A true story: 16 Hundred Hours -winterstorm(打酱油的) @美国华人论坛:美国枫下论坛 The Rolia Forum of USA

A true story: 16 Hundred Hours

winterstorm(打酱油的)

本文发表在 rolia.net 枫下论坛Many years ago when I was in the university, I attended a class near the end of a semester. The professor was telling the students some information of the final exam, such as date, time, location, duration, etc. Amongst the 25 or so students, about 6, including myself, were Chinese.

The class was fairly quiet until the professor said: “the time of the exam will be: 16 hundred hours”, when I heard my fellow Chinese classmates bursting into laughter.

I was stunned by their reaction for a few seconds and then quickly realized that they must have misunderstood the meaning of “16 hundred hours” when I heard one of them giggling: “16 hundred hours exam? Ha ha…”.

I took a look at the rest of the class and the professor, all of whom were baffled by this unexpected laughter. The professor apparently realized why these students were laughing and repeated the same information with a polite smile: it will be 4pm.

Although this incident was not a big deal at all, it has stayed in my memory since. I find it very embarrassing not only because these fellows did not know the Military Time (24 hours clock) but also because they laughed at the professor for no reason but their own ignorance. Actually the latter is even worse.

Some recent discussions about certain phrases on this forum have been refreshing this part of my memory time after time.更多精彩文章及讨论，请光临枫下论坛 rolia.net

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Last Updated: 2013-1-29
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Military time... -thornthorn($oOHoly MolyOo$); 2013-1-29 (#8029033@0)

yes, it is called "military time" -winterstorm(打酱油的); 2013-1-29 (#8029060@0)

It's commonly used especially in Europe. And it's not that confusing. -thornthorn($oOHoly MolyOo$); 2013-1-29 (#8029074@0)
It's not a measure of time, rather the time on the clock. -redjunk(rolia); 2013-1-30 {231} (#8029361@0)
There are 24 hrs. in the day, right? So -0, or 0hundred hours is midnight. Starting there, 4am is 0400hrs., noon is 1200 hours, 4pm is 1600 hours, 5pm is 1700, etc.
11pm is 2300 hours, and at midnight you start at 0 hundred again.

It happens. -blankbliss(给我一个空间); 2013-1-29 {209} (#8029118@0)

We should be proud of us as we can use our second language to study in universities. Shall we learn how to turn to be more confident ? A positive way of thinking can lead one to be more successful and happier.

I don't understand your Chinglish expression! -zhousx18(IHaveADream); 2013-1-29 (#8029291@0)

What does 1600 hours mean? i know that it is millitary time, but how much time is it worth? -redjunk(rolia); 2013-1-30 (#8029360@0)

Remarkable story. I like that guy who laughed his head off because he was being true to himself. Lollllllllllll..... -dv2011(小肥羊); 2013-1-29 (#8029308@0)

+10. “baffled by this unexpected laughter”， “a polite smile”，这里 baffled， polite 可能都是酱油哥的感觉，真相不一定如此。 -wincity(红卫兵); 2013-1-30 (#8029392@0)

不管真相是什么, 这个例子与福特在特定场合下说"东方人像狗一样工作"没多大联系. 绝大多数国移不会不知道 "work like a dog" 的本意, 但用在特定的场合和上下文以及用什么语气出于什么目的完全是另一回事. -thornthorn($oOHoly MolyOo$); 2013-1-30 (#8029395@0)

刺哥早。 -wincity(红卫兵); 2013-1-30 (#8029397@0)

兵哥早. -thornthorn($oOHoly MolyOo$); 2013-1-30 (#8029404@0)

You would've done the same, wouldn't you? Just joking. -winterstorm(打酱油的); 2013-1-30 (#8029484@0)

肥哥其实走南闯北见多识广，只是有点粗犷不拘小节。 -thornthorn($oOHoly MolyOo$); 2013-1-30 (#8029494@0)

