Chinese Character Tattoos: Lost in Translation (Audio)

NPR ^ | January 11, 2006

[AnAmericanMother]

You beat me to it.

Some say he did it on purpose, just to get a laugh.

. . . that sounds like a CYA to me, though!

(and I've made enough mistakes in German to know!)

[pganini]

If the truth hurts, so be it.

I didn't say that ALL words are phonetically based. YOUR claim was MEIGUO = beautiful country. Which is TRUE ONLY in LITERAL translation, but it's actually based on PHONETIC translation originally. FA-Guo, or Frace, doesn't mean it's a LAWFUl country if you were so idiotic as to translate it literally. English may not use things phonetically, but all maps from China do, the only possible exception being countries that uses CHINESE characters, such as Japan.

No, I have stated MANY times that I am from Taiwan. In many threads people have asked me and I replied what it is. Never said I am from southern China. Maybe you mistaken it for someone else. But, my father is from Jiangsu province, so maybe that's where you get it from.

"Criticizing someone or a group of people does not make one a racist. I criticize Americans just as much and in the same manner"

I don't see the same on your blog. I see your hate filled shrill on it all the time on some daily nuisances living in China. And I have asked you on your blog -- if you hate it so much, then LEAVE! I don't see the same venom you have with Americans that you do with Chinese people in general. Compare to other ex-pat blogs, yours is the worst. Why don't you show your blog to your wife and the comments you make on her own people?

As far as me being a "shill" for the CCP. Why don't you ask your wife the following question:

"If Taiwan declares independence, what should China do? Would you support the CCP to attack Taiwan if Chen shui-bian declares independence?"

And

"If Taiwan declares independence and war breaks out and JAPAN attacks China, would you support the CCP?"

I smell a divorce coming for you once you hear her answers.

[Dr. Marten]

If the truth hurts, so be it.

 

You wouldn't know the truth if it snuk up and kicked you in the arse.

 

I didn't say that ALL words are phonetically based. YOUR claim was MEIGUO = beautiful country. Which is TRUE ONLY in LITERAL translation, but it's actually based on PHONETIC translation originally. FA-Guo, or Frace, doesn't mean it's a LAWFUl country if you were so idiotic as to translate it literally. English may not use things phonetically, but all maps from China do, the only possible exception being countries that uses CHINESE characters, such as Japan.

 

France? I never said anything about France. That is or should be an obvious phonetic translation.

 

Sorry to say, but I have several maps from China and every single one of them has labled America as "meiguo".

 

 

No, I have stated MANY times that I am from Taiwan. In many threads people have asked me and I replied what it is. Never said I am from southern China. Maybe you mistaken it for someone else. But, my father is from Jiangsu province, so maybe that's where you get it from.

 

I don't follow your posts except when they are directed towards me. I specifically asked you several times when we were debating the beer issue before which part of China you were from and you NEVER gave me a direct answer. Instead, you continually stated that you were from a city in the "southern part of China".  Perhaps it is you who has they short memory.

 

 

"Criticizing someone or a group of people does not make one a racist. I criticize Americans just as much and in the same manner"

 

I don't see the same on your blog. I see your hate filled shrill on it all the time on some daily nuisances living in China. And I have asked you on your blog -- if you hate it so much, then LEAVE! I don't see the same venom you have with Americans that you do with Chinese people in general. Compare to other ex-pat blogs, yours is the worst. Why don't you show your blog to your wife and the comments you make on her own people?

 

 

I guess you didn't read the post I had a couple of weeks ago ranting about the obesity in America? The truth is, I haven't been blogging much since I've returned to the US because I haven't had as much time.

 

Never once did I say I hated living in China. It's quite natural to rant about such annoyances as those I've posted on my site when you're living in a country that is so backwards as what you are accustomed to. I suggest you take a look at Talk Talk China or Peter's China blog. There's no shortage of Waiguoren who continually feel aggitated by the experiences encountered in China.

 

You want to talk about racism, you don't have the slightest idea until you've spent some time as a foreigner living in China, married to a Chinese woman. I can't even count the number of times that I and other foreigners have been referred to as a monkey. It's not uncommon at all for foreigners who are married to Chinese women to be assaulted in China. Hell, three Chinese businessmen attacked a foreigners (Chinese) wife while their buddies held him down. Then they sped off in a taxi.

 

 

As far as me being a "shill" for the CCP. Why don't you ask your wife the following question:

 

"If Taiwan declares independence, what should China do? Would you support the CCP to attack Taiwan if Chen shui-bian declares independence?"

 

And

 

"If Taiwan declares independence and war breaks out and JAPAN attacks China, would you support the CCP?"

 

Ha. Most Mainlanders don't even know the true history of their country. Therefore, they are unable to debate anything political with any measure of real authority. However, just for your information, my wife is neutral on the issue of Taiwan Independence.

 

As for Japan attacking China, get real. That will never happen unless China attacks first.

 

I smell a divorce coming for you once you hear her answers.

 

You know as much about my wife as you do me - nothing.

 

Now why not go back to justifying the communist governments torture of Falun Gong members.

[Paul Ross]

As far as me being a "shill" for the CCP. Why don't you ask your wife the following question:

You don't answer the question.

You try to duck and evade.

At this point, based on all the foregoing absurd positions you made backing the CCCP's tyranny, I am inclined to conclude you have been accurately "made".

Your cover has been blown.

[tallhappy]

"me" in america in English pronounciation = Mei in Chinese)

Me in english is the same sound as mi in Chinese.

