my favorite chinese words currently

February 13, 2008

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Back in the beginning of Chinese living, I knew very few words and phrases, and now a know a few more.

I will begin to present words and phrases one at a time, hopefully with an accompanying silly story.

Ni shi ar bai wu. This translates to “You are 250,” but it can also mean, “You are stupid.” When I was in the Shanghai airport, a group of taxi men arguing with us called me one, not expecting me to understand. Boy was he in for a surprise. I responded with a bombastic, “Wo bu shi ar bai wu. Ni shi ar bai wu. Ni shi sao.” This means, “I am not stupid. You are stupid. You are very stupid.”