are/is the cultural aspects of the meaning "看熱闹." I am not sure what the saying would be in English.
Is it a fascination to watch others watch something that is spectacular? Or are we a real part of the participation factor?
An American friend told me that part of the people who were at Tiananmen Square in 1989 were just "看熱闹"
I am wondering how many of us are 看熱闹 when it comes to watching the Michael Jackson memorial or are we really grieving?
luolin
said on July 8, 2009
Okay back to the global warming podcast. What's with the 穿好泳裤. I am a girl and some things just have to be explained.
Is Shanghai like New Orleans? Is it really on a slab of mud?
mat
said on July 8, 2009
Seems to me like it's yer usual city rivalry to me :) We have the same in Australia between Sydney and Melbourne.
Gail天堂的声音
said on July 8, 2009
@luolin,
you are right.
in my opinion, when we 看热闹, we are a real part of the participation factor, but we just join in just out of our curiosity.
orbital
said on July 8, 2009
Melbourne is built on a slab of mud?
trevelyan
said on July 9, 2009
I remember being in Shanghai and seeing headline articles in the local papers every morning. Global warming reporting would be something like，"Sea Level Rises by 0.0x mm, Shanghai in Peril".
Tabloid journalism Chinese style.... :)
trevelyan
said on July 9, 2009
@luolin - re: 穿好泳裤 -- it's pretty common for people to tell you to 穿好衣服 or 穿好外衣 (because it's cold outside), so this is a bit of a joke. You wouldn't normally expect someone to use that phrasing with reference to a bathing suit.Not that there's anything wrong if you do.... :)
luolin
said on July 10, 2009
Trevelyan
Thanks for the 穿好衣服 meaning. I tend to miss these things even in English (native).
I was working in Louisiana and a friend said, Na, that dog dont hunt. Boy, was I confused. Not the same thing but I still missed it.
I forgot about the complement thing with 什么什么...好.
Echo
said on June 22, 2011
Wuhan flood makes "公交船" one of the most popular public transportation in China: http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/cndy/2011-06/20/content_12732042.htm--Echoecho@popupchinese.com
