I'm at somewhat of a disadvantage in the discussion of characters because my work computer can't read Chinese. I can read some characters, but here I can only see little weird squares : (
Quote:
Originally Posted by HansTWN
The word ghost carries only strong negative meanings, nothing positive about it.
That does not mean that every Hong Konger wants to insult Westerners. But it is an extreme example of insensitivity, so pervasive in a place that depends on tourist income, that the users don't even feel it is wrong.
So why is it better translated as "foreign devil" or "Western devil"? The term as is is only applied to Westerners, it would never be applied to a Japanese, Koreans, or South East Asians, for example. So it is the cultural back ground that implies the real meaning of "foreign devil". Sure, even the proper term for foreigners "外國人" can be used as an insult (just as in English you could say "oh those foreigners!") but it carries no inherent negative meaning, like the mentioned phrase.
Yes, in general, being a Westerner in Asia is quite a positive experience. Otherwise, how would I have stayed around for so long?
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It may seem strange that "old ghost" means "foreign devil," but we have to remember how flexible words can be. Teaching in China, it's hard to explain all the ways we use "up" in English: lock up, bring up a child, bring up a topic, set up a meeting, stop up a bottle, and of course, go up the stairs. Being called an old ghost may not seem particularly insulting, but the connotations of "ghost" in Chinese culture are different than in western culture. The Chinese are very superstitious about death and all things related to it.
Examples of other words with different connotations than in American culture: sweet potato means you're ditzy; bus, old shoe, or chicken mean you are what my mother would call a loose woman; and if you really want to piss someone off, call them a perineum.
I think any term that is used to separate people into groups, especially based on something like race or national origin, can be considered derogatory. It took me a long time in China to get over being called "foreigner." Children (and adults) shout it at you in the street, especially if you go where few white people have gone before. I usually ignore adults, but with children I point back at them and shout, "Chinese!"
And delphidb96, you can speak Chinese as incorrectly as you like. They won't mind, they just won't know what on earth you are saying. You can butcher English pretty bad and still be understood, but Chinese, with "no grammar" so many homonyms, and those frustrating tones, even a "small" mistake can render you unintelligible.