古文造诣也很深 -nuanxin(nuanxin); 2013-1-30 (#8029994@0)

I am sure you are not kidding. -thornthorn($oOHoly MolyOo$); 2013-1-30 (#8030259@0)

小肥羊搞劲十足,一点也没有任人宰割的味道, 呵呵. -slowdownforrose(放慢脚步); 2013-1-30 (#8030514@0)

Isn't that wonderful? Being real and authentic rather than being fake and sugarcoated. -thornthorn($oOHoly MolyOo$); 2013-1-30 (#8030547@0)

Yes. -slowdownforrose(放慢脚步); 2013-1-30 (#8030554@0)

A fake story I have heard -dv2011(小肥羊); 2013-1-30 {1717} (#8030132@0)
本文发表在 rolia.net 枫下论坛One day, 2 monks went on trip to a nearby town. They were walking along until they saw a pretty girl was crying underneath a tree.

The young monk was stunned by the girl's reaction and then quickly put down his soya oil bottle on the ground.

Young monk asked why and the girl answered with a sorrow face.

"My boyfriend is an army officer, we are in love very much and we set up an appointment today at here. I am sure this is the place we shall meet but I was confused with the time of the date"

The old monk, who was carrying a little fat lamb by the time, is a wise and humble gentlemen. He then asked why and the poor girl continued.

"My boyfriend said we should meet at 1600 hours and I have to use my calendar to count the number of days to realize the exact time. I don't know whether or not I am correct but I know he doesn't show up ever since "

The situation was fairly quiet until the young monk heard the old monk bursting into laughter.

The young monk quickly realized that the pretty girl must have misunderstood the meaning of “16 hundred hours" , which suppose to be 4pm in military clock.

So the 2 monks explained it to the girl and kept up the rest of their trip.

Although this incident was not a big deal at all, it has stayed in the young monk's memory since. He find it very embarrassing not only because the girl did not know the Military Time (24 hours clock) but also because the old monk laughed . Actually the latter is even worse.

In addition, it was a girl who has a pretty face, which is also being refreshing of his memory time after time.

But to the old monk, all of it have been forgotten as soon as he has passed that situation.更多精彩文章及讨论，请光临枫下论坛 rolia.net

Thanks for sharing. I guess that is why I am still learning English whenever I can to avoid those misunderstandings. By all means, I do want to see more and more people write big chunks of English here. -nothanks(ciel); 2013-1-30 (#8029353@0)

多谢！匆匆写的，措辞一定有欠斟酌的地方。不过故事是真的。 -winterstorm(打酱油的); 2013-1-30 (#8029401@0)

Keep going with those fancy stories and don't be perplexed by "thorny" farting from some guys here. The struggles of ordinary students in your writing make the narrative feel more real and, may or may not, bring the Dey-jaa-voo to all of us. -redjunk(rolia); 2013-1-30 (#8030155@0)

Excellent English, and carefully worded too. Way to go. -thornthorn($oOHoly MolyOo$); 2013-1-30 (#8030255@0)
What a nice comment! You mean "deja-vu"? -goingconern(GoingConcern); 2013-1-30 (#8030315@0)

yup...i don't know how to type in French -redjunk(rolia); 2013-1-30 (#8030363@0)

It has become an English word FYI. That is the English spelling actually. -goingconern(GoingConcern); 2013-1-30 (#8030668@0)

A well written story! 24-hour system is also commonly used in Europe. Still, we all need to learn to make the best out of every situation. -goingconern(GoingConcern); 2013-1-30 {139} (#8029584@0)

Everyone makes mistakes. A gentleman would be witty enough to jump to the situation to save both parties with a good jolly sense of humour.

