GoodTaste
Key Member
- Joined
- Feb 19, 2016
- Member Type
- Student or Learner
- Native Language
- Chinese
- Home Country
- China
- Current Location
- China
"Where! Where!" - the Chinese self-effacing word that misleads native English speaker
Jack, an American, was invited to take part in his Chinese friend's wedding ceremony.
When the bride arrived, Jack cried in admiration:"The bride is so beautiful!"
His Chinese friend replied with "Where! Where!" - it is a Chinese word (directly translated into English here) that tended to show the replier's humble or modest manner when being flattered.
But Jack misunderstood it and echoed with "Everywhere! Everywhere! Eyes, nose, month...all are beautiful!"
All the Chinese guests burst into laughter!
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The question here is what to reply when you want to show a self-efacing gesture when being flattered. "Where! Where!" doesn't seem to work in English.
Jack, an American, was invited to take part in his Chinese friend's wedding ceremony.
When the bride arrived, Jack cried in admiration:"The bride is so beautiful!"
His Chinese friend replied with "Where! Where!" - it is a Chinese word (directly translated into English here) that tended to show the replier's humble or modest manner when being flattered.
But Jack misunderstood it and echoed with "Everywhere! Everywhere! Eyes, nose, month...all are beautiful!"
All the Chinese guests burst into laughter!
===========================
The question here is what to reply when you want to show a self-efacing gesture when being flattered. "Where! Where!" doesn't seem to work in English.