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Happy Chinese New Year!!!
- Thread starter KKKL
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^^Why not? I don't personally care. But do tell me why it's a big deal anyway in case you know more than me, and you probably do.
And last night, I went to an occidental restaurant and had some of their bland food. Ahhh.....occidental.....it feels good to say that. Got that off my chest.
Neither of you need to correct me. I was simply saying that using "romanized" or "english" text, "Gong Xi Fa Cai" isn't correct phonetically. Romanized chinese is also really bad in Hong Kong, Taiwan, China, Singapore, and everywhere else for that matter. And since I can't read chinese text, I actually rely on the phonetics sometimes to get by, which would be impossible if you do this, especially in HK.
That's impossible! They're not Chinese. They can't be.
And last night, I went to an occidental restaurant and had some of their bland food. Ahhh.....occidental.....it feels good to say that. Got that off my chest.
bousozoku said:Didn't i say that already?
Neither of you need to correct me. I was simply saying that using "romanized" or "english" text, "Gong Xi Fa Cai" isn't correct phonetically. Romanized chinese is also really bad in Hong Kong, Taiwan, China, Singapore, and everywhere else for that matter. And since I can't read chinese text, I actually rely on the phonetics sometimes to get by, which would be impossible if you do this, especially in HK.
devilot said:....and the restaurant we wanted to try out was closed!
That's impossible!
They're not Chinese. They can't be.Actually we call it han yu pin yin here in Singapore, to help pronunciate the characters. I can write and read chinese, for writing, mostly the simplified chinese characters. If you were to compare me with those from China, my skill is really bad. Actually for those Chinese nationals, they consider those chinese born outside of China somewhat impure.Abstract said:Neither of you need to correct me. I was simply saying that using "romanized" or "english" text, "Gong Xi Fa Cai" isn't correct phonetically. Romanized chinese is also really bad in Hong Kong, Taiwan, China, Singapore, and everywhere else for that matter. And since I can't read chinese text, I actually rely on the phonetics sometimes to get by, which would be impossible if you do this, especially in HK.
Abstract said:^^Why not? I don't personally care. But do tell me why it's a big deal anyway in case you know more than me, and you probably do.
And last night, I went to an occidental restaurant and had some of their bland food. Ahhh.....occidental.....it feels good to say that. Got that off my chest.
Neither of you need to correct me. I was simply saying that using "romanized" or "english" text, "Gong Xi Fa Cai" isn't correct phonetically. Romanized chinese is also really bad in Hong Kong, Taiwan, China, Singapore, and everywhere else for that matter. And since I can't read chinese text, I actually rely on the phonetics sometimes to get by, which would be impossible if you do this, especially in HK.
That's impossible!
I promise that I wasn't correcting you. I've been seeing that Mandarin for the last week from online friends from Malaysia and Singapore.
In my experience (and hopefully this has faded), if you call a Chinese an Oriental, they will become enraged because Chinese call Japanese Orientals. Typically, Chinese have hated Japanese but hopefully, this has gone away as the older people have died. I haven't witnessed it for a long time.
angelneo said:
Well, Singapore does practice the use of English instead of any other language. Most everyone I know there has serviceable written Chinese but speak much better than they read and write.
Abstract said:
Oh Noooo! Don't ruin my fantasies damn you. Now how do you expect me to be Kwanstruck, drooling over her uber taught sexy little bod at the Olympics, if I have to be now phonetically correct and be 'Guanstruck'... just doesn't have the right sound to it :-(
Abstract said:
IIRC, the Singapore Chinese have a modified slang, kind of like a version of Pigeon English, just a Pigeon Chinese... I forget what it's called, but they only understand that style of modified language in Singapore.Abstract said:Neither of you need to correct me. I was simply saying that using "romanized" or "english" text, "Gong Xi Fa Cai" isn't correct phonetically. Romanized chinese is also really bad in Hong Kong, Taiwan, China, Singapore, and everywhere else for that matter. And since I can't read chinese text, I actually rely on the phonetics sometimes to get by, which would be impossible if you do this, especially in HK.
