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Posts: 135

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Q: Is there a word in Chinese for excuse me?

Ive asked lots of Chinese people and they all just seem to intentional bump into one another when they need to get through a gap. that or they grunt at each other.

I dont want to always have to push people to make them notice me and there is only so much grunting in a day I want to do. What do you guys normally do to get someones attention verbally? I dont mind rude, just so long as I dont have to TOUCH anyone.

13 years 6 days ago in  Culture - China

 
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Posts: 13

Governor

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dui bi qi

Shining_brow:

NO!! That more correctly translates to "I'm sorry"... which, in this case, the OP certainly is NOT! This is more of a 'get out of my way' sort of thing... there are much better phrases out there to use.

12 years 16 weeks ago
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13 years 6 days ago
 
Posts: 1932

Emperor

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lao2jia4

But they'll think you're weird if you say it. It is generally seen as way too polite for that kind of situation. I say just do as the Chinese do, when in Rome and all that.

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13 years 5 days ago
 
Posts: 960

Shifu

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I just say excuse me with a slight tap if they are not facing me. Many understand by the body language what you mean, a lot now understand those words in English and some just ignore you anyway.

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13 years 5 days ago
 
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dui bi qi, or de bu chi.
Laughing out loud Laughing out loud

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13 years 5 days ago

love life

 
Posts: 1318

Emperor

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Start singing in English. It gets their attention and catches them off-guard, normally causing some to even sidestep away from you. Then you have an easy path to just slip in.

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13 years 5 days ago
 
Posts: 650

Shifu

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Bu Hao Yi Si

Ma Fan le

Rang Yi xia

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13 years 5 days ago
 
Posts: 24

Governor

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You can say GUO YI XIA loudly so everyone near you can hear you.

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13 years 5 days ago
 
Posts: 149

Governor

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JUst tell them t get out the f************* way

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13 years 4 days ago
 
Posts: 277

Shifu

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让一下 as wenna7 said: Rang4 yi2 xia4 - literally means "allow a bit"

 

But I couldn't hope to pronounce it well enough for them to understand anyway.

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12 years 16 weeks ago
 
Posts: 192

Shifu

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In this case, qing3  rang4  yi1 rang4

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12 years 16 weeks ago
 
Posts: 1989

Peasant

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qingwen  , proper word for saying excuse me 

tomcatflyer:

This is ok for "I want to ask you a question", not so good for "please get out of the way"

12 years 16 weeks ago
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:

i don't know that much Chinese ,

12 years 16 weeks ago
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12 years 16 weeks ago
 
Posts: 520

Shifu

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No people mentioned "借过(jie4 guo4)"? It's a good word for such cases! It means "borrow me a way to pass". You probably have to say it loudly though.

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11 years 29 weeks ago
 
Posts: 223

Governor

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Not sure why 2 year old posts like this get bumped up. Looks like this lady is long gone and been out of China for well over a year now..... guess that whole not wanting to touch people didn't work out to well Smile

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11 years 29 weeks ago
 
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Answer of the DayMORE >>
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A:No, it's not allowed to work under RP at 2nd job! I'd say, Z visa/RP sponsor can have an objections to your part-time job. I did the same at my English teaching in China and elsewhere, butT ... I casually mentioned at my prime job, some kindergarten or another school asked me to work with them part-time. Then, my Q: "Is that permitted?" ...  Answer from RP sponsor was always "Yes, but you can't be late or miss the classes at our school ..." with my reply: "No, our work schedule has a priority, and I'll arrange classes at kindergarten only in my free time." When I cleared that, I was undertaking any extra teaching hours at other schools and private students in my free time.Sometimes, teachers at my prime job asked me if I'm willing to have some extra classes elsewhere.I accepted after the talk with School's principal. I suggest, you test the felling at your Z/RP sponsor and once you see they don't object, you can work at 2nd job. Keeping your 2nd job as a secret from your employer won't work, 'cause you're laowai and Chinese know exactly what you do in your free time. However, despite your employer's agreement for extra work, you are still in violation of Chinese Labour law, and even if your sponsor agrees to your extra work, you can still get in trouble, because it's clearly written (somewhere ... ) that under Z/WP, one can work only at the Z-sponsor and nowhere else. Penalties ... I'd say, there won't be any warnings and you'll be required to exit China in short Exit time.It never happened to me, so I can't really advice how is when manure hits the fan ...  -- icnif77