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Q: Is it only the Chinese that roll up their shirts over their bellies?
Well, it's summer time, and what does that mean? Shirts rolled up over potbellies! But seriously, does this phenomenon only exist in China?
I wondered about that myself when I first arrived to China and it's a heckuva interesting question. After numerous queries - I've since stopped asking -, I'd been told that it has something to do with (1) hot and cold junk running through the body; (2) regulating body temperature on a hot day or night; and (3) a sign of abundance and wealth, in that the bigger the belly, the more affluent the man. (And that begs the question: How come fat gals don't display their abs in similar fashion?)
Anyway, back home we simply call it a "beer gut on a big ole fat slob".
I don't have a proud enough potbelly to do this (yet), but sometimes when I'm in a quiet street with my girlfriend I stick my tummy out and pull my shirt up. Her horrified reaction is glorious.
Chinese people love talking about Chinese "culture" as though that means something, but this is it. Chinese men rolling up their shirts over nicely tanned, hemispherical potbellies.
Scandinavian:
Yup. That is 5000 years of culture, defined right there
GuilinRaf:
AND their suit pants up to the knees and showing off their white sock, sometimes while wearing a fairly nice suit...
I have said it before and I will say it again. I call it the "Britney Spears syndrome"
I wondered about that myself when I first arrived to China and it's a heckuva interesting question. After numerous queries - I've since stopped asking -, I'd been told that it has something to do with (1) hot and cold junk running through the body; (2) regulating body temperature on a hot day or night; and (3) a sign of abundance and wealth, in that the bigger the belly, the more affluent the man. (And that begs the question: How come fat gals don't display their abs in similar fashion?)
Anyway, back home we simply call it a "beer gut on a big ole fat slob".
It's their version of people wearing their pants low enough to show off their butt crack, and about as unappealing as well.
Red_Fox:
You have just offended all the plumbers and Wal-Martians on this board! Shame on you! 
Red_Fox:
Ha ha! Point! Aim but don't fire!
Oh, drat.
I said "Aim" Or some such nonsense. Time for dinner.
Red_Fox:
Well, hell's bells! You just got a thumbs down minutes ago by a Wal-Martian... Crazy... LMAO...
I was about to post a witty and snide remark about this just now. Then I looked down and to my horror I saw it! MY shirt rolled up over my stomach!!!!
No darkstar it isn't! You need to get out and find out more about the world around you? Is China the only place you've been to in this world? (
!
He he, I said: "find"!
To keep cool. I imagine it works; they don't keep doing it for the fashion value.
To keep cool. I imagine it works; they don't keep doing it for the fashion value.
It's not just Chinese that does this. Scandinavians also do it (when they are in China and are making fun of people doing it)
you know it is summer in China when the men roll their t-shirts up over their bellies. i was worried in May when i hadn't been horrified by the sight of so much flesh. summer was late this year !
It exists in my basement when I'm having a bad day!! 
GuilinRaf:
I just KNEW you lived in a basement!
Admission!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
