User Comments - liuqiaoan
liuqiaoan
Posted on: Differing Attitudes to Medicine
January 16, 2014 at 2:51 PMAlthough I agree most Chinese are very quick to ask if you have taken some medicine if I complain of some illness - I take this to be simply a means of them expressing concern, that they care about you etc. In reality most of the time when the illness or discomfort concerns them personally they are very reluctant to take any medicine and if they do, it's after seeing a doctor. Generally after seeing a doctor there are at least three kinds of medicine to take and often a mixture of TCM and western medicines.
The really surprising, worrying and contradictory action I've noted among Chinese though, is the willingness to use an IV drip and that they would rather do this in the middle of the night for hours and hours in a hospital (for example with the mildest of fever that a paracetamol, plenty of water and a good night's sleep would sort out), whilst surrounded by 100s of other 'sick' people. What is with the Chinese obsession over IV drips?
Posted on: Toilet Time
July 3, 2014 at 2:18 PMI agree, us Brits don't commonly say WC but it may be seen on signs or even said to non- English speakers to facilitate understanding.
I would also add that I think 'lavatory' is a little old fashioned but still sometimes seen on signs and used in polite company - I wouldn't associate it specifically with those found on aircraft.