China accounts for 19% of the world's population and its 700 million Netizens decode with accuracy the evolution of their society. The buzzwords, catchphrases and play of words they conceive are not purely virtual; they mirror the reality of their daily life but also their desires.
The Netspeak is trendy and widely used in the media. This language demonstrates that the beauty of the Chinese culture is not only the aesthetic of its characters but also the ingenious rimes and witty play of words that can be created with its 4 tones. This all contributes to make the Chinese culture surprising and challenging.
Chinese characters and rhymes
Please take a few minutes to look at this short quiz of 10 questions. The replies are below.
2. What is the word that rimes with “talent”?
3. What should the “future” of an employee sounds like?
4. What does the pronunciation of “ambition” means in Chinese? What sounds like “ambition”?
5. Why did the number of marriage increased in “2013” and “2014”?
6. There are at least 2 interpretations of “BMW”. Do you know them?
7. Which Chinese character can best symbolize a “marriage”? On the opposite which Chinese character can best symbolize a “divorce”?
8. What is the Chinese interpretation of the English word “ambulance”?
9. Why do people like “Fridays”?
10. If a gentleman offers an iPhone to a woman on their first date. What does it mean?
Replies:
1. This word has been translated by “a prince surrounded by flowers” (花花公子 huāhuā gōngzǐ).
2. To succeed in life it is key to make “talent” (才cái) rhyme with “fortune” (财cái).
3. HR managers have a clear idea that the “future” (前途qiántú) of an employee should sound like “money” (钱途qiántú).
4. The pronunciation of the English word ambition in Chinese is comparable to “I must win” (俺必胜 ǎn bì sheng).
The Chinese word for “ambition” is 抱负bào fù. It is a promise that you will “get rich”(暴富 bàofù).
5. “2013” (二令一三 Èr lìng yīsān) has a close pronunciation with “I Iove you for my whole life” (爱你一生ài nǐ yīshēng); and 2014 (二令一四 Èr lìng yīsì) sounds like “I love you forever” (爱你一世 “ài nǐ yīshì).
6. BMW can mean:
Do not touch me (别摸我 Bié Mō Wǒ)
A prince on a white horse (白马王子BáiMǎ Wángzǐ)
7.
比 | 北 |
With some imagination, this character does represent a couple that looks in the same direction when married. (this is a free interpretation of this Chinese character, this is not the real meaning of this character) | On the opposite, this character does symbolize a couple, back to back, after divorce. (this is a free interpretation of this Chinese character, this is not the real meaning of this character) |
8. The English word “ambulance” can be pronounced in Chinese like “I do not wish to die” (俺不能死” Ǎn bùnéng sǐ).
9. This is an ingenious mix of English and Chinese languages. The English word “Friday” is shifted to mean “the happiness arrives on that day (福来day /fúlái day).
10. iPhone has been changed to mean :“I love you like crazy” (爱疯 ài fēng).
Learning about a culture and a language is a long process and it can be also entertaining and agreeable. In favor of Education for All, I see the Chinese plays of words are a valuable tool to demystify China.
A tireless researcher, Véronique Michel shares her knowledge of and insights on China in two earlier books, LA CHINE BRANCHEE (“Chinese Netspeak”) and LA COMMUNICATION A LA CHINOISE (“Chinese Communication Style”) published by SEPIA. She wrote CHINA ONLINE that will come out in the United States in March 2015 with Tuttle publishing.
Véronique Michel is currently working on a new book and would be delighted to receive puns and play of words by email: vmichel36@hotmail.com
