Don't ever call China Women Xiao Jie!!

Saw an article on The New Paper about how its wrong to call a China woman xiao jie, cause it means you are calling her a prostitute! Oh man, didn't know about that! I think I whenever a order food from a China woman (they are everywhere!) the food court, canteen and talk to shop assistants etc etc I also call them xiao jie. I'm so sorry girls I didn't mean to insult you.

Are You Calling Me a Prostitute?
Woman splashes water on at salesman for using 'uncouth' term

IN Singapore, it is not uncommon to hear someone address a female stranger as 'xiao jie' (miss in Mandarin).
Click to see larger image
UPSET: Miss Wang (above) claims the salesman called her 'xiao jie' at least five times in a mocking tone. PICTURE: SHIN MIN DAILY NEWS

That was how one salesman addressed a woman who walked by his shop.

But that was also what got him into hot water with the woman, a Chinese national.

Why?

In China, the term 'xiao jie' is often used to mean 'prostitute'. It is seen as disrespectful to address a woman as 'xiao jie' there. (See report below.)

The incident took place last Tuesday at a handphone shop in People's Park Complex.

Around 4.30pm that day, a 26-year-old Chinese national who gave her name only as Miss Wang was walking past the shop with her friend, Miss Zhou, also 26.

One of the salesmen in the shop, who wanted to be known only as Ah Siang, told The New Paper that he called out 'da jie' (older sister in Mandarin) to the two women.

'I wanted to get their attention so they could take a look at the handphones in the shop,' the 19-year-old Malaysian said.

'One of the women then nudged the other and told her I had just called her 'da jie'. She also asked her friend if she looked very old.'

Thinking that he may have been rude to call the women 'da jie', Ah Siang then addressed them as 'xiao jie'.

But that did not sit well with Miss Wang, who took offence at being called 'xiao jie'.

Full story at The Electronic New Paper

Watch the video from RAZORTV for more about this.
Finished watching the video? Now you like me know more he he. Cannot use the word Da Bao also!! It means putting a dead body into a coffin!!! Wa, i wonder how many times I asked a xiao jie to da bao food for me sia.

Here are other terms you should take note of when you are addressing a person from China. (From The New Paper)
Instead of Xiao Jie you can use Gu Niang or Xiao Gu Niang
You can address waitresses as Fu Wa yuan or in Guangzhou you can use Cantonese terms like Leng Lui (pretty girl), Leng Zai (handsome guy)
Instead of calling a maid Nu Yong, you should call her Ah Yee (aunty)
Lastly, Use Shi Fu instead of Shi Ji when you are addressing a bus driver.

Now you know!

P.S: There is one place in Singapore where it is okay to call China women Xiao jie though =P

Viagra - Styled Pills Advertisment Starring David Beckham, Sean Connery and Keanu Reeves!!

Fake DVDs, fake handbags, fake toys, fake handphones, fake food etc etc etc and now they even have fake star endorsements!!! China you never fail to surprise me.

Saw the news about the fake star endorsement on The New Paper today and went to find the video he he. The Japanese people pay millions only for a single Hollywood star to appear in an ad, and here you have an ad with 3 superstars!! And guess what ... the cost of getting David Beckham, Sean Connery and Keanu Reeves to star in the commercial is free! Its so easy!! Just take video footage of celebrities cut here and there, put in fake china man voice and subtitles and there you have it, the "USA Selikon" Viagra-styled pills commercial!!! The funnier thing is that the authorities have approved the broadcast in China.

Anyways, here is the video :)


from http://www.dailymotion.com/accidentalsexiness
Maybe in the future they should make a computer ad starring Bill Gates and Steve Jobs together praising the latest China Made Computer or maybe a Nike type advertisement with all the best soccer players in the World endorsing the latest Li Ning soccer boots he he. Endorsement is free anyway =P China, I salute you!!

For those who don't understand Chinese, rough translation available here.

(Image Taken From: TopNews.in)

Whats up with this throwing shoe at world leaders trend

A young protester hurled a shoe at Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao as he gave a speech at Britain's Cambridge University on Monday, in a dramatic end to a five-nation tour of Europe.

In a clear echo of the Iraqi journalist who threw his footwear at then US president George W. Bush in Baghdad in December, the Western-looking man shouted "This is a scandal" as he interrupted Wen from the back of the auditorium.

Protesters throws shoe at Chinese PM in Britain

This is starting to be a trend .. I wonder who is next? If I am Premier Wen maybe I would say thank you for the shoe thrown at me, it means good luck in China (I made that up). Then he can go add an entry about good luck throwing shoes in wiki. There are so many different meanings to the same action in different countries who knows (learned that in International Marketing) ... it might actually work heh. That would surely embarrass the guy!

(Okay maybe its a bad idea since everyone will start throwing shoes at the Chinese)

Throwing a shoe at someone might be the greatest insult in one country but it might be different in another heh. An example would be the O.K gesture which means okay in America, England and here in Singapore but in Latin America and France its considered an insult. Similar to giving someone the middle finger!

Find out more here to avoid unknowingly offending others, or realize that someone is scolding you in another country!

How communication and gestures may vary in different culture

Hello Backpacker - Gestures

It seems its one of the free Tibet demonstrators. Hope they really know what they are protesting for and not like these people


Ke ke

I thought the trend is over after the Olympics hmmm

(Image Taken From: Sky News)