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mod5
Moderator
Joined: Oct 22, 2007
Posts: 166
Location: Behind the Wall
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 Posted:
Dec 26, 2007 - 04:55 PM |
 
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| Post subject: Questions for Chinese |
This thread is a place to post those common questions (and answers) about differences between East and West. |
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Pain: It's not how much more you can take, but how much more you can give.
Last edited by mod5 on Oct 14, 2008 - 09:59 AM; edited 1 time in total |
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DesertSpider
Post Roaster
Joined: Jan 19, 2007
Posts: 4413
Location: SHANGHAI, CHINA
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Jan 19, 2008 - 09:21 AM |
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1. Toilets - squatting is a nightmare here, the west wouldn't / couldn't do this (the old)
2. Food - somethings are great, other things are disgusting (dog on a stick)
3. Windows open in winter - ??? is all I have to say about that
4. No paper (napkins or toilet) anywhere - restaurants or otherwise BYOP
5. Difference in hygiene standards - less here
6. Text message instead of leaving a voicemail - west uses voicemail predominantly
7. Natural fear of dogs - the west views dogs as great pets
8. Warm / hot drinks - the east uses practically no icecubes in drinks
9. Chinese girls / women wear next to no makeup - the west is obsessed with this
10. Air / water / etc. are noticeably 'dirtier' / 'polluted' here |
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| wrote: |
| I'm looking good, got a luscious v of hair going through my chest pubes down to my ball fro. |
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SnappySammy
Shanghai Royalty
Joined: Nov 01, 2007
Posts: 9729
Status: Offline
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Jan 20, 2008 - 10:17 AM |
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I always carry a pack of tissues. NEVER take a chance that a bathhroom will have any. |
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Yank My Doodle It's A Dandy |
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SnappySammy
Shanghai Royalty
Joined: Nov 01, 2007
Posts: 9729
Status: Offline
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Jan 20, 2008 - 10:18 AM |
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DS # 9 I think most Chinese woman use makeup. It's just not dark. |
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Yank My Doodle It's A Dandy |
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DesertSpider
Post Roaster
Joined: Jan 19, 2007
Posts: 4413
Location: SHANGHAI, CHINA
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Jan 20, 2008 - 10:45 AM |
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| SnappySammy wrote: |
| I always carry a pack of tissues. NEVER take a chance that a bathhroom will have any. |
This is SO true... I never take that risk. |
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| wrote: |
| I'm looking good, got a luscious v of hair going through my chest pubes down to my ball fro. |
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lucar
Board Royalty
Joined: July 05, 2004
Posts: 6262
Status: Offline
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Jan 21, 2008 - 02:53 AM |
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It's amazing what you can do with a pair of socks in the wrong circumstances... |
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DesertSpider
Post Roaster
Joined: Jan 19, 2007
Posts: 4413
Location: SHANGHAI, CHINA
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Jan 21, 2008 - 08:47 AM |
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^ That would be my back-up plan. |
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| wrote: |
| I'm looking good, got a luscious v of hair going through my chest pubes down to my ball fro. |
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p1atl10
Board Royalty
Joined: Mar 18, 2005
Posts: 6089
Location: Shanghai
Status: Offline
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Jan 21, 2008 - 01:48 PM |
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^ or underwear.
Had a very "interesting" experince involving Thai Food and a Squat-ter toilet on a ferry on the way back from Samui once.....
"Houston. we have lift off...."
(Maybe TMI...?) |
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Not all chemicals are bad. Without chemicals such as hydrogen and oxygen, for example, there would be no way to make water, a vital ingredient in beer.....Dave Barry |
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DesertSpider
Post Roaster
Joined: Jan 19, 2007
Posts: 4413
Location: SHANGHAI, CHINA
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Jan 21, 2008 - 01:50 PM |
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I would shed my socks, underwear or t-shirt not to walk around with shiat in my pants or all over my ***cheeks. Curious what the locals would do in the same situation....  |
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| wrote: |
| I'm looking good, got a luscious v of hair going through my chest pubes down to my ball fro. |
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lucar
Board Royalty
Joined: July 05, 2004
Posts: 6262
Status: Offline
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Jan 22, 2008 - 06:09 AM |
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Curious what the locals would do in the same situation....