Abstract said:That's impossible!
Yeah, that's what I was thinking
devilot said:I do think it's "Chinese New Year" seeing as I am Chinese. But there are other folks out there who aren't aware that other cultures also celebrate the Lunar New Year.Not as much in past years but that's fine by me. At my age, I'm just stoked to get anything! :-D I'm in college... and I got $90 from aunts/bf's mom, my mom gave me at least double that! She spoils me rotten.Ai-yah! Flashbacks from Chinese school. Er. I dunno how to type it.
Lol, Ms. Devilot'r; my Katie Holmes like version of a Taiwanese ABC who was around 30yrs old at the time, was given title to a old post-WWII, remodeled to look newer; $1/2M LA tract home...for a 'reasonable consideration' is how I think the recorded deed is legally worded (i.e. they gave it to her as a freebie, gift). No, her parents aren't rich, and yes she's very spoiled and immature like Paris ;-).
Darn four intonations; my grandmother wouldn't let my mother learn Chinese as a child because she always mispronounced those intonations incorrectly. Chinese is supposedly the most difficult language for those who are of Western/European speaking languages. But Korean is no walk in the Park (heh, bad pun) either. Not to drift OT (but the mod brought it up, and FOB managers at the local HK style dim sum service restaurants in La La Land do say 'orientals' in speaking of Asians in general, and not in a derisive way...unlike the perceptions of Americanized/Westernized Asians who think it's offensive). Certainly with the rising global economic power that China has become, Mandarin has become popular for the younger generation of students here in the USA and other countries...Cantonese was once the international language of favor for speaking Chinese :-( ) Check out this thread about HK local accent/dialect Chinese prejudices: WHAT FOBs THINK OF AMERICAN-BORN ASIANS
Closed any day, means the world is coming to an end
, what is the world coming to when the Chinese become so affluent and westernized that the traditional culture of restaurants open 365 days a year has changed, I mean that's just so un-American... err, I meant just so 'un-Chinesian'??? Some Korean restaurants close for Western solar NY her in the states, while many Japanese restaurants close. I wonder if it has to do with how much more the Japanese have been more influenced by Western cultural pressures??? Many Japanese stores and restaurants will be open on Christmas however, even if that has become a major 'marketing' holiday in Japan. When after-Christmas and Thanksgiving sales become the major shopping days in China, then you know society has gone to hell BTW, the 1st full-moon of the season may have happened in China on the night of the 28th/29th, but on the west coast of the USA, there is no full moon on the same day/night...just have to fudge the tradition in order to celebrate the oldest of human yearly celebrations.
But Ms. Devilot is correct, most Asians celebrate the 'Chinese' Lunar New Year, but they don't say Happy Lunar New Year, it's just "Happy New Year", with the knowledge already that it refers to that of the Chinese calendar traditional celebration.
Celebrating Korean Style: Korean Sul-Nahl. Sae hae bok mani baduhseyo! (Happy New Year!)
"It remains a kind of mystery as to why the Lunar New Year is known so broadly in America as the Chinese New Year. It may be that the Chinese, being the first Asians to immigrate here, lent their national identity to this annual, Asian-wide celebration.
With this in mind -- and in these days of recognizing the specific distinctions, as well as the commonalties of every ethnic group -- it seems like an anachronism to keep referring to this Asian lunar holiday as Chinese New Year.
Many Asian cultures celebrate the Lunar New Year in their own ways."
They had this kind of weird ass comedy/variety/American Idol-mixed with Beauty & the Geeks like contest special New Years Eve show from Taiwan?; on LA 18 TV last Friday (which would have been NY eve in Asia), where these dorky/geeky guys come out before a studio audience, two hosts, a panel of 3 'judges'? and 5 lovely ladies sitting in Jetson's cartoon like chairs...to win a New Years date with one of them??? Oh, well I can't read of speak any kind of Chinese, but I thought it was quite funny when these women kept (almost all the subtitles were in Chinese) saying, and translated into English subtitles "Oh My God", along with involuntary giggle fest from them and the audience, lol.
