You know you've gone native when...
xiaophil
January 12, 2010, 04:54 AM posted in General DiscussionThis is for fun. I think everyone knows that one will encounter cultural differences when one comes to China. The interesting thing is when one adopts Chinese habits. Perhaps you have observed yourself or some of your friends doing just that. For those of you who have spent significant time here, please finish the second half of the following sentence:
You know you are going native when...
xiaophil
你猜错！哈哈
好像只有一个剩下的选择。对的，我偶尔对中国人说“你吃了没有？”这个情况不但是说中文的时候，而且也是说英文的时候。幸亏我说“How's it going?”
baba，我注意到你中文说得越来越好，你总是坚持写汉字，我觉得棒极了！
zhenlijiang
嗯，特别是这两三个礼拜我觉得。 Baba 的进步的确令人赞叹！
xiaophil
Haha, I forgot to finish my sentence above, and this computer can't type Chinese.
幸亏我duiwaiguoren说“How's it going?”(I guess pinyin will have to do.)
matthiask
January 12, 2010, 04:06 PMyou say 喂 at the telephone.
you cannot live without a bowl of rice a day
xiaophil
January 12, 2010, 05:12 AMNo 口罩 for me. That was one of my colleagues. He has been in China for ten years. He wears it to keep his face warm when there is a brisk wind and to avoid the flu.
prindy
January 12, 2010, 05:19 AMyou know you've gone native when the 不好意思's keep rolling off the tongue
ousijia
January 12, 2010, 05:28 AMYou know you've gone native when you add 麻烦 into your English sentences! Oh, and you ask people how much something was and reply with - 阿呀,贵! Great post xiaophil!
xiaophil
Yes, 麻烦 is often one of the first words to get integrated. It is definitely not as stiff sounding as 'troublesome' and it doesn't have any mild swearing like 'pain in the ass'. I guess we are left with 'It's a pain', but 麻烦 seems more fun somehow.
I think the first word to get adopted is 路, though. This is so common, it isn't even a first sign of going native.
changye
January 12, 2010, 05:42 AMI know I've gone native when I spit on the street.
xiaophil
changye, I somehow doubt you have taken this step ;)
changye
It's not a joke, I'm afraid.
xiaophil
Hahaha, no problem. It all washes away.
prindy
hi changye,
and who said spring was the most colorful time of year. some very good displays of color found stuck to the pavements and streets and hanging from gutters and steps in my area. but hey, i'm with you. better out than in.
xiaophil
January 12, 2010, 05:52 AMYes, 麻烦 is often one of the first words to get integrated. It is definitely not as stiff sounding as 'troublesome' and it doesn't have any mild swearing like 'pain in the ass'. I guess we are left with 'It's a pain', but 麻烦 seems more fun somehow.
I think the first word to get adopted is 路, though. This is so common, it isn't even a first sign of going native.
xiaophil
January 12, 2010, 05:54 AMchangye, I somehow doubt you have taken this step ;)
prindy
January 12, 2010, 05:09 AM呵呵，难道不是戴着口罩呢？
changye
January 12, 2010, 06:28 AMIt's not a joke, I'm afraid.
prindy
January 12, 2010, 06:42 AMhi changye,
and who said spring was the most colorful time of year. some very good displays of color found stuck to the pavements and streets and hanging from gutters and steps in my area. but hey, i'm with you. better out than in.
bababardwan
January 12, 2010, 07:06 AM"Perhaps you can guess which one."
我猜是“对，对，对，对”
非常好的帖子小PHil，好玩儿。 ：）
xiaophil
January 12, 2010, 07:40 AM你猜错！哈哈
好像只有一个剩下的选择。对的，我偶尔对中国人说“你吃了没有？”这个情况不但是说中文的时候，而且也是说英文的时候。幸亏我说“How's it going?”
baba，我注意到你中文说得越来越好，你总是坚持写汉字，我觉得棒极了！
xiaophil
January 12, 2010, 09:42 AMHaha, I forgot to finish my sentence above, and this computer can't type Chinese.
幸亏我duiwaiguoren说“How's it going?”(I guess pinyin will have to do.)
hamshank
January 12, 2010, 12:44 PMCant speak for China but...
In Taiwan, you know you have gone native when you see a que and are compelled to join it without any idea what people are queing for just because, whatever it is "must be good".
;)
xiaophil
I can somewhat relate... sort of. Before coming to China I thought a restaurant with few people was cozy, thus desirable. Now I feel that a restaurant with few people has been scorned by the locals due to poor sanitation and so should be avoided at all cost.
xiaophil
January 12, 2010, 01:28 PMI can somewhat relate... sort of. Before coming to China I thought a restaurant with few people was cozy, thus desirable. Now I feel that a restaurant with few people has been scorned by the locals due to poor sanitation and so should be avoided at all cost.
blox
January 12, 2010, 06:21 AMEvery time you make a joke, you quickly follow with: 'I'm joking!'
xiaophil
January 12, 2010, 05:03 AMOkay, I'll start:
You know your are going native when...
Bonus: Only one of the above is actually something I have seen myself do. Perhaps you can guess which one.