http://www.englishforums.com/search/pro.htm?q=user%3ayau&o=DateDescendingSearch results for 'user:yau'en-USXMOD (Build: 3607.32596)http://www.englishforums.com/English/MattDamonsJoke/dljln/post.htmTue, 26 Dec 2006 14:31:09 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:307407yauHi, A clip of Matt Damon is so popular in Youtube in recent days, and people seem to be very happy with his words, but i totally fail to understand what he talked about. Could anyone help? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CuYD2cwMbpw Thanks!http://www.englishforums.com/English/CobaltsJokes/djvgq/post.htm#296196Wed, 22 Nov 2006 07:10:31 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:296196yauAfter so many years in using English, i'm wondering why i didn't know so many words in American english. Thanks so much for Grammar Geek and "Anonymous" 's helps. It's so useful for me. you mentioned that " We're not brainiacs on the nerd patrol" is not said in nice way, but it seemed that he praised Bush was a smart guy. what exactly is "nerd patrol"? I also tried to look up "factinista" in my dictionary , and still can't grab its meaning. And there's also a difficult metaphor. "Jesse Jackson is here, the Reverend.........You can ask him anything, but he's going to say what he wants, at the pace that he wants. It's like boxing a glacier. Enjoy that metaphor, by the way, because your grandchildren will have no idea what a glacier...http://www.englishforums.com/English/CobaltsJokes/djvgq/post.htmTue, 21 Nov 2006 21:57:10 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:296054yauHi, it's interesting to watch Stephen Cobalt's speech at the white house press conference (long ago in April), but most puns or jokes seem to be a password to me. I can understand if we take it word by word, but it's difficult when they 're combined. Please help. Let me show it.... "Whoever parked 14 black bulletproof S.U.V.'s out front, could you please move them? " -- What's Out front? "We're not brainiacs on the nerd patrol. We're not members of the factinista. " " Do you know you have more nerve endings in your gut than you have in your head? " -- What does it mean? ”The president in this case is Rocky Balboa and Apollo Creed is — everything else in the world. It's the tenth round. ” ”no matter what happens to America, she...http://www.englishforums.com/English/GradesVsKnowledge/bkgqc/post.htm#134875Wed, 07 Sep 2005 20:36:29 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:134875yauAdomi wrote: Hi everybody, Here is a matter I'd like to have people's views on. In some places, getting a job after graduation is based on the Grades you've scored. The higher you CGPA(Cumulative Grade Point Average), the greater your chances of getting a job. The result is, in order to increase their chances of getting good jobs, students value the grades over the knowledge. In some other places, they extract the knowledge from you, assess it, before giving you the job, whatever your grade, certifcates and others. How does it work in your place? Here in Hong Kong, exams and grades are number 1 issue to all students and parents. In middle class families, parents spend USD4000 to buy a language kit for the unborn...http://www.englishforums.com/English/HowChineseHongkongeseTaiwanese/bjgmj/post.htm#130246Wed, 24 Aug 2005 11:13:25 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:130246yauWho's Chinese is always an interesting question. If I was born in Hong Kong, could we say we 're biologically, culturally Chinese, or simply politically Chinese? The answer is doubtless to nationalists, but by nature it may not be. Many of my Caucasian friends were born in Hong Kong and enjoy the legal status of being "hongkongese", but no one see them as Chinese.http://www.englishforums.com/English/HowChineseHongkongeseTaiwanese/bjgmj/post.htmMon, 22 Aug 2005 19:00:31 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:129685yauAll of them may be fairly categorised into "Chinese", but history makes them different in terms of living standard, education, government, legal system and even slangs and eating habits. But how do outsiders see these people?http://www.englishforums.com/English/PeopleInGermany/bwgbn/post.htm#125240Tue, 09 Aug 2005 11:23:09 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:125240yauwhat comes to my mind is logic, philosophy, and remorse.http://www.englishforums.com/English/HomosexualMarriagesAgainstNatures/12/zrdh/Post.htm#118941Sun, 17 Jul 2005 00:33:16 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:118941yauJust give some information. It's also a controversial topic in Hong Kong, but the focus is different. While westerners tend to talk about this issue in the eye of religion, Chinese concerns its damage to social ethics (here, I mean the traditional family structure), but I think the results are similar: 50% for and 50% against. Anyway, I don't see there's any good reason to object gay marriage. We should ethically and socially support it. 1.The bigger damage to family ethic is the right to divorce, but it seems that no country proposed a law to ban divorce. Why gay marriage? 