Dork #5 "Paco"
Dork #4
Dorkiest of all Nori
Lady in short black skirt and stockings was very cute
Anyone read Chinese?
Also, unfortunately there are still bad feelings between Chinese nationalists and what happened to them as the result of Japanese 'imperialism' in the past. Just last year there were violent protests in China against/because of these past grievances about the Japanese and how this past is not taught to the youth of Japan. So I think bousozoku is wrong in part, because it's the young Chinese who were doing the protesting, not elderly victims.
While Kwan maybe pronounced the same, plenty of other words/names are not. Take the dim sum dumpling we call in English "fun gow". According to a HK native, just graduated from LB State here, and speaks English with no accent as though she were a native; "Fun Gow" is pronounced differently in Cantonese (at least her HK knowledge of it) and Mandarin. Cantonese is more like 'Fun gawr' (which sounds like something kind of in between 'fun gow' & 'fun gor') and mandarin is more like 'fun gor'... pretty much impossible for me to spell it correctly/phonetically, you'd just have to listen to her pronounce the two variations. Then have me try to say it in my 'flat' English pronunciation and either way to a Cantonese or Mandarin speaking FOB at the dim sum service, and they all look at me and give me a look like..."WTEff did you just say...speak Chinese damn it, I can't understand you ;-) ?"
Damn, missed the festivities this weekend due to the move to SF but now that I'm living here I'll be able to go to the parade on the 11th a lot easier.
bousozoku said:
And Japanese didn't hate Chinese?
The old word for Chinese in Japanese language literally meant VERMIN. The Japanese hated the Chinese so much for some reason... look at how many people they raped tortured and murdered in WW II and the Rape of Nanjing. You got to face the facts, I mean I love Japanese culture and my girlfriend is Japanese American, but Japanese people were sick mother****ers in war time, and they still haven't exactly apologized for what they've done.
bousozoku said:
Hatred can be long lasting in some areas of a country. Even by its younger citizens. For point of information; the civil war is still not done by some, that Germans and Japanese are still the enemy, and on and on it goes.
But such hatred generations later, at least here in the US IMO can be laid to rest to what the youth are exposed to by their parents. I am guessing such hatred in China is by the government and their parents.
It has been said that history is written by the victor. And in some cases even by the loser. Sorry if I go political here, but I at least hope that we here in the US have access to information in order to make our informed opinions. As long as we have an open mind.
MUCKYFINGERS said:
Rules of war differ for each culture. As repulsive the actions of the Japanese were during WWII, we need to look deeper at the historical and social context. I am not forgiving their actions, in no way. But I assume that someone here can put those actions into some context of the social/political/military of Japan at that time.
Remember slavery was condoned here in the US for a long time.
I offered the original information as a quick suggestion. I didn't mean to make this into a political thread. Let's not do that, please, especially since this is about the opposite.
I'm sure that we can dig up hate about every group on the planet. It's not necessary.
I'm sure that we can dig up hate about every group on the planet. It's not necessary.
bousozoku said:
Thank you, and I apologize. This thread has been informative. But sometimes when being informative, we do step on toes.
BTW: Based on what a co-worker told me, I will not be doing house cleaning ever again. For I was told the custom is not to do house cleaning on the first day of the Lunar New Year. So as to not sweep out the "good" with the "bad".
If that is the case, I may never clean again!
Chip NoVaMac said:Thank you, and I apologize. This thread has been informative. But sometimes when being informative, we do step on toes.
BTW: Based on what a co-worker told me, I will not be doing house cleaning ever again. For I was told the custom is not to do house cleaning on the first day of the Lunar New Year. So as to not sweep out the "good" with the "bad".
If that is the case, I may never clean again!
He's right. We should take care to not lose what good we all have.
