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Posts: 111

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Q: Guys or Girls with just one or two long finger nails.

Do you find it weird? Why do Chinese people do it? Is it to show that they don't do manual labor? What are our thoughts on this?

8 years 50 weeks ago in  Culture - China

 
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Every time I see a guy a guy with the long pinky nail, I'm mildly disgusted, I'm not sure why exactly though and it's probably not fair to judge them according to my culture but what the hell, I can't help it.

 

Maybe because it's usually used to pick the nose and scrape out the earwax, maybe because it shows they don't do manual labor, never have, never could and they look down on it - it just strikes me as being effeminate and arrogant. I come from a working class background where working hard and getting your hands dirty is nothing to be ashamed of.

 

 

 

ID01:

unfortunately you are right.

 

the long nail is used to pick nose or ears or whatever..

 

i used to have the same question when i was 3 and i dug the answer out...

 

i also questioned them, why pinky finger? why not other fingers? well, apparently, i was too young to know the answer...

 

8 years 50 weeks ago
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Lord_hanson:

I agree, where I grew up a real man needed short nails to do real work. If a man had long nails people would say he hasn't done a real days work.

8 years 50 weeks ago
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8 years 50 weeks ago
 
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I can't believe you do not the why of the longer fingernail!.  Where are you from?

I have seen this abroad in many places prior to coming to China.   Have seen it also here

Used mostly to pick drugs with the longer fingernail, and bring to nostril opening and inhale it .

 

 

 

 

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8 years 50 weeks ago
 
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Every time I see a guy a guy with the long pinky nail, I'm mildly disgusted, I'm not sure why exactly though and it's probably not fair to judge them according to my culture but what the hell, I can't help it.

 

Maybe because it's usually used to pick the nose and scrape out the earwax, maybe because it shows they don't do manual labor, never have, never could and they look down on it - it just strikes me as being effeminate and arrogant. I come from a working class background where working hard and getting your hands dirty is nothing to be ashamed of.

 

 

 

ID01:

unfortunately you are right.

 

the long nail is used to pick nose or ears or whatever..

 

i used to have the same question when i was 3 and i dug the answer out...

 

i also questioned them, why pinky finger? why not other fingers? well, apparently, i was too young to know the answer...

 

8 years 50 weeks ago
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Lord_hanson:

I agree, where I grew up a real man needed short nails to do real work. If a man had long nails people would say he hasn't done a real days work.

8 years 50 weeks ago
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8 years 50 weeks ago
 
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I don't think we should judge people from their fingernails ,maybe they just like long nail as some people like tattoos 

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8 years 50 weeks ago
 
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Like HappyExpat says, those are coke nails.

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8 years 50 weeks ago
 
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I am not judgeing, I just want to know what people think and if anyone knows a cultrual or chinese tradition behind it.

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8 years 50 weeks ago
 
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I am not judgeing, I just want to know what people think and if anyone knows a cultrual or chinese tradition behind it.

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8 years 50 weeks ago
 
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It's actually ancient tradition. The upper class had in Chinese history long nails. I assume it's just continuation of it in more practical form.

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8 years 50 weeks ago
 
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Nowadays it signifies Diaosi!

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8 years 50 weeks ago
 
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Traditionally it was a sign of wealth, peasants couldn't grow fingernails since they were always scratching dirt or doing manual labor. This and white skin among other things were associated with wealth and high social status.

 

Nowadays having an extra-long fingernail is associated with diaosi (low life, losers) and tuhao (rich yet uneducated peasants) who still have a farmer's culture and mindset, anyone with education will not grow such disgusting thing.

 

And I am talking about the single fingernail that's like a few centimeters long, women with long aesthetical fingernails don't fall in that category, men with long fingernails are gay.

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8 years 50 weeks ago
 
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Apparently, I'm a low-loser and gay....

 

I've had longer fingernails than normal for most of my life. I find it very handy to scratch, open letters etc. Probably pick locks if I had the skill Tongue For me, it's more of merely a personal life choice - my version of fashion... just like the long hair I've had for oh so any years.

 

However, mine are short compared to some I've seen, and I also find the excessively long pinky or thumb nail  - especially that seem rock hard - to be directly associated with arrogant arseholes - usually on flights, where they think they own the world (and thus, have no respect for other human beings)*.

 

Working hard is fine. I was brought up, though, with the mentality of 'life was never meant to be easy' - and this is complete and utter shite! Life is what you make it. So, I'm not into working hard - I'm into working smart(er).

 

 

* please note - yes, I too am an arrogant arsehole, but at least I show respect to people.

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8 years 50 weeks ago
 
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i agree it's very unappealing.

growing fingernails long was a sign of being not-a-farmer in the past, but only growing your pinky long doesn't count, as you can still work with it.

i met a few people from different cultures that do this. they have an easy time opening cans, peeling stickers and other delicat operations that require.a sharp edge. it may be functionally advantageous, but i couldn't do it myself. anything longer than 2mm and i need a nail clipper, or i'll start biting.

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8 years 50 weeks ago
 
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I believe that it's sole purpose is to make me vomit.

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8 years 50 weeks ago
 
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Cultural Meaning :

 

It was a fashion statement and status symbol to show you were of nobility as it would bring attention to your obviously smooth and non-worn out hands.

 

Practical Use : 

 

Used to pick your nose, pick out earwax, scratch itches, do powdered drugs etc...

 

It looks bad and it is disgusting. Some traditions just need to die.

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8 years 50 weeks ago
 
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