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Q: Why do Chinese people think I can read and write Chinese?
I came to China knowing only 'hello' and 'thank you' in Chinese. Now I know more, but ever since I arrived in China they think I can read and write the characters.
When we get stuck and unable to communicate, they suddenly think they have found a solution of getting a pen and paper where they expect me to either read what they have wrote in Chinese, or have me write(in Chinese) what I am trying to say or express.
It seems that they really believe that this 'solution' will work, and they sometimes even seem mildly shocked when they discover that I cannot communicate in this way.
This has happened to me more than a dozen times, and it really confuses me.
Why do they think that I could read or write Chinese when clearly they know that I can speak or understand very little?
same with us if a tourist is lost no matter what language they speak we will speak very slowly to them still knowing they have no idea what we are saying. Universal concept.
Perhaps the logic is "he can't understand my accent / he is deaf" therefore they 'think' writing will be easier as you don't have to listen just read.
Obviously those doing this aren't fully thinking it through but there COULD be some kind of logic to it.
...You could try learning the language.
Also, there are some good Chinese-English dictionaries...
So big a mistake. maybe it's better to clearly explain your actual situation at first. Believe that as time passes by, your level of Chinese will be imroved.
So big a mistake. maybe it's better to clearly explain your actual situation at first. Believe that as time passes by, your level of Chinese will be imroved.
mArtiAn:
Is it my eyes or does the attachment here advertise legal services that cater exclusively to MILFs?
Do you look Asian? If so, knowing you can't speak it, maybe they just think you're a little special in that department, so they'll try writing. If you're not Asian at all, then I have no clue. However, I do know a few characters. Sometimes it was easier to read a simple sentence in Chinese than to read whatever the translator spit out.
Is there another way to write, couldn't be another alphabet in the world?
When I used my phone translator, they would answer by writting on their phone and showing it to me. I would have to write that my phone wrote the translation, I can not read Chinese, send me a text to y phone and I will translate. Then after I translate a response, I have to explain the entire process again and again, because they will show me the text and forget that they need to send it because I can't read Chinese.
in several occasions i had people hold their hand out flat and with the other hands index finger write something almost as if they where using pen and paper lol, im thinking im learning chinese characters but i prob wont understand you even if you wrote it on a piece of paper what makes you think i will recognize one you write with your index finger
maybe you stayed long enough in china to be able to speak and read and write Chinese in their opinions
stan118:
you got a point, usualy if you move to another country you will most likely pick up reading and writing, most expats in china dont bother with the writing and learn a few simple things to say, if you see the chinese people who move to guangdong for work almost all of them pick up cantonese with ease