Your comment is always appreciated. -winterstorm(打酱油的); 2013-1-30 (#8030054@0)

"polite smile", 用词简单，不经意之间实为点睛之笔，拜读啦。 -nuanxin(nuanxin); 2013-1-30 {222} (#8029950@0)

If I were you, I would have revised the last paragragh. I might have chosen to delete it. 小文之趣，在于感悟。是谁人感觉，是谁人悟到，感到何处，悟在那里，余音绕梁，看破不说破。此乃一境界。念君才情，心存仰慕，胡说而已。见谅

If I were you, I would deleted "have revised"...FYI 虚拟语气针对的现在,而不是过去:)) -redjunk(rolia); 2013-1-30 (#8030202@0)

OK would you? -thornthorn($oOHoly MolyOo$); 2013-1-30 (#8030283@0)
多谢。我总弄不清楚，虚拟于气，还有过去完成时。一用就错。这个论坛太好了，总有大侠帮忙。 -nuanxin(nuanxin); 2013-1-30 (#8030471@0)
虚拟语气可指过去，现在和将来。 -winterstorm(打酱油的); 2013-1-30 (#8030840@0)

Very true. -goingconern(GoingConcern); 2013-1-30 (#8030915@0)
Roger! -redjunk(rolia); 2013-1-30 (#8030928@0)

Primary or secondary meaning of the word? -thornthorn($oOHoly MolyOo$); 2013-1-30 {349} (#8030969@0)
1. To roger is an English slang term commonly used to mean have sexual intercourse. However, it is used only for men towards Women, and not the other way round. It is also commonly used to describe the taking of a woman from behind.
2. A positive acknowlegment; "ok", "understood". Used in (old, military) radio language. Also "roger that".

I am sure he meant the 2nd one.:). Similar to 10-4 -winterstorm(打酱油的); 2013-1-30 (#8031044@0)

Thank you, redjunk:-) -thornthorn($oOHoly MolyOo$); 2013-1-30 (#8031062@0)

过奖。最后一句是有些多余。仓促而就，欠考虑了。 -winterstorm(打酱油的); 2013-1-30 (#8030447@0)
"If I were you, I would have revised the last paragraph". I don't see anything wrong with it. -winterstorm(打酱油的); 2013-1-30 (#8031086@0)

我也有类似经历。 -maplus(马+); 2013-1-30 {188} (#8029976@0)

项目组开会讨论技术问题，lead在发言中提到 female plugs，一位co-op学生（40多岁的国女）当场笑出声来，让大家都非常尴尬。不过一岔也就过去了，没有人加以解释。现在想想，她当时会不会把这当骚扰呢？

这个可以尴尬。 -wincity(红卫兵); 2013-1-30 (#8030022@0)

这个真尴尬。 -maplus(马+); 2013-1-30 (#8030063@0)

这个真不可以尴尬...凸插头/凹插座很常见，俺恐怕这个female lady 头发太长啊 -redjunk(rolia); 2013-1-30 (#8030218@0)

Take it easy buddy… if I were you, I’d actually share the joke with the whole class. if you ever watched Joe Wang’s talk shows, you’d know how powerful you’d become if you are willing to make jokes of yourself. -uptowngirl(若初暖雪); 2013-1-30 (#8030404@0)

Joe Wang, haha. he always makes me laugh. he is much better than 北美催哥. -nuanxin(nuanxin); 2013-1-30 (#8030489@0)

你自己敏感了。我想那些学生不太可能是laugh at the professor，很可能误以为你的教授是在开玩笑。你想想，你的中国同学还不知道自己的英语水平么？怎么可能条件反射似地嘲笑你们的教授呢？ -silentlady(SilentLady); 2013-1-30 (#8030424@0)

我比你还希望是我自己敏感了。 -winterstorm(打酱油的); 2013-1-30 (#8030468@0)
+1.这边看star trek长大的,工作中也会这样说时间,带有调侃的味道.知道的会会心一笑,不知道的也觉得这种表达有趣. -slowdownforrose(放慢脚步); 2013-1-30 (#8030516@0)
+11 -wincity(红卫兵); 2013-1-30 (#8030531@0)

@USA

A true story: 16 Hundred Hours

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