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Posts: 7204

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Q: Yes or No answers from Chinese

You know that little trate Chinese have about being unable to give a straight answer?
Its like the whole Country is practicing for a political career.
So how about this ....you write down your question and add two boxes. ..one for Yes and one for No.
Don't leave any room for anything else incase they try to go into detail.
Could this actually work ? Yes/No

7 years 5 days ago in  Arts & Entertainment - China

 
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Maybe....

philbravery:

Always figured you were Bloody Chinese. ..well .that or a Kiwi lol

7 years 5 days ago
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Stiggs:

haha, ouch...

 

Seriously though, I don't know how many times I've asked a simple question and got an answer beginning with 'maybe'.....

 

Me: Ok, what did he say?

Answer: Maybe he said...

 

Me: What do I need to provide to send money home?

Bank: Maybe this and...

 

Me: What do you think about....?

Answer: maybe...

 

Me: How many students do we have in this branch now?

Answer: Maybe we have....

 

Me: Did you do ...(what i asked you to do) yet?

Answer: Maybe...

 

Me: I really like this potential teacher we interviewed, did you?

Answer: maybe...

 

There are often no yes or no answers because nobody wants to commit to the 'wrong' answer. I can't say I blame them, in the past people got murdered for it.

7 years 5 days ago
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7 years 5 days ago
 
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Posts: 5321

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Maybe....

philbravery:

Always figured you were Bloody Chinese. ..well .that or a Kiwi lol

7 years 5 days ago
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Stiggs:

haha, ouch...

 

Seriously though, I don't know how many times I've asked a simple question and got an answer beginning with 'maybe'.....

 

Me: Ok, what did he say?

Answer: Maybe he said...

 

Me: What do I need to provide to send money home?

Bank: Maybe this and...

 

Me: What do you think about....?

Answer: maybe...

 

Me: How many students do we have in this branch now?

Answer: Maybe we have....

 

Me: Did you do ...(what i asked you to do) yet?

Answer: Maybe...

 

Me: I really like this potential teacher we interviewed, did you?

Answer: maybe...

 

There are often no yes or no answers because nobody wants to commit to the 'wrong' answer. I can't say I blame them, in the past people got murdered for it.

7 years 5 days ago
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7 years 5 days ago
 
Posts: 3

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yes

no

 

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7 years 5 days ago
 
Posts: 3

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yes

no

 

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7 years 5 days ago
 
Posts: 2774

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I sent a form to everyone in my department, about 30 people.

There was an important document that everyone needed to read by the end of February. The form stated the name of said document and staff were to write their name and check yes or no as to having read it.

Everyone wrote their name on the form. All good. 6 people checked the yes box, 4 checked the no box. The others left it blank (which i assume means no).

RandomGuy:

Don't worry, they would have checked boxes if the form involved any sort of monetary reward.

7 years 4 days ago
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7 years 5 days ago
 
Posts: 2531

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You think too much... you ask too many questions... I am late for an important date with my xiao san.

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7 years 5 days ago
 
Posts: 1072

Shifu

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recently when i was looking for a simple 'yes/no' answer, i almost made the poor guy cry as i made it clear i would not leave without one.

if he had been able to leave the room, i truly blieve he would have run home to his mommy just to avoid answering.

 

I hate being BS'ed and fobbed off.

FFS behave like an adult and give a straight answer, otherwise you just look like an ass. no

philbravery:

So you wanted a guy to leave with you ? And you wouldn't leave without one.? Viki is that you ? Sorry Darling. .. im getting excited about April 1st

7 years 4 days ago
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Blondie_:

LOL Phil  

 

I was looking for some completed documentation (or i thought it would have been completed by then)

the idiot just wouldn't admit that he had done nothing to complete it and I could not resist persisting for a direct answer.

 

the one thing Viki can learn is that persistence pays off in the end, even if it leaves the guy a nervous wreak 

7 years 4 days ago
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7 years 5 days ago
 
Posts: 177

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Not just in China....seems to be an Asia thing.

 

My old Japanese boss, when asked if we were going to do something replied with....

 

"99% Maybe"

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7 years 4 days ago
 
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Ironically....

 

I used to do a game I call "no 'yes/no'". Simple rules - can't say the words "yes' or "no" or their grunting analogies (eg, yeah, nah, mmmhmmmm, etc, nor just nod or shake the head). It serves to get them to listen a little to actual questions, and to be able to response with more than just a simple, one word answer.

 

The irony is... near the end of the class, and the last student up, who doesn't want to play the game.... can be VERY difficult to get them to say the word that would end their turn... Tongue

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7 years 4 days ago
 
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It's the equivalent of the Australian "Yeah -Nah" but not really

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7 years 3 days ago
 
Posts: 197

Governor

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It's just how they are but it also depends upon the person, the region, the level of friendship.  I personally try to avoid stereotypes.

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7 years 1 day ago
 
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