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Post by thekindercarebear on Feb 9, 2024 16:13:03 GMT
I am at a bubble tea shop and the cute chinese woman at the counter, after taking my order, started to coverse with me in Mandarin.
I don't speak mandarin anyway so in my case, it is moot but I do wonder if fresh off the boat chinapeople find it weird a lot, if not most, Chinese Americans don't speak the old tongues anymore.
Thinking on it, how many Italian Americans speak Italian? Same with Greeks, Germans, etc. After 3 or 4 generations, it's just kind of lost for most of us.
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Post by thekindercarebear on Feb 9, 2024 16:15:49 GMT
For transparency sake, I am third generation Chinese American.
I can speak maybe 50/100 in Cantonese and understand 90/100. My children can say maybe all of 10 phrases and that's it.
1. Good night
2. Pain in the ass
3. Everyone eat
4. Happy new year
5. Thank you
6. Time for bed
7. Be quiet
8. Spank your butt
😏
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Post by abbey1227 on Feb 9, 2024 16:17:44 GMT
I am at a bubble tea shop and the cute Chinese woman at the counter, after taking my order, started to converse with me in Mandarin. I don't speak mandarin anyway so in my case, it is moot but I do wonder if fresh off the boat chinapeople find it weird a lot, if not most, Chinese Americans don't speak the old tongues anymore. Thinking on it how many Italian Americans speak Italian. Same with Greeks, Germans, etc. After 3 or 4 generations, it's just kind of lost for most of us.
Equality might be a little disappointed in you.
He told us all to start learning Mandarin
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Post by thekindercarebear on Feb 9, 2024 16:18:34 GMT
I am at a bubble tea shop and the cute Chinese woman at the counter, after taking my order, started to converse with me in Mandarin. I don't speak mandarin anyway so in my case, it is moot but I do wonder if fresh off the boat chinapeople find it weird a lot, if not most, Chinese Americans don't speak the old tongues anymore. Thinking on it how many Italian Americans speak Italian. Same with Greeks, Germans, etc. After 3 or 4 generations, it's just kind of lost for most of us.
Equality might be a little disappointed in you.
He told us all to start learning Mandarin Heh most us Americans can barely read English, forget speaking Mandarin.
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Post by Nogbad on Feb 9, 2024 16:19:47 GMT
Spring Festival Night and Super Night (whatever that may be) in Beijing tonight! Which translates as yet another opportunity for my brother to drink lots of apparently very bad beer, and smoke equally bad knockoff tobacco. He probably knows more Mandarin than you, but he lives in a polluted hellhole and works for PRC state propaganda tv so IMO you're better off where you are.
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Post by thekindercarebear on Feb 9, 2024 16:21:15 GMT
Spring Festival Night and Super Night (whatever that may be) in Beijing tonight! Which translates as yet another opportunity for my brother to drink lots of apparently very bad beer, and smoke equally bad knockoff tobacco. He probably knows more Mandarin than you, but he lives in a polluted hellhole and works for PRC state propaganda tv so IMO you're better off where you are. Yeah Mandarin ain't my bag, baby. 😀
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Post by abbey1227 on Feb 9, 2024 16:21:52 GMT
Heh most us Americans can barely read English, forget speaking Mandarin.
That's about what I'd tell E, as well.
Many American kids don't know an egg comes from a chicken, fer chrissakes. And he wants them bilingual?
They'll likely be bisexual long before they become fluent in a 2nd language.
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Post by Jep Gambardella on Feb 9, 2024 16:22:46 GMT
I am at a bubble tea shop and the cute chinese woman at the counter, after taking my order, started to coverse with me in Mamdarin. I don't speak mandarin anyway so in my case, it is moot but I do wonder if fresh off the boat chinapeople find it weird a lot, if not most, Chinese Americans don't speak the old tongues anymore. Thinking on it, how many Italian Americans speak Italian? Same with Greeks, Germans, etc. After 3 or 4 generations, it's just kind of lost for most of us. Did you say "bu shuo bu pu tong hua" to her?
(the only thing I can say in Mandarin other than "sie sie" and "wo shi zha na da zhen").
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Post by hugsfromlv426 on Feb 9, 2024 16:29:16 GMT
I am at a bubble tea shop and the cute chinese woman at the counter, after taking my order, started to coverse with me in Mamdarin. I don't speak mandarin anyway so in my case, it is moot but I do wonder if fresh off the boat chinapeople find it weird a lot, if not most, Chinese Americans don't speak the old tongues anymore. Thinking on it, how many Italian Americans speak Italian? Same with Greeks, Germans, etc. After 3 or 4 generations, it's just kind of lost for most of us. WTF is "Mamdarin"? And how does one "coverse"? And how old was she? And what would you rate her on a standard 1-10 scale?
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Post by Catman on Feb 9, 2024 16:35:31 GMT
Catman understands many phrases in felinesese.
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Post by geddy on Feb 9, 2024 16:42:05 GMT
Rule of thumb: if you don't practice speaking a language, it's more than likely you'll lose it.
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Post by Winter_King on Feb 9, 2024 16:44:28 GMT
I am at a bubble tea shop and the cute chinese woman at the counter, after taking my order, started to coverse with me in Mamdarin. I don't speak mandarin anyway so in my case, it is moot but I do wonder if fresh off the boat chinapeople find it weird a lot, if not most, Chinese Americans don't speak the old tongues anymore. Thinking on it, how many Italian Americans speak Italian? Same with Greeks, Germans, etc. After 3 or 4 generations, it's just kind of lost for most of us.
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Post by Winter_King on Feb 9, 2024 16:45:38 GMT
Italians will understand if you use this hand gesture:
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Post by thekindercarebear on Feb 9, 2024 16:45:54 GMT
I am at a bubble tea shop and the cute chinese woman at the counter, after taking my order, started to coverse with me in Mamdarin. I don't speak mandarin anyway so in my case, it is moot but I do wonder if fresh off the boat chinapeople find it weird a lot, if not most, Chinese Americans don't speak the old tongues anymore. Thinking on it, how many Italian Americans speak Italian? Same with Greeks, Germans, etc. After 3 or 4 generations, it's just kind of lost for most of us. WTF is "Mamdarin"? And how does one "coverse"? And how old was she? And what would you rate her on a standard 1-10 scale? Mid 20s maybe, hard to tell with them people. 😏 I'd say 6.5, nice smile and long hair.
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Post by averagejoe2021 on Feb 9, 2024 16:46:46 GMT
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