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Miles and miles of long-john material to make use of. |
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SnappySammy
Shanghai Royalty
Joined: Nov 01, 2007
Posts: 9729
Status: Offline
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Jan 22, 2008 - 11:13 PM |
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"Socks" great back up. never thought of Socks. That should go into all-time China tips for foreigners.
also never eat the really great smelling and very good looking food on the Toll Roads Service Areas. I got very sick and the highway is not a good place to have stomach problems. |
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Yank My Doodle It's A Dandy |
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ChicoStateDisciple
Reacher
Joined: Jan 16, 2008
Posts: 359
Location: 3:17 AM
Status: Offline
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Jan 22, 2008 - 11:26 PM |
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I have just been holding it since I got hear. |
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Conceived in London, Born in Germany and 100% American from Day 1 |
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ChicoStateDisciple
Reacher
Joined: Jan 16, 2008
Posts: 359
Location: 3:17 AM
Status: Offline
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Jan 22, 2008 - 11:30 PM |
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| DesertSpider wrote: |
10. Air / water / etc. are noticeably 'dirtier' / 'polluted' here |
This is actually a benefit. The water has flavor that surprises you every day. It is why I wake up in the morning. |
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Conceived in London, Born in Germany and 100% American from Day 1 |
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sbergman
Veejay
Joined: Sep 12, 2007
Posts: 2144
Status: Offline
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Mar 17, 2008 - 12:31 PM |
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| Post subject: Questions for Chinese on the forum |
Weekends always fill me with a million questions about Chinese culture. I was hoping that some of the Chinese who are on the forum might be willing to answer a few:
1) At what age does a Chinese child learn the word and concept for foreigner? When they say weiguoren do they actually mean foreigner or do they mean white person?
2) Do Chinese and the Chinese language differentiate between "interesting" and "well-educated"? Can a person be one without being the other?
3) Is no longer wearing long underwear dependent on reaching a certain date or a certain temperature?
4) What is the iconic image of male sexiness? Would firemen or carpenters be considered sexy or does doing physical labor make them less desirable?
5) What's the purpose of walking backwards? |
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sbergman
Veejay
Joined: Sep 12, 2007
Posts: 2144
Status: Offline
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Mar 17, 2008 - 12:32 PM |
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BTW, feel free to rename this Dumba$$ Questions from Foreigners. |
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dyniquee
Post Boaster
Joined: Apr 24, 2003
Posts: 4777
Location: Shanghai
Status: Offline
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Mar 17, 2008 - 08:50 PM |
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^not dumba$$ questions at all ... primate's got bad reputation for its insatiable curiosity on this planet.
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At what age does a Chinese child learn the word and concept for foreigner? When they say weiguoren do they actually mean foreigner or do they mean white person?
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When I was 4 or 5, once my mom took me to the No.1 Department Store. We stopped at a counter that sold kids' shoes. I wanted a pair of red leather shoes which's not in my mom's budget. I wouldn't leave and started to cry. Two black people, might be a couple, stopped and smiled at me. My mom said to me something like "even Wai guo ren now is laughing at you bad little girl".
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2) Do Chinese and the Chinese language differentiate between "interesting" and "well-educated"? Can a person be one without being the other?
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Do you speak Chinese? that makes a world of difference I think. My parents are from normal work class. When I was a teenager, I loved so much to go with my mom to her workplace. So much fun watching and listening to her co-workers joking and sharing at breaks.
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| Is no longer wearing long underwear dependent on reaching a certain date or a certain temperature? |
We quite stick to what the mom tells us ... 
well ... compared to the process of civilization of the west, life and daily living didnot change much for an ancient chinese thus learning from the seniors and olders and last couple of generations propably were enough to survive, thanks to the fact that China locates geographically on wide range of plains that's well-gifted to grow and raise thus they didnot have to travel and trade that much.
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What is the iconic image of male sexiness? Would firemen or carpenters be considered sexy or does doing physical labor make them less desirable?
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Sexy or not has nothing to do with occupation I think.
The last generation ... well ... I have NEVER heard my mom or my uncles, no matter married or unmarried talking about "sexiness".
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| 5) What's the purpose of walking backwards? |
Exercise. I often see old people doing that in parks in the morning too.
D
Ps: I am in my early 30s. College educated. Work for foreign companies and firms ever since graduation.
Hope this helps. |
_________________
Entangled Quantum Effect's at its best.
Last edited by dyniquee on Mar 17, 2008 - 10:41 PM; edited 1 time in total |
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findus
Veejay
Joined: Feb 03, 2004
Posts: 1799
Status: Offline
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Mar 17, 2008 - 09:38 PM |
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Great questions, especially #1 and #4. As 'physical workers' are seen pretty much as filth here (despite many being absolutely ripped, as you'll see in summertime when the shirts get unbuttoned, pulled up), I doubt you'll find (m)any local chicks hankering after a plumber or a sparky.... really, interesting question.
The walking backwards thing I think is to exercise different muscles AND (apparently) different parts of the brain involved in exercise. Probably. |
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sbergman
Veejay
Joined: Sep 12, 2007
Posts: 2144
Status: Offline
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Mar 17, 2008 - 09:52 PM |
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Thanks, dyniquee and findus.
Dyniquee, in the West we used to have this silly thing about the date at which it was okay to wear white shoes. You weren't supposed to wear them before Easter or after Labor Day. It was purely a fashion thing and one that is now pretty much ignored. I just wasn't sure if there was some similar thing about long underwear - like you're supposed to wait until the actual first day of spring before taking off that extra layer. I noticed that even on the recent day when the temperature was quite warm, my students were quite bundled up. |
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SnappySammy
Shanghai Royalty
Joined: Nov 01, 2007
Posts: 9729
Status: Offline
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Mar 17, 2008 - 10:05 PM |
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| sbergman wrote: |
Thanks, dyniquee and findus.
