Sex in Chinese?

I would also like to see some lessons devoted to sex and things related to sexual activity.

If you are a native English speaker, even without the context you'll see quite easily that all of these examples relate to a single topic: Do you want to do it? You have nice silky hairs. Oh, put it away! Be careful. She was begging for it. He made me do it. Will she go down? Did they get off together? This is my first time. If you've had to learn English as a delayed language, you've probably said some of these lines and wondered why on earth people got the wrong idea, or laughed. In English we avoid ambiguity, but we use it deliberately for one specific purpose: to indicate that we are talking about sex. If someone says "do you want to... you know" and you don't know, you miss out. On the other hand if someone says "How about it?" and you don't notice their Chinese accent, you will probably make a very embarrassing move and be amazed when you are rejected. I have no idea how it works in Chinese and what the traps of misunderstanding are for non-Chinese speakers, but surely it's important for us to know about this type of language, just as important as we can see that it is for the English learners.

Is it because I am American that I find this request totally creepy?

Let me clarify: When you need to learn words of intimacy, you will learn them. If you aren't intimate enough with someone just to ask them directly, then you aren't intimate enough with them to use those words at all.

I think it would be fun, entertaining and it would hold my attention a lot longer for the grammar points than a lesson on Tang dynasty poetry, for example.Since we're passing judgment, Pulosm, i think you need to lighten up.

Yeah, Pulosm, not just lighten up, but mind your own business. If you don't like the idea, then address that specifically without getting personal.

Hey, gang... let's nip this in the bud, shall we? There's no need for anyone to get personal. To answer your question, though, pulosm, I'm an American as well, but I think your feelings on this have less to do with nationality and more to do with personal preference. I understand the point you clarified, but I do think it's possible for someone to talk about sex without being in a situation that requires intimacy. Some people prefer to be prepared. To each his own.

henning, that's a very Chinese answer. Surely there's more to sex than babies, and as dire consequences go, you may also want to consider /爱滋病 (àizībìng) Regarding relevance, Tang poetry is actually a good example. It is important to at least know about it, possibly talk about it without doing any of it. Limited interest to me and daily usefulness, but part of the culture it's so important to know about, at least show interest in. Same with sex, there's been a lesson on swearing, there's been one on homosexuality so why not, doesn't have to be intimate, agreed with Frank here.

If you intend to avoid a particular topic of conversation, it is crucial to know the vocabulary in order to recognise that it is one that you want to move away from. Therefore, those few who are interested in the topic don't need the lesson so much, they'll pick it up, but the majority of us butter wouldn't melt in the mouth types who dread being exposed to such an intensely human topic lest it offend our virtue, need to have this lesson in order to recognise what to avoid. It is necessary for our own moral safety! Otherwise we are all doomed to invite unseemly suggestions by asking things in polite company like: What does "性用品商店" mean? I say bring on the sex!

Aunty Sue, I'm glad you defend our moral safety ;-) so I second your (or actually hotballs) request for a "sex"lesson

Well, there is a lesson on its dire consequences: http://chinesepod.com/learnchinese/%e5%9d%90%e6%9c%88%e5%ad%90/discussion From my own experience that one is both vocab & content wise of much more importance.

My apologies.

And I vote 'Yes' for a sex lesson! Errr, I mean...well you know what I mean.

I would like to defend Tang and other poetry! I liked the lesson very much! Maybe there's some love or erotic poetry to bring these two topics together? This is no vote (?) against lessons on sex, reproduction, fertility, romantic relationships or dire consequences including STD, offsprings, mothers-in-law or fathers-in-law, kindergartens and other possibly related subjects like artificial insemination, abortion, personal hygiene, ...

goulniky, yeah, but the consequence of having your overly worried mother-in-law sitting on your bed is a totally underestimated byproduct of intercultural sexual relationships... ;) No, thinking about it I agree with you all and also vote for a sex lesson. But the more direct expressions are really easy to find out there on the net (esp. after Bazza's glory find). I would therefore prefer to learn about expressions, symbols, and behavour which are indirectly carrying sexual connotations. To be able to detect spiciness when needed.

Well, I'm a prude, so be it! I just don't want to see Chinesepod devolving into some sort of "dirty Chinese" book you get in a back alley somewhere. Also, maybe I don't really care--I already know all these words. ;-)

well heck;..you can buy that book at your local barnes & noble: http://www.sinosplice.com/lang/studybooks/making-out-in-chinese Interestingly, when I googled for this book John's web page came to the top of the list! :-) Also See: http://search.barnesandnoble.com/booksearch/isbnInquiry.asp?z=y&EAN=9780804833905

With all due respect, Pulosm, a population of 1.3 billion in China is proof to me that sex exists in China and is not just some decadent invention of the immoral West. And if one doesn't find sex in China, sex is liable to find you, especially if one is a Western male businessman on a trip away from the coastal cities. Being taken for a massage or to a hostess bar with your Chinese counterparts after work hours, unsolicited late-night knocks on your hotel room door or phone calls to your room, your hairdresser in the beauty salons of even 5-star chain hotels implying that "extras" are available all are commonplace occurences and require finesse whichever route one wishes to take. I've seen too many foreigners on their first business trip to China damage the deal, their reputation or their conscience when confronted by such scenarios. Lessons on some form of sex theme from Chinesepod are not mandatory, in my opinion, but would not be out of line either, would not be without benefit, and surely would be highly listened to and commented upon. But in Pulosm's defence, maybe the suggestion wouldn't have seemed so "totally creepy" to Pulosm if it had not been made by a user named "hotballs".

When I was working in Prague my buddy had a Czech phrase book that included every phrase necessary to begin and end a relationship. For example: "What's your name?" "Would you like a drink?" "How about we go back to my place?" "I love you." "Are you on the pill?" "I can't have children at this stage in my life?" "I'm sorry. I can't see you anymore." The hilarious part wasn't what the book taught, but that the book actually followed this exact digression.

@pulosm I work as a translator in court and for police officers, and it's very possible that one day I have to translate rather direct words related to sex, for example when translating for a sex offender, or for a rape victim. it would be very useful, indeed necessary, to know the correct terms.