geek_frappa Posted March 23, 2004 at 01:19 PM Report Posted March 23, 2004 at 01:19 PM 你是什麼東西?? why does this start so many fights? what does it really mean? what is its origin? Quote
skylee Posted March 23, 2004 at 01:31 PM Report Posted March 23, 2004 at 01:31 PM Because it is rude. It means "What are you?" not "Who are you?" You don't call people 東西. A humorous way to say it could be "甚麼南北!?". Quote
39degN Posted March 23, 2004 at 01:31 PM Report Posted March 23, 2004 at 01:31 PM nothing, just some stuff like"who do you think you are" sure it will cause fighting. Quote
geek_frappa Posted March 23, 2004 at 01:36 PM Author Report Posted March 23, 2004 at 01:36 PM when is a justification for using this? Quote
39degN Posted March 23, 2004 at 01:39 PM Report Posted March 23, 2004 at 01:39 PM Mr. big tells his followers: 想跟我平起平坐，你是个什么东西！ Quote
geek_frappa Posted March 23, 2004 at 01:42 PM Author Report Posted March 23, 2004 at 01:42 PM Mr. big tells his followers:想跟我平起平坐，你是个什么东西！ 笑死了 Quote
39degN Posted March 23, 2004 at 01:45 PM Report Posted March 23, 2004 at 01:45 PM also, a pretty girl screaming to the poor guy who chasing her: 想追我？你是个什么东——西！ Quote
roddy Posted March 23, 2004 at 01:46 PM Report Posted March 23, 2004 at 01:46 PM I've also heard: 男人, 还能算是东西嘛? or something similar. As for the justification, only when you are want to start an argument, or have already started one and want to make it worse. Roddy Quote
39degN Posted March 23, 2004 at 01:50 PM Report Posted March 23, 2004 at 01:50 PM I've also heard:男人' date=' 还能算是东西嘛? or something similar. As for the justification, only when you are want to start an argument, or have already started one and want to make it worse. Roddy[/quote'] 呵呵, i believe that 's 男人最不是东西了！ro 男人没有一个好东西 but actually the one who says this herself is usually a "bad girl" Quote
geek_frappa Posted March 23, 2004 at 02:38 PM Author Report Posted March 23, 2004 at 02:38 PM wow! i didn't know it was so powerful... does DONGXI imply possession? or does it imply WORTHLESSNESS? Quote
skylee Posted March 23, 2004 at 03:02 PM Report Posted March 23, 2004 at 03:02 PM It means the person is not worthy of the status of "human". Derogative indeed. Quote
39degN Posted March 23, 2004 at 03:07 PM Report Posted March 23, 2004 at 03:07 PM wow! i didn't know it was so powerful... does DONGXI imply possession? or does it imply WORTHLESSNESS? yeah! it's powerful, but in this context, i dont think it imply possession or worthlessness actually sometimes the 不是东西means "mean", you are really not something(hehe not the opposite of "you are really something" in english) usually just means you are really mean=你真不是东西=你真不是人 it's so complex, i m afraid i cant explain it clearly, sometimes, IT used when A girl told you that she was raped by someone she and you familiar with: “怎么了你？” “XX他不是人” Quote
geek_frappa Posted March 23, 2004 at 03:15 PM Author Report Posted March 23, 2004 at 03:15 PM even if it is complex, feel free to untangle. i am very curious about this phrase... also, when i am asked, i should not answer. right? Quote
39degN Posted March 23, 2004 at 03:21 PM Report Posted March 23, 2004 at 03:21 PM even if it is complex' date=' feel free to untangle. i am very curious about this phrase...also, when i am asked, i should not answer. right? if i say, yes. i am a DONGXI?? if i say, no? does that mean lower than DONGXI?[/quote'] you dont have to answer this KIND of questions , the sentence is not a quest sentence,it's rhetorical question, and the intention is to insult you. you can just simply response" 你是个什么东西!" Quote
skylee Posted March 23, 2004 at 03:23 PM Report Posted March 23, 2004 at 03:23 PM "好東西! 要不要試試?" with a grin. Quote
39degN Posted March 23, 2004 at 03:25 PM Report Posted March 23, 2004 at 03:25 PM to answer this kind of questions, you can always copying the orignal sentence and stress at "you" to back to whom. Quote
39degN Posted March 23, 2004 at 03:27 PM Report Posted March 23, 2004 at 03:27 PM "好東西! 要不要試試?" with a bad[/color'] () grin. that's another and the original meaning of DONGXI Quote
Quest Posted March 23, 2004 at 03:33 PM Report Posted March 23, 2004 at 03:33 PM "好東西! 要不要試試?" with a bad[/color'] () grin. that's another and the original meaning of DONGXI Is it really the original meaning? *grins* Quote
39degN Posted March 23, 2004 at 03:37 PM Report Posted March 23, 2004 at 03:37 PM haha, up to your imagination! BTW, we have a lovely way to say dongxi is 东东, used by girls or the younger generation “有什么好东东？” “不告诉你！” Quote
roddy Posted March 23, 2004 at 03:42 PM Report Posted March 23, 2004 at 03:42 PM This is not a chat room. If you haven't got anything useful to add, don't add anything, or at least use the Chat and Language Exchange forum. Roddy PS I think some posts above were edited as I was typing and have become slightly more useful. However, I still mean it Quote
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