By continuing you agree to eChinacities's Privacy Policy .
Sign up with Google
Sign up with Facebook
Q: Chinese phrases you need to master...
My Chinese sucks (for someone who's lived here for over 5 years).
And during that time, there's been many times I wished my Chinese was much better. Not for good conversations, but for giving the asshats a right bollocking!
Of course, asking the locals usually gets me a "oh no, you shouldn't say things like that!!" So I don't get to learn the phrases I need!
So, this thread is for the phrases you really want to be able to say (fluently) and for those who know to teach! 
First up - "I'm standing right in front of you - why are you shouting?"
Next (in a similar vein) "Which bit of "speak slower/I don't speak much Chinese" did you not understand?"
"Hey, wanker, don't stand right in the middle of the frikken aisle/walkway/footpath/etc". (just what is the Chinese equivalent of 'wanker'??)
And, one I've thought of numerous times "How many people are there in China? Then why do you act like you're the only one here??"
Lastly - cos of the bus-ride home tonight - "Hey driver, how many more people do you need to kill/injure for you to get your bonus?" (or, the nicer way "Please - I don't want to die tonight"... but I tend more towards stronger sarcasm)
9 years 5 weeks ago in Teaching & Learning - China
Handy remark using the word culture, 文 化, wén huà
cultured ----> yǒu wén huà
uncultured ----> méi wén huà
Using the two in combination.
China has culture, you don't. 中国有文化，你没有.
----> Zhōng guó yǒu wén huà, nǐ méi yǒu.
I'm more 'fluent-same-as-you' Chinese speaker, so I'll add few of my own Chinese wishes from the Supermarket veggi scale queue. What should one say in Chinese for: 'Am I invisible? Today?'
Another intriguing one I would like to know is 'Hurry-up!'. I like to bark that at all Chinese rushing somewhere.
Hotwater:
Hurry up is easy, "kuai dian" & if you want to really get the point across "Ta ma de kuai dian!"
icnif77:
'Ta ma de' is curse word, I think. I heard it in Nanjing and Harbin at video game shop. Sounds like 'tsa ni ma de'.
I want the same meaning as when you say in English to somebody who's already in a hurry
.
Some of those phrases don't quite work the same way in Chinese but you can say a few things to get the point across. Here, I will try to translate them:
First up - "I'm standing right in front of you - why are you shouting?"
If you say you are "standing right here", they won't get it. You have to say you are very close. So you can say... "Wo dui ni hen jin. Ne ni wei shen me shuo zhen me gao?"
I am very close to you, why are you speaking so loudly?
Next (in a similar vein) "Which bit of "speak slower/I don't speak much Chinese" did you not understand?"
"Na li - shuo man yi dian - ni bu ming bai?"
Where "speak slower" you don't understand? (direct translation)
"Hey, wanker, don't stand right in the middle of the frikken aisle/walkway/footpath/etc". (just what is the Chinese equivalent of 'wanker'??)
Wanker is basically "sha bi" or stupid cunt. This phase could be said many ways.
And, one I've thought of numerous times "How many people are there in China? Then why do you act like you're the only one here??"
Zhong guo ren kou shi duo shao? Suo yi ni wei shen me zuo qi lai xiang zhi shi ni yi ge ren zhu zai zhe li?
China's population is how much? So why do you act like you are the only one living here?
I find this one invaluable. 'méi yǒu' I don't think needs any explanation, 'xing qù' is interest.
没有兴趣 Méi yǒu xìng qù (more polite but clumsy)
没兴趣 Méi xìng qù (blunt which is what locals say)
This is a two-in-one, "not interested" and "buzz off", lifesaver.
Handy remark using the word culture, 文 化, wén huà
cultured ----> yǒu wén huà
uncultured ----> méi wén huà
Using the two in combination.
China has culture, you don't. 中国有文化，你没有.
----> Zhōng guó yǒu wén huà, nǐ méi yǒu.
You need to translate
And this is why I drink
covers just about everything
不要 Bu Yao, for all those "watch bag, you want watch bag? Sex, ladies?" idiots at tourist traps.
wo bu ge ni wara... I don't want to play/talk with you...is quite effective at many places if you feel tortured.
I had a very naughty student last year, I said to him in front of the class, "wo bu shi huan ni" I don't like you...and he started tocry. I found his 'face' switch and it worked to keep him in order for months...lol.
This thread seems to be interesting to follow, waiting for more.
Ok, time to shine.
1) ni shi er bai wu = you are retarded
2)ni shi nong min= you are a farmer (This one really makes em shut right up)
3)nong min, qing an jing= farmer, please be quiet.
4)fang pi= bullshit/when someone farts.
ni shi yindao= you are a pussy(literal vagina).
mix and match, throw a few animals into the mix, the key with these guys is to get everyone else laughing at him too.
