Guest Harry_Mudd Posted March 15, 2004 at 02:28 AM Report Posted March 15, 2004 at 02:28 AM "Dad" I know baba is father, but what about Dad? I keep saying "Ni hao, dad" to the old geezer in my block, and "Ni Hao, baba" doesn't sound right. Quote
skylee Posted March 15, 2004 at 03:30 AM Report Posted March 15, 2004 at 03:30 AM Dad can be 爹 (die1), 爹爹 (die1 die), 老爹 (lao3 die1), or just 爸 (ba4). How about "Ni hao, lao yezi (老爺子)". Quote
pazu Posted March 15, 2004 at 12:36 PM Report Posted March 15, 2004 at 12:36 PM Nihao, old coconut! Quote
Quest Posted March 15, 2004 at 07:57 PM Report Posted March 15, 2004 at 07:57 PM I keep saying "Ni hao, dad" to the old geezer in my block, and "Ni Hao, baba" doesn't sound right. It sounds right. You can say "ba!" or "baba", or "Lao Ba", "ni hao" or not depends on how you two treat each other. "Diedie" which sounds like Daddy, is old fashioned(consider it "shakespearean" Chinese) and people don't use it anymore. Quote
geek_frappa Posted March 15, 2004 at 08:07 PM Report Posted March 15, 2004 at 08:07 PM Nihao, old coconut! or maybe try, wazzzzuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuup? Quote
林彪 Posted March 16, 2004 at 03:06 AM Report Posted March 16, 2004 at 03:06 AM If he wasn't actually your dad, I think you would say Ni hao, Lao daye (老大爺) Quote
smithsgj Posted March 16, 2004 at 06:34 AM Report Posted March 16, 2004 at 06:34 AM Well in Taiwan (here he goes again...) there's bobo for someone middle-aged, and beibei for someone older. Or could be theother way way round. No idea how to write these or whether they work in China. Oh and yeye.爺爺 But I think by the time you reach your mid-thirties (and I'm guessing Muddy has), you stop using these laoye, dad, grandpa type forms of address. Anyone? Quote
Quest Posted March 16, 2004 at 03:26 PM Report Posted March 16, 2004 at 03:26 PM Oh ic... somehow I think I read "in my block" as "in my back yard" sorry, yes you can call him 爷爷，if he's really really old. Or you can call him 伯伯, or even 大叔. I prefer 伯伯. Quote
Guest Harry_Mudd Posted March 17, 2004 at 08:09 AM Report Posted March 17, 2004 at 08:09 AM Thanks folks. Smithy, I like you. Next month I will be in my mid forties. Jesus that time flew! So anyone in Beijing want to Buy poor old Harry a beer? or twelve? Quote
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