Good analogy, but in my experience I think you can say that apartments in China do have mileage like with cars. It will not take too long a time living in China to learn that nearly everything, including apartments, are very 差不多 made. You barely bang the wall and plaster falls off; after a couple years color has come off tile floors; electric wiring burns up or shorts out; plumbing pipes have leaks and mold grows in the cement walls; etc. etc. Plus renters do not take care of apartments well. And if renters need to install anything in the house (like an AC or fan) you can be almost guaranteed it will be installed in a 差不多 way. After we had our AC installed the install man left two huge wholes in two walls in the house.
Posted on: Introducing Oneself to the Neighbors
March 8, 2011 at 7:38 AMGood analogy, but in my experience I think you can say that apartments in China do have mileage like with cars. It will not take too long a time living in China to learn that nearly everything, including apartments, are very 差不多 made. You barely bang the wall and plaster falls off; after a couple years color has come off tile floors; electric wiring burns up or shorts out; plumbing pipes have leaks and mold grows in the cement walls; etc. etc. Plus renters do not take care of apartments well. And if renters need to install anything in the house (like an AC or fan) you can be almost guaranteed it will be installed in a 差不多 way. After we had our AC installed the install man left two huge wholes in two walls in the house.