I'm the one who should apologise. Had I kept the extra information in a PM instead of being there for all to see, this never would have happened. I am obviously evil--or haphazard.
While we're on the topic of Asian culture... I was wondering, is there a special meaning, term, or some nice article that defines or explains the 12 zodiacs applied to the days? For example, today is a sheep day. My grandma is devout Buddhist and of Asian culture, so she told me a long time ago how each zodiac can often have an effect on one's luck, karma, fortune, etc. (whatever you want to call it) for that day depending on what year they were born and what their zodiac is. For example, being born in 1988 and being a dragon, I'm supposed to be a little more careful on days of the snake, pig, and monkey. I know on some Korean calendars, they had a little print in Chinese or even a picture of the animal for each day. And just like our solar 7-day week, the days cycle through the 12 zodiacs.
Anybody know what I'm talking about?
(Excuse my lack of knowledge about my own culture )
Anybody know what I'm talking about?
(Excuse my lack of knowledge about my own culture
)
bousozoku said:
Please don't feel that way!
This thread is one of the reasons I am happy to be a contributer here. For even when we devolve in to political stuff, I learn about the world around me.
In some ways we need to let the "warts hang out" so that we can maybe gain a better acceptance of what makes this world go round.
applekid said:While we're on the topic of Asian culture... I was wondering, is there a special meaning, term, or some nice article that defines or explains the 12 zodiacs applied to the days? For example, today is a sheep day. My grandma is devout Buddhist and of Asian culture, so she told me a long time ago how each zodiac can often have an effect on one's luck, karma, fortune, etc. (whatever you want to call it) for that day depending on what year they were born and what their zodiac is. For example, being born in 1988 and being a dragon, I'm supposed to be a little more careful on days of the snake, pig, and monkey. I know on some Korean calendars, they had a little print in Chinese or even a picture of the animal for each day. And just like our solar 7-day week, the days cycle through the 12 zodiacs.
Anybody know what I'm talking about?
(Excuse my lack of knowledge about my own culture
Man, this is the stuff I was talking about!
Not that I allow my life to be ruled by the zodiac, or the Chinese calendar - I do see similarities in those that I deal with.
Just realized that I am part of the year of the Dog!!!!!
Happy New Year to me! My ex was the year of the Tiger. In basic ways we both fit the descriptions. But it would have been nice to know when best to deal with our "issues".
obeygiant said:hotties... moreplz
those chinese guys are so lucky
raise your hand if you want me.
I am so tempted to ask about a "sibling".....
Wow. I've never seen that. I can read all the characters but I don't know how to translate the first one. I'm sure someone who knows more can/will correct me, but Monday's is moon, Tuesday is fire, Wednesday is water, Thursday is wood, Friday is gold, and Saturday is dirt/earth.bousozoku said:
But what is that supposed to mean?
No, I also have no idea what Chip is talking about, and I don't know what Applekid is referring to.
And as for the character for Sunday, that's the character that refers to the "Sun." It also means "day." And no, 日日 doesn't mean "Sunday."
The character for Monday means "moon", but also means "month."
And about that photo of the girls, they must be Taiwanese, because Taiwanese girls are quite well known for being hot.
And as for the character for Sunday, that's the character that refers to the "Sun." It also means "day." And no, 日日 doesn't mean "Sunday."
The character for Monday means "moon", but also means "month."
And about that photo of the girls, they must be Taiwanese, because Taiwanese girls are quite well known for being hot.
Well, in Chinese, especially in fengshui, they have the five elements which are 金, 木, 水, 火, 土 as comparable to perhaps the four elements (earth, fire, water, air) in western culture. and in chinese zodiac, depending on the day you are born, you can be a fire tiger, or a earth dragon so on.devilot said:Wow. I've never seen that. I can read all the characters but I don't know how to translate the first one. I'm sure someone who knows more can/will correct me, but Monday's is moon, Tuesday is fire, Wednesday is water, Thursday is wood, Friday is gold, and Saturday is dirt/earth.
But what is that supposed to mean?