http://www.englishforums.com/English/GeneralEnglishVocabularyIdiom-Questions/Forum29.htmHelp with defining words and idioms, and new words and idioms that you've learntenXMOD (Build: 3616.28671)http://www.englishforums.com/English/Dickensophile/cpkqw/post.htm#244552Thu, 26 Mar 2009 07:33:10 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:244552Notwen0http://www.englishforums.com/English/Dickensophile/cpkqw/post.htm#244552http://www.englishforums.com/English/comments29-244552.xmlColombo wrote: I think he means in English, doesn't he? (Don't you, Jerome?) Yes, I do. I wrote that it was not acceptable in Chinese (will it last ? Who knows...), but what about English ? I always try to say "no, I don't", or the like, since that's what I was taught, but I don't know whether a mere "no" is totally accepted or not. So do I... and that's why I'd like to hear natives about it.http://www.englishforums.com/English/Dickensophile/cpkqw/post.htm#244544Thu, 26 Mar 2009 07:33:10 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:244544Colombo1http://www.englishforums.com/English/Dickensophile/cpkqw/post.htm#244544http://www.englishforums.com/English/comments29-244544.xmlSpongeBarb wrote: Notwen wrote: I think the "No" is now widely accepted, isn't it ? Or totally accepted ? Jerome, I think you're asking Philip this, but in case you're asking me- Sorry I don't know. I've never been to China, but I'd like to! I think he means in English, doesn't he? (Don't you, Jerome?) I cannot answer that question; I always try to say "no, I don't", or the like, since that's what I was taught, but I don't know whether a mere "no" is totally accepted or not. I don't speak Chinese. Not a word.http://www.englishforums.com/English/Dickensophile/cpkqw/post.htm#244484Mon, 26 Jan 2009 07:33:10 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:244484SpongeBarb2http://www.englishforums.com/English/Dickensophile/cpkqw/post.htm#244484http://www.englishforums.com/English/comments29-244484.xmlNotwen wrote: I think the "No" is now widely accepted, isn't it ? Or totally accepted ? Jerome, I think you're asking Philip this, but in case you're asking me- Sorry I don't know. I've never been to China, but I'd like to!http://www.englishforums.com/English/Dickensophile/cpkqw/post.htm#244296Tue, 26 May 2009 06:33:10 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:244296Notwen3http://www.englishforums.com/English/Dickensophile/cpkqw/post.htm#244296http://www.englishforums.com/English/comments29-244296.xmlNi hao Philip ! Because the action is still in progress, I'd use "I'm learning it". Thank you ! You help me to improve my English ! Do I speak Chinese? Bu. In Chinese the negation is always followed by the negated verb. You'd then answer "Bu ***" (*** = to be able to). By the way... I learned 25 years ago that it was roughly the same in English, i.e. you couldn't answer "No", but you had to answer "No, I don't". I think the "No" is now widely accepted, isn't it ? Or totally accepted ? Edit : Why is "h u i" replaced by 3 stars ???http://www.englishforums.com/English/Dickensophile/cpkqw/post.htm#244272Mon, 26 Jan 2009 07:33:11 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:244272Philip4http://www.englishforums.com/English/Dickensophile/cpkqw/post.htm#244272http://www.englishforums.com/English/comments29-244272.xmlNotwen wrote: Yi dian dian... I learn it ... but it's really hard ! Do you speak Chinese ? Ni hau. Because the action is still in progress, I'd use "I'm learning it". Have a good day.http://www.englishforums.com/English/Dickensophile/cpkqw/post.htm#244190Tue, 26 May 2009 06:33:11 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:244190Notwen5http://www.englishforums.com/English/Dickensophile/cpkqw/post.htm#244190http://www.englishforums.com/English/comments29-244190.xmlYi dian dian... I learn it... but it's really hard ! Do you speak Chinese ?http://www.englishforums.com/English/Dickensophile/cpkqw/post.htm#244069Thu, 26 Feb 2009 07:33:11 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:244069SpongeBarb6http://www.englishforums.com/English/Dickensophile/cpkqw/post.htm#244069http://www.englishforums.com/English/comments29-244069.xmlHi Jerome, Xie Xie! (I trust that you speak Chinese?)http://www.englishforums.com/English/Dickensophile/cpkqw/post.htm#243912Thu, 26 Feb 2009 07:33:11 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:243912Notwen7http://www.englishforums.com/English/Dickensophile/cpkqw/post.htm#243912http://www.englishforums.com/English/comments29-243912.xmlHello SpongeBarb, although I am not an English native speaker, I can help you, because -phile is indeed a suffix in many European languages. It comes from the Greek and originally means friend or someone who loves . The modern meaning is what you guessed : someone who likes/loves, amateur, aficionado... You can find this Greek root in many words, not always as a suffix : Philosophy : literally "the friendship of wisdom" (this word could have been "sophiophile", sophia meaning wisdom in Greek) Philanthropist : "The friend of mankind" (anthropos = man) Philologist : "The friend of language" Philatelist... You also find it in names, e.g. Theophile (who likes God), and as a suffix in many words. You sometimes have an antonym by replacing...http://www.englishforums.com/English/Dickensophile/cpkqw/post.htmTue, 26 May 2009 06:33:11 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:243907SpongeBarb8http://www.englishforums.com/English/Dickensophile/cpkqw/post.htmhttp://www.englishforums.com/English/comments29-243907.xmlI guess "Dickensophile" means Dickens fan/admirer/aficionado, but can't find this word in dictionary. Is 'ophile' a suffix? Thanks. ETA: Okey, I found 'phile' in the dictionary. The examples given under -phile all have an 'o' before the suffix- audiophile,Francophile, thermophile. . Do you have to have an 'o' before 'phile'? Then why isn't the suffix 'ophile'?