2. It's said that gay men involved many sex partners. Gay marriage provides them with legally binding committment and it may help our society fight for AIDS.http://www.englishforums.com/English/GrammaticalGender/qbkw/post.htm#118934Sun, 17 Jul 2005 00:13:02 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:118934yauEnglish isn't complete immune from the terrible gender system. Ship or country is definitely somethnig feminine.http://www.englishforums.com/English/WhatAboutHungary/2/bdgmr/Post.htm#118933Sun, 17 Jul 2005 00:08:18 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:118933yauI remembered the first time I heard about "Hungary"'s English name, I was so silly to think it was anything related to Hungry. When growing up, "Huns" immediately comes to my mind when talking this country. I always wondered if both are related or not. Then Hungary became the name in a history book to illustrate the super power of Mongolian. It said their army reached as far as Hungary and my classmates "wow!" on it.http://www.englishforums.com/English/Rhythm/bgcwj/post.htm#118393Thu, 14 Jul 2005 20:29:19 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:118393yauI almost forgot I asked this question, but I must thank Vigor for giving me this GREAT website. I can definitely make more fun of speaking English. Next time if anyone says "no pain, no gain" to me, then I can simply say "No pain, no complain, and what about having a champagne". Haha.http://www.englishforums.com/English/Rhythm/bgcwj/post.htmWed, 29 Jun 2005 20:09:01 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:113722yausome authors are talented at writing lyrics in which the end sounds of most sentences can be rhythmed, e.g. get your hand / out of my pants (hand--> pants, song of stephen lynch). It can also been seen in motto, e.g. no pain, no gain. (a cliche) Are there any dictionary that put all rhythmed words for an instant pick? How would you increase your skills on it? Thanks a lot!http://www.englishforums.com/English/AlternativeSwearWords/5/bzzqq/Post.htm#112915Mon, 27 Jun 2005 13:39:25 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:112915yauThanks pieanne for searching this topic for me! I almost missed such great post!http://www.englishforums.com/English/HowCallPhenomenon/bzpzx/post.htm#112772Sun, 26 Jun 2005 22:53:49 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:112772yauMrP, exactly what I want! Thanks all for being helpful to me.http://www.englishforums.com/English/AlternativeSwearWords/5/bzzqq/Post.htm#112770Sun, 26 Jun 2005 22:52:53 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:112770yaugreat topic! I've experienced many embarassment in using wrong words at wrong places. When i saw a dump on the road, I urged my friend not to step on "shit". When I wanted to say "pussy" (not sure if there's more general term), i said "cuxt", and the laughing exploded! But I'm still not sure, when I asked "where's the toliet?", some stared at me so strangely, kept suppressing their laugh, and repeated "you..want toliet?" Now I said restroom or washroom, but what's wrong with toliet? What about loo? Is it obsolete today?http://www.englishforums.com/English/CorporalPunishmentFamily/2/bzlrw/Post.htm#112625Sun, 26 Jun 2005 11:33:00 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:112625yaurobbie, haha! Its' a mafia family! Police will help!http://www.englishforums.com/English/HowCallPhenomenon/bzpzx/post.htmSun, 26 Jun 2005 00:05:53 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:112520yauPlease click it: http://www.warsix.com/files/shadow.gif We call it "remnant image" in Chinese, I'm wondering how you call this phenomenon in english? Many thanks!http://www.englishforums.com/English/LegendsInDifferentCustoms/bzmdg/post.htm#111934Thu, 23 Jun 2005 23:08:21 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:111934yauThanks for opening my horizons! It's so good to hear so many old wives tales. It seems that pregnant or mensturated women are common target of these tales in different cultures. Just to add some more: Chinese bride and groom also avoid seeing others before ceremony. In the old day, bride or groom were chosen by parents, and I guess this tradition may help prevent sons/daughter fleed from the ceremony. (Hey YoungCalfornia, thanks for telling me the vocab. It's useful! )http://www.englishforums.com/English/LegendsInDifferentCustoms/bzmdg/post.htmWed, 22 Jun 2005 21:40:27 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:111611yauI just got a "shocking" news from my friend. In the old day, the generation of my mother believed that menstruated women should avoid washing hair. I though it was only the legend in China (or southern china) only, but my friend told me that old french women practiced it too. What a wonderful cultural common! :d I'm wondering if there's more common legends shared in different cultures too. Here's my attempt to show some chinese legends, hope to see more from your cultures. In hong kong, 1. men should avoid eating any cooked egg overnight, otherwises their ...hmm.. testicles would be ....tumefied. 