Ian_Lee Posted April 2, 2004 at 08:57 PM Report Share Posted April 2, 2004 at 08:57 PM As a Cantonese speaker, I think the difference between the pronounciation of 棒 and 胖 is the hardest in Putonghua. More than one occasion, I erroneously told a smart guy he was fat and described a fat girl as smart. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hparade Posted April 2, 2004 at 09:04 PM Report Share Posted April 2, 2004 at 09:04 PM isn't it the difference between b and p sounds. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Quest Posted April 2, 2004 at 11:43 PM Report Share Posted April 2, 2004 at 11:43 PM the "b" and the "p" are switched in Cantonese. 胖buen 棒pang it is not that bad ian lee Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ian_Lee Posted April 2, 2004 at 11:51 PM Author Report Share Posted April 2, 2004 at 11:51 PM But in Putonghua, 胖 sounds like "pound" while 棒 sounds like "bound". Very confusing indeed. Moreover, since Cantonese hardly uses these two words, it makes us even more perplexed. I never quite understand why Putonghua uses the phrase "Good stick" to describe a smart guy/move! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Quest Posted April 3, 2004 at 12:44 AM Report Share Posted April 3, 2004 at 12:44 AM 很棒 means good, not smart guy. much like 好竸，好嘢，好醒，好叻 in Cantonese. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ian_Lee Posted April 3, 2004 at 12:55 AM Author Report Share Posted April 3, 2004 at 12:55 AM Does 好棒 merely mean good but not smart (not necessary person but to describe a move) in Putonghua? When a candidate passes the entrance exam to Beida, is 好棒 an appropriate complimentary term? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
39degN Posted April 3, 2004 at 04:07 PM Report Share Posted April 3, 2004 at 04:07 PM Does 好棒 merely mean good but not smart (not necessary person but to describe a move) in Putonghua? yes, 好棒usually means great, not smart. When a candidate passes the entrance exam to Beida, is 好棒 an appropriate complimentary term? yeah, we could say that, 你好棒啊！ 你真棒！ seems the latter is more often use in conversations. OR 你真棒诶(ei1)！ geek, come here, see, it's girls language. try to avoid using it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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