Dyniquee, in the West we used to have this silly thing about the date at which it was okay to wear white shoes. You weren't supposed to wear them before Easter or after Labor Day. It was purely a fashion thing and one that is now pretty much ignored. I just wasn't sure if there was some similar thing about long underwear - like you're supposed to wait until the actual first day of spring before taking off that extra layer. I noticed that even on the recent day when the temperature was quite warm, my students were quite bundled up. |
There also was a custom that only a Virgin Bride wore a white wedding dress. I think that also is pretty much ignored.
Do you think they wear the long underwear with the trapdoor |
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sbergman
Veejay
Joined: Sep 12, 2007
Posts: 2144
Status: Offline
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Mar 17, 2008 - 10:22 PM |
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| Do you think they wear the long underwear with the trapdoor |
Don't think so, except for the toddler crowd. |
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dyniquee
Post Boaster
Joined: Apr 24, 2003
Posts: 4777
Location: Shanghai
Status: Offline
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Mar 17, 2008 - 10:46 PM |
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| sbergman wrote: |
Dyniquee, in the West we used to have this silly thing about the date at which it was okay to wear white shoes. You weren't supposed to wear them before Easter or after Labor Day. It was purely a fashion thing and one that is now pretty much ignored. I just wasn't sure if there was some similar thing about long underwear - like you're supposed to wait until the actual first day of spring before taking off that extra layer. I noticed that even on the recent day when the temperature was quite warm, my students were quite bundled up. |
Nowadays I don't wear long underwear in winter.
D |
_________________
Entangled Quantum Effect's at its best. |
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SnappySammy
Shanghai Royalty
Joined: Nov 01, 2007
Posts: 9729
Status: Offline
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Mar 17, 2008 - 10:49 PM |
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| sbergman wrote: |
| Quote: |
| Do you think they wear the long underwear with the trapdoor |
Don't think so, except for the toddler crowd. |
The toddler crowd (and maybe a few hookers) wear the front and back open underwear and pants.... |
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dyniquee
Post Boaster
Joined: Apr 24, 2003
Posts: 4777
Location: Shanghai
Status: Offline
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Mar 17, 2008 - 10:54 PM |
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| SnappySammy wrote: |
There also was a custom that only a Virgin Bride wore a white wedding dress. I think that also is pretty much ignored.
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I was watching "A Stitch in Time" on ICS. It said a century ago (??? can't remember), wedding dress didnot have to be white. Bride wore what she thought was best fit in the wedding. Quite similar to Chinese. Bride usually's got several wedding dresses for the banquet session.
D |
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Entangled Quantum Effect's at its best. |
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black_bird
Ranter
Joined: Mar 06, 2008
Posts: 593
Status: Offline
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Mar 17, 2008 - 11:46 PM |
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| Quote: |
---------------------------------------------------------------------- ----------
Great questions, especially #1 and #4. As 'physical workers' are seen pretty much as filth here (despite many being absolutely ripped, as you'll see in summertime when the shirts get unbuttoned, pulled up), I doubt you'll find (m)any local chicks hankering after a plumber or a sparky.... really, interesting question. |
this is true. esp the shanghainese women. they will avoid every possible phycial contact as they could.
there is a name for those: "min2 gong1" ---- lower class worker from outside of shanghai who contributes to a great deal of shanghai's landscape. many of them have a year's wage overdue and are overworked. the commedy movie 'crazy stone' hinted the problem without getting censored...
hey walking backwards is challenging n fun! u should try it! hehehe
btw findus i enjoyed following ur tiger thread :p |
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8lrr8
StreetBeater
Joined: Oct 14, 2004
Posts: 2341
Location: here!
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| Posted:
Mar 18, 2008 - 07:09 AM |
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| Post subject: Re: Questions for Chinese on the forum |
| sbergman wrote: |
| I was hoping that some of the Chinese who are on the forum might be willing to answer a few: |
u dont have any chinese friends to ask this to (always thought u did)? just curious.
1. not sure, probably soon after they start grasping simple sentences, whenever that usually kicks in. 3-4 yrs old?
waiguoren = foreigner
bai ren = white person
just like hei ren = black person
if a kid associates waiguoren as a white person, that's just stupidity from his/her folks.
2. interesting is something like: you yi si. well-educated is closer to: you jiao yu. can be 1 w/o the other.
3. do u see people wear it during the summer? i've never.
4. i dont believe every american female thinks men in uniform are sexy. so i dont think there's necessarily an iconic image of male sexiness in chinese culture.
5. it suppose to exercise your hamstrings plus train your balance. something like that. |
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