07/28/16 Grif.Net - Learning Chinese
Robert Griffin
In 1996 I spent two weeks in China and Hong Kong as my wife received an award. What a country! Memories of the Great Wall, Ming Tombs or the Forbidden City are still vivid. I found many people there who could speak English and was more than a little embarrassed by my American education that left me short again.
Here I am this week (2016) at a Conference in Long Beach (representing my wife’s clinic) with hundreds of Asians - many from Taiwan, China, or Hong Kong along with folks from Korea, Singapore, and Malaysia. I needed to find a way to chat with folks even though I am not fluent (read: totally illiterate) in Chinese.
I will try some new phrases out today, but make no claim at political correctness (we want this to be humorous and mean no disrespect to anyone).
Are you harboring a Fugitive?---------HU YU HAI DING?
Approach me------------------------------KUM HIA
Stupid fellow-------------------------------DUM GAI
Small horse--------------------------------TAI NI PO NI
I bumped into a coffee table-----------AI BANG MAI NI
Have you considered a face lift?------CHIN TU FAT
You trying to save electricity?---------WAI SO DIM?
Inquiry when shuttle bus is due-------HAO LONG WEITING?
Unauthorized execution-----------------LIN CHING
You're blowing your diet---------------WAI YU MUN CHING?
Keep out of pond------------------------NOH WEI DING
Tow-Away zone--------------------------NO PAH KING
How about staying awhile?-----------WAI GO NAO?
They are approaching------------------HIA DEI KUM
Remain out of sight---------------------LEI LO
Cleaning automobile-------------------WA SHING KAH
Premature infant-----------------------TAI NI BEI BI
Cigarettes are hazardous to health-NO TSMO KING
Did someone fertilize the field?-----HU FLUNG DUNG?
Midnight television Program---------LEI TSHO
And what they will say to me:
You are not very bright----------------YU SO DUM
~~
Dr Bob Griffin
"Jesus Knows Me, This I Love!"