Mei is like may in english.

[tallhappy]

In other words, they're all phonetic based

The meaning is somewhat relevant. The phonemes were chosen for the meaning of the character to some degree.

[tallhappy]

Notice how pganini gets very nasty?

[tallhappy]

CCP netagandists often claim to be from Taiwan.

[pganini]

How do you pronounce AMERICA? THe "ME" in AMERICA sounds like MEI. DUH!!!! It's phonetic based. Just like Fa-guo, De-Guo etc., all phonetic.

[Dr. Marten]

Yeah, I noticed that right off the bat.

He's a shill.

[Dr. Marten]

BTW, I challenge you to find ONE racist comment that I've made on my blog. You can't do it!

Criticizing someone's behavior, mannerisms or other social characteristics is not racism.

[pganini]

"Never once did I say I hated living in China. It's quite natural to rant about such annoyances as those I've posted on my site when you're living in a country that is so backwards as what you are accustomed to. I suggest you take a look at Talk Talk China or Peter's China blog. There's no shortage of Waiguoren who continually feel aggitated by the experiences encountered in China."

It's the way you address the people that you're so against. That's what racism is. If they feel agitated, they can leave, no one is forcing them to live there.

"Sorry to say, but I have several maps from China and every single one of them has labled America as "meiguo""

Again, Mei-Guo is phonetic based. America, the "ME" in America is MEI. If you don't get that, that's your problem. Meiguo is a short name for United States of America, there is a much longer official name for the USA in Chinese if you've ever bothered to look it up.


"I don't follow your posts except when they are directed towards me. I specifically asked you several times when we were debating the beer issue before which part of China you were from and you NEVER gave me a direct answer. Instead, you continually stated that you were from a city in the "southern part of China". Perhaps it is you who has they short memory."

Show me the post that i wrote where I said i am from southern China? Show it, or shut the f--k up.


"You want to talk about racism, you don't have the slightest idea until you've spent some time as a foreigner living in China, married to a Chinese woman. I can't even count the number of times that I and other foreigners have been referred to as a monkey. It's not uncommon at all for foreigners who are married to Chinese women to be assaulted in China. Hell, three Chinese businessmen attacked a foreigners (Chinese) wife while their buddies held him down. Then they sped off in a taxi."

If they are as racist as you are on your blog, then I can understand why people would do such things. Again, no one is forcing you to live there.

[LIConFem]

"What's Chinese for "Engrish?""

Ingrish.

[pganini]

Right, i suppose those caricatures in the early 1900'sof blacks aren't racist either, even though it's just making fun of someone's behavior or mannerism.

[tallhappy]

A - may - rica?

No.

Meiguo is phonetic, yes. But choosing which character that is pronounced mei was not random.

Faguo as well. Fa was chosen because of the law aspect.

[pganini]

"As for Japan attacking China, get real. That will never happen unless China attacks first."

If they get involved in the Taiwan issue by using military force, it's the same thing.

[pganini]

LOL!! Right, that's why they chose Fa-guo.

I suppose De-Guo is for MORAL country eh? Ever heard of DEUTSCHLAND? IT's phonetic, as close as you can get in Chinese.

[Junior_G]

Even more annoying than people getting Chinese tattoed on their body are the 5th-year philosophy majors who get Sanskrit tattoed on their body. You will never meet a more repulsively pretentious person in your life than someone with a Sanskrit tattoo.

[tallhappy]

de-guo (tekuo for people really from Taiwan) could be obtain country as in bude.

They chose the de they chose because it was nice.

It's phonetic, of course, but other considerations were involved.

It's OK. I know you are psychotic.

[Dr. Marten]

It's the way you address the people that you're so against. That's what racism is. 

 

Just what I thought, you have no idea what racism is. By your definition you're current attitude is also racist.

 

For your reference, racism is defined as:

 

A form of discrimination based on race, especially the belief that one race is superior to another.

 

If I called you a "Chink" or a "gook" or if I refused to do something for you that I would do for another person on the basis that you were Chinese, that would be racism. Criticising someone for their mannerisms, behavior or their poor hygeine is not racist.

 

Now. Put up or shut up. Point out where I have made racist comments on my blog. Without changing the definition of racism to fit your own agenda, you can't do it.

 

Again, Mei-Guo is phonetic based. America, the "ME" in America is MEI. If you don't get that, that's your problem. Meiguo is a short name for United States of America, there is a much longer official name for the USA in Chinese if you've ever bothered to look it up.

 

What I am saying is that you will not hear anyone in Mainland China speak or write anything other than Meiguo, nor have I seen it written in text any other way.

 

BTW, in a previous comment above you stated that I don't know as much about Chinese as I though and just for the record I would like to point out that I have never claimed to be an expert on the language at all. In fact, I stated that I'm only a 3rd year student in the language.


Show me the post that i wrote where I said i am from southern China? Show it, or shut the f--k up.

After taking the time to search for those comments, it seems that I did get it mixed up. You did state that you were from Taiwan, but you also said you had lived somewhere in southern China. You just never said where.


If they are as racist as you are on your blog, then I can understand why people would do such things. Again, no one is forcing you to live there.

 

WTF? You can understand why so many Chinese people are racist and assault Chinese women who are married to foreigners?

 

 

Incidentally, I notice that you seem to take a "racist" (by your definition) tone  with the majority of posters here on FR that make any criticisms on China. YOu also tend to act as if you're the only one who knows anything when it comes that topic.