By continuing you agree to eChinacities's Privacy Policy .
Sign up with Google
Sign up with Facebook
Q: Is it easy for you to say love ?
I have a student , who is American. the minute when she learned 我爱你 i love you .
She just can't stop it saying I love you我爱你 , i love you我爱你 , i love you 我爱你to me every day . At first , I was very happy .But later on , i feel nothing !
First of all ,That's too much : i love you ! 我爱你
Second of all, she use i love you我爱你 as an excuse to get rid of homework !
LOVE is so easy for foreigner to speak out . Sometimes you can't tell it true or not .
But a lot harder for Chinese to say it . Once you say it , you truly mean it !
About culture , I shocked .
Where i come from, these 3 words can be used in many different contexts, and the tone gives an idea of what is meant: here are a few examples
1) if you are expressing how you feel to your bf/gf/husband/wife
2) thanking someone who has done a big favour (let you off homework)
3) looking for a favour
4) sarcasm
there are many other reasons to use these words
yes, it is cultural
Where i come from, these 3 words can be used in many different contexts, and the tone gives an idea of what is meant: here are a few examples
1) if you are expressing how you feel to your bf/gf/husband/wife
2) thanking someone who has done a big favour (let you off homework)
3) looking for a favour
4) sarcasm
there are many other reasons to use these words
yes, it is cultural
I love you man!
As Sorrel says, it doesn't have to mean people have deep affection for one and other, but can be simply a compliment. I've found especially west-coast americans to be somewhat over-expressive
It may be cultural, but the word 'Love' does/usually have a special meaning for us (I'm from Aust.) & other Western cultures.
Its only, mainly thru t the Americans (USA) have demeaned the word, e.g. on stage/promotion etc 'I Love you Baby'..Love you Bro' etc its a term that's bandied about often, & it seems to me has lost it's real meaning.
It is a term we use for family members, pets etc.
However, here in China its also used , by guys (foreign!) to get girls into bed. And apparently it works in many cases. Personally. Its not my thing, cos I still think that it's a special word & should only be used in honesty.
royceH:
I love you man!
Hey.... Aussie eh....How about Lleyton Hewitt making the Brisbane final against Roger tomorrow!
Not to mention the arse kicking the Poms are getting in Sydney! Woohoo......
Only 14 weeks till the footy starts!
Cheers matey!
sevenyan:
Thank you , Visco8. That's why I posted this thread here . Using to much : i love you
may lost the real meaning . That way , I may take it as usual as saying Hi, and goodbye .
In the UK it's common for some people to call you "love".
I suspect it's not so much a cultural thing, but a lack of lingual inflection.
Saying "Awww, I loooove you so much teach" in a flirty manner is a lot different from saying " I love you" over a candle lit dinner.
In China, girls say "我爱你" after meeting me once, or constantly.
- Add them to your QQ list? "我爱你."
- Confront your ex for cheating with five rich guys from Shanghai who had rolexes and radiation-hardened microchips? "我爱你."
- Walk down a street on your campus? "hey... 我爱你."
- Find someone trying to learn English? "I love you."
- Get in a taxi cab with some dude? "I looooooove yooooooooooou.. hahahahahahahhahahaha"
IF I HEAR SOMEONE OTHER THAN MY WIFE AND DAUGHTER SAY "I LOVE YOU," OR "我爱你" ONE MORE TIME, I'M GOING TO FLIP OUT AND KILL MYSELF. I'M GOING TO CUT OFF MY HEAD ON THE ESCALATORS AND LET IT GET STUCK IN AN INFINITE LOOP, NEVER MAKING IT UP OR DOWN THE STAIRS.
royceH:
Yes, I can see it. Not unlike the time Vivyan lost his head and ended up kicking it along the train tracks.
Just too much damn love!
sevenyan:
Why those Chinese girls say : wo ai ni the minute when they see you ? Do they really fall in love with you ? Of course not . That is sort of saying Hi,or hello ,showing kindness and enthusiasm .
mArtiAn:
Hulk.....I love you, man.
And Royce, that's a very obscure 'Young Ones' reference, even for a Brit.
Your student, as all nationalities, as all human beings, has the capacity to express love. It is a powerful emotion we all long and strive to demonstrate, no matter what we say.
I'm shocked that your culture shocked. Your student sounds like a parrot excitedly repeating some new phrase the master has taught. Explain the connotations of 我爱你 and how it makes you uncomfortable because you understand its power and significance This is not cultural, the word is tossed around carelessly all over the planet.
If I tell someone I love them, I truly do. If someone tells me they love me or I can literally feel someone expressing love to me, I try and be aware of that. It makes the moment sweeter.
sevenyan:
Yeah, I know love is universal . and I am the one who believe in love too . What I am trying to say here is traditionally love is hard for Chinese to say , especially " i love you " But in western culture , it's more easier to say. You can say it in many conditions except for the original meaning , It can be the way to show your kindness, complement etc.
For me , If those three words are spoken to much , the real meaning will get lost . It might become as common as saying Hi ,hello, thank you ,and goodbye . That's why i got uncomfortable.
jetfire9000:
love is one matter. There are many other matters in which the Chinese language is escaping strict limits of the literal meaning, and encroaching on a newer meaning left up to the individual to interpret.
nowadays the term "美女“and "帅哥“ for beautiful girl and handsome boy are used carelessly and quite superficially. admittedly these are not terms of endearment, but it's still a similar concept. furthermore, nowadays you can call any strange older man you don't know a 叔叔 or an uncle despite him having no blood relation to you.
Many female friends may address the other as 亲 or 亲爱的, for dearest, even though they are just simple, not even close friends.
The most widespread case of overuse of powerful language would be profanity. everyday I can easily hear an easygoing group of young boys saying the Chinese words for the F bomb, merely to express a very very mild sense surprise.
language and habits of its use evolve I guess.
Nobody in the West would call a non blood relative man Uncle , or an older, semi familiar guy " big brother” some western cultures do use the term love differently from others as well, I suspect Latin culture may be one, being the culture of romance and all.sevenyan:
Yeah, agree. Thanks for sharing . I guess i can say I love you here .
Sounds like you should actually do some real teaching instead of focusing on cliche expressions... Either that or be careful to make some explanations to accompany possible culture sensitive topics.
Sorry for another post... But if you ever go to Shanghai, don't stare across the Bund at the tall buildings. there will be a giant, confusing, even offensive I <3 Shanghai displayed on one of the buildings. not sure how I feel about being forced by the city of Shanghai to love it... But as soon as I read it in my head I have no choice!
What is this thing called love?
What's this thing called, love?
mArtiAn:
What is this thing called love?
Answer: It's a wondrous and many splendored expression of the effection that lifts and saves us and brings us closer to the glory that is the oneness of all things..
What is this thing called, love?
Answer: That's a carrot.
I am incapable of saying silent "e"s, so no, i cannot say it.
It is hard for me to say that to others except my family.
Love spelled backwards is Evil
*ok,,, spelling's not my strong poynt
baaaaa
