Upon disclosing that we will be heading to Beijing for holiday, we often get this remark….
“Huh, both of you don’t speak Mandarin and you are going to China?!?!!!”
Indeed, me and Jules hardly speak any Mandarin. Maybe I can still go about asking for direction and order a simple meal but that would be it. As such, many are showing concerns on our survival probability when we head to Beijing later this month.
I find it really strange, really really strange. Ya’ know why?
If you hear of people going to Spain, do you hear rhetoric such as “Huh, you don’t speak Spanish and you are going to Spain?” ¿Habla usted español?
If you hear of people going to Italy, do you hear people remark “Huh, you don’t speak Italian and you are going to Italy?” Lei parla italiano?
If you hear people going to Japan, do you hear people say “Huh, you don’t speak Japanese and you are going to Japan?” あなた日本語を話せますか？
Do you?
Anyway, I will be heading to Singapore this weekend for some games. Should I have any concern?
1 year ago… 3 comparisons, 2 awards, 1 interview
2 years ago… A very personal sharing
“Huh, both of you don’t speak Mandarin and you are going to China?!?!!!”
Indeed, me and Jules hardly speak any Mandarin. Maybe I can still go about asking for direction and order a simple meal but that would be it. As such, many are showing concerns on our survival probability when we head to Beijing later this month.
I find it really strange, really really strange. Ya’ know why?If you hear of people going to Spain, do you hear rhetoric such as “Huh, you don’t speak Spanish and you are going to Spain?” ¿Habla usted español?
If you hear of people going to Italy, do you hear people remark “Huh, you don’t speak Italian and you are going to Italy?” Lei parla italiano?
If you hear people going to Japan, do you hear people say “Huh, you don’t speak Japanese and you are going to Japan?” あなた日本語を話せますか？
Do you?Anyway, I will be heading to Singapore this weekend for some games. Should I have any concern?
1 year ago… 3 comparisons, 2 awards, 1 interview
2 years ago… A very personal sharing
29 comments:
Hahaha.. No concern. Have fun in Singapore and Beijing!
I think if I said I wanna go Beijing, ppl will be concern towards me also. Since I can't speak Mandarin mostly. Is an advantage to know how to. But tat doesnt mean we cant go at all to experience, right? ;)
Hahaha... Well said!!! Don't worry... I've been to Beijing before and though I speak Mandarin that only I myself can understand... I survived!!!
Just ahem... Try not to buy anything... And if you do... inspect the goods before you leave the outlet and always bargain!!! Have fun!!!
I agree with you. Just becoz you don't speak Spanish doesn't mean you should not visit Spain. I visited Spain in 2006! :)
Have a great trip. Are you going on your own or with a tour co? If you're travelling on your own..maybe you need a dictionary with English-Chinese translation or something.
huh, why la u speak manglish go to singlish-speaking country wei... ;p
Hahaha I don't see anything weird/funny about going to China for tour... I think many ang mohs do that too. However, if you were to go there for business, then it may raise an eye. Haha.
Enjoy the trip anyway! ^^
u need to worry if you can be kiasu or not... :P
Zewt, are you going for snooker tournament in singapore? *ahem ahem*!!!
Zewt, for Chinese in China you will be a chicken looking like a duck, hahaha :P
Wow, so your Mandarin is at my level. Ok, you're always welcome to come to my blog and practise ;)
You're right, why should your trip be questioned?
I'd be envious. but then, that would be a different questioning inflection, bearing in mind the inordinate flexibility of the nuances in Brit-speak.
Why are ppl so small-minded... =.= So if u don speak russian then don't go russia too? What la... I have known ppl who have traveled all over the world and are able to speak only English.
One can always use signs, guides, gestures and the simple translations in travel books. So many options available.
they didnt know u used to hang out in CHINA b4 issit?
anyway i went to shanghai b4 and it was ok.....worst case just point at pictures or what the other fella is eating!.....ppl will survive when thrown into the deep end.....
Why not? It's not a big deal at all.
One common advice though - Be very careful of your belongings. Erm, they are kinda unscrupulous...and at night, in some seedy streets, beware of prostitutes. They'll grab you literally if you pay the slightest attention to them, i.e. 'cuci mata sikit' hehehe
Usually things bought from China looks good there. But once u return home, it's broken la!
Must set foot on The Great Wall and feel the glory of our ancient papa! Enjoy Zewt!
Don't worry la, Singlish is about the same as Manglish.
However you might wanna:
1. Add liao at the end of sentences e.g. finish/eaten liao.
2. For superlatives, use si pek, e.g. si pek hot/nice/fast/good.
3. When describing gorgeous dress/girl/nail/etc, use "chio" e.g. wah, that dress looks so chio.
To summarise:
"wahh.... check out that chick! she looks si pek chio, man! I want to buy her super chio dress, but finish liao"
correction
Lei parla italiano?
is actually
Tu Parla La Lingua Italiano
No concern at all. If language fails, there's always fingers to point!
just start every sentence with "wah lau!" & you'll be fine. throw in an occasional "ya, lor" or "no, lor" for good measure!
once again if u need tour guide... I'm always available! =D
Have a nice trip with jules!
there are quite a lot of people in Beijing who speakee the Engrish these days :P
I think the problem is you 2 are going to China and hardly speak Mandarin despite being Chinese. If you are a Spanish but could hardly speak Spanish and you are going to Spain, people around you will show the same concern and curiosity. But dun worry, mate! I think you should have no problem there. A lot of people there can speak simple English nowadays especially after 2008 Olympics.
eh i cant speak mandarin for the life of me.
and yet i managed to bargain with the traders over in Beijing back then. before the olympics even. :)
when it comes to bargaining, anything goes!
not to worry... you have hands and face and mouth.. and they will understand just by looking at those... :)
missironic - i just think ppl have different perspective to different place.
"maemee" - i was asked to slash the prices by 80%! haha
Mei Teng - yeah, i have travelled to so many foreign countries. that's what excitement is all about right?
Jun - hahahaha... trying to bring in the synergy.
day-dreamer - business? hmmm...
bosscat - hehe... maybe i should.
Aoki - the game i play needs a racquet instead of a que...
MKL - dont be surprise if you can speak better than me... seriously.
ZACL - i am lost at your last sentence.
pinknpurplelizard - it's the mentality... when you go european countries... they will admire u instead.
economist - i heard beijing is very commercialised now, nothing to worry about.
Lifong - yeah... chinese, the greatest con-man in the world. hey... in rome, they said there are plenty of highly skilled pick pockets... same lah.
Sherry - chick? i think it should be jia-boh! haha..!
Irene - my apology...
eiling lim - or money language.
doc - that's not really the point of this post actually :P
littlepolaris - wooaah, so free ah? and free medical assistance right?
j_yenn - i heard there are.
jam - if all fails.... $$ speaks... :P
J2Kfm - just slash slash slash and... walk away! haha!
Linda - hahha... true...
Zewt: Agree... stereotyping perhaps?
aiya..got one comment language wat..money!!
enjoy ur trip :)
missironic - pretty much so i must say.
neno - that's right! the vitamin M!
Classic:
Tell the foreigners,
You dun speaking Malay, then why you coming Malaysia??? haha
Shaun - haha... if that is the case, no one but the indon will come lor...
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