2. Everybody should avoid wearing socks for sleep, or you'd be blind! 3. Never eat dog meat with mung bean together, you'd die!...http://www.englishforums.com/English/CorporalPunishmentFamily/bzlrw/post.htm#111609Wed, 22 Jun 2005 21:19:06 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:111609yauhi julie, I've been punished by a ruler too. It was thick like a Palm PDA, and it really hurted! Btw, I graduated a few years ago.http://www.englishforums.com/English/WhatDoYouKnowAboutVietnam/5/cnzl/Post.htm#111280Tue, 21 Jun 2005 19:57:40 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:111280yauAte vietnamese food in Japan. Tried to get to Vietnam a few years But was called off the plane in Bangkok because i had no visa. I will definitely cme sometime soon. Is it dangerous for foreigners? Not really. Pick pocket or violent crime to foreigners is not common in Vietnam, but you have to watch traffic precautiously. It's all crazy! I've seen that a guy was cracked down by a motorbike but no ones gave hands. All drivers just let the man laid down on the road and made sure their car not to roll on him.http://www.englishforums.com/English/WhatDoYouKnowAboutVietnam/5/cnzl/Post.htm#111275Tue, 21 Jun 2005 19:42:49 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:111275yauIf you talk about food, the average standard is really good there. Not just for vietnamese pho or french breads, they can also make excellent chinese, italian and french crusines. (and it's cheap!) But I would compromise all these for terrible english chip and fish if vietnamese bureaucrats could match modern standards. Corruption is common, government-run newspaper is extremely boring, air is polluted and money is everything.http://www.englishforums.com/English/CorporalPunishmentFamily/bzlrw/post.htmTue, 21 Jun 2005 19:28:04 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:111273yauCorporal punishment is a controversial way to bring up children. Parents are highly discouraged by law in hongkong but some parents still believe that only corporal punishment can correct the misbehaviour of children. It's not uncommon to see it happened. I'm wondering if it's common in other cultures too. Did you receive these punishment from parents and teachers? What's the magnitude of the punishment they did to you? Is it common in your countries?http://www.englishforums.com/English/WhoWantToGoToFrance/2/glbq/Post.htm#110250Sat, 18 Jun 2005 10:47:53 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:110250yauIl y a un an que j'en ai appris dans l'alliance francais hongkong, mais je n'ai pas assez de temps et j'en arret maintenant. Je pense que francais est trop difficile. Il ya a beaucoup de conjugations. La raison de la liaison est compliqué. J'espere que aller a Paris pour l'apprendre de francais. J'ai besoin de l'aide de francais. sorry for my poor grammer.http://www.englishforums.com/English/AreMothersSameWorld/2/nmjk/Post.htm#109782Thu, 16 Jun 2005 23:58:39 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:109782yauI think so--- after I met an american mom. She told me that her son can speak several language, work in a famous company, and disclosed apparently everything positive about him, but we actually met each other 10 mins ago. I believe all mothers in the world must come from the same planet.http://www.englishforums.com/English/YouBet/bzzxl/post.htmThu, 16 Jun 2005 23:51:19 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:109780yauIn US , When I asked passerby how to go somewhere, they often said "you bet" after I thank them. I think this expression is like "good luck", "not at all" , but what does it exactly mean? Is it said in other english countries too?http://www.englishforums.com/English/TonalLanguageAndLyrics/bvkzk/post.htm#109779Thu, 16 Jun 2005 23:45:56 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:109779yauHow can you indicate emotional states? Is this done by superimposing a sort of "tone of voice" over the tones on the individual syllables? Or is there an entirely different grammatical or pragmatic "machinery" for showing these things? Good question. Tones are fixed and can't be changed in most cases in chinese, but we can use facial expression, and some words (like WA!! AH!!! AIYA!! ) to express our emotions. I think it's not a characteristic exclusively for tonal language. Japanese is famous for their exaggerating facial expression. I believe it's because its intonations are too flat, and it must be complemented with strong facial expression.http://www.englishforums.com/English/TonalLanguageAndLyrics/bvkzk/post.htm#109774Thu, 16 Jun 2005 23:38:26 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:109774yauyes, that's true for cantonese songs. There's 6 or arguably 9 tones in cantonese. Every minor change in tones can represent a whole different meaning and hence people avoid doing it. for example, "nang gau" (be able to) is a common cantonese word that we use it every day, but if you carelessly say it in high pitch, it can mean pussy and dick. Deadly embarassing for anyone.