惠敏的華語教學筆記

 

Which language is easier to flirt with?

When you speak a foreign language that is not your native language with that you are not familiar enough, the effect is like being drunk. Speaking a foreign language is like speaking when you’re drunk. You are not sure what you are saying. You have to say it slowly because you might say it wrong.  

 

Often, we learn bad words in a foreign language quickly, because we don’t know what it implies in its culture and it’s a lot of fun to see the native speaker’s reactions while hearing foreigners saying the cursing words with strange tones or pronunciations, but they act like they know what they are saying.

   

For example " Làmèi"  which means a young girl who is hot and spicy in Mandarin. Usually they will have good figures and charming faces, but it also implies they try to be attractive to seduce men, like wearing tight and revealing clothes to show their bodies. It’s not a classy way to compliment a woman.

 

But if you just speak out this word “Làmèi” innocently without thinking what it implies, just like it is easier to speak out while you’re drunk. It is easier to flirt without thinking much about the social protocols. When foreigners trying hard to say something silly that often makes native speakers burst in to laughter because they break the native speakers norms of using the language. The distance between you and native speakers will be shortened.

 

    In Chinese culture, it’s kind of disrespect for women to bring them home for the first date, we like to take a relationship seriously and patiently. But if a foreigner says “Nǐ de yǎnjīng hǎo piàoliang, wǒ kěyǐ gēn nǐ yīqǐ shuìjiào ma?”  (Your eyes are so beautiful. Can I sleep with you?) We will think it funny and interesting, but not offended, even flattered.

    There is still a stereotype that a white man equals money. It's a prestige to have western partners in Chinese society, because they think those foreigners are wealthier and more open-minded, interesting, so the women will be more open to them as well, even if those westerns rent and eat cheap.  

 Next time try to flirt in Chinese like you’re drunk and see how it works for you.  

 

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