edelweis Posted October 22, 2011 at 07:06 AM Report Share Posted October 22, 2011 at 07:06 AM imagine the goal is to entice Chinese tourists into talking to me - without saying that explicitly. (also imagine we're about to experience summer and not winter ) I could get t-shirts with 学习中文是我的爱好 or something... suggestions? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fanglu Posted October 22, 2011 at 07:46 AM Report Share Posted October 22, 2011 at 07:46 AM Writing something with a mistake in it might get people to point it out to you. Or at least something funny like I *heart* 北平 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kenny同志 Posted October 22, 2011 at 07:50 AM Report Share Posted October 22, 2011 at 07:50 AM The line you have come up with is long, and explicit with the word “中文” . If I were you, I would consider shorter, catchy phrases or nicknames. I recall there’s a guy called 白面书生 in a wuxia novel. Perhaps you’d like to put it on your T-shirt? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
imron Posted October 22, 2011 at 07:50 AM Report Share Posted October 22, 2011 at 07:50 AM 比 武 招 亲 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kenny同志 Posted October 22, 2011 at 07:52 AM Report Share Posted October 22, 2011 at 07:52 AM Just to add that the guy is a member of a think tank. I am sorry I don't know whether you're male or female. 白面书生 is a good name for a guy.：） Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hugh Posted October 22, 2011 at 08:03 AM Report Share Posted October 22, 2011 at 08:03 AM You do see quite a lot of people with t-shirts that say "请讲普通话". Then there's those cliched "老外来了 ／ 老外走了" ones, they still seem to get a few laughs, amazingly. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kenny同志 Posted October 22, 2011 at 08:28 AM Report Share Posted October 22, 2011 at 08:28 AM As the foreigners I have met are only a few, I have no idea how popular it is among them to wear a sign that reads 请讲普通话. I think, however, such a sign would spark interest in a lot of native speakers to strike up a small talk with the person wearing it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xiaocai Posted October 22, 2011 at 09:53 AM Report Share Posted October 22, 2011 at 09:53 AM 比武 招 亲 In that case you may want to prepare yourself really well, just in case the guy wins... 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MaLaTang Posted October 22, 2011 at 12:11 PM Report Share Posted October 22, 2011 at 12:11 PM write 'go easy on the 没有‘ that should attract some attention Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skylee Posted October 22, 2011 at 01:01 PM Report Share Posted October 22, 2011 at 01:01 PM Learn from this guy and consider 誠徵(男)朋友. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
imluffy Posted October 22, 2011 at 01:57 PM Report Share Posted October 22, 2011 at 01:57 PM 哈哈~ You can get T-shirt with 东方不败. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
creamyhorror Posted October 22, 2011 at 02:36 PM Report Share Posted October 22, 2011 at 02:36 PM 崇洋媚外 on the front, 反清复明 on the back. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guoke Posted October 22, 2011 at 02:38 PM Report Share Posted October 22, 2011 at 02:38 PM 请搭讪！ 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MaLaTang Posted October 22, 2011 at 05:14 PM Report Share Posted October 22, 2011 at 05:14 PM "国民党"...great conversation piece Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
edelweis Posted October 22, 2011 at 08:12 PM Author Report Share Posted October 22, 2011 at 08:12 PM hmmm thanks for the suggestions... I will need some explanations though... @fanglu: I'm missing the point, what is funny about "I *heart* 北平"? @kenny2006woo: I am female (an edelweiss is a flower - don't know many guys who select such a username...) @imron, xiaocai: I looked it up, don't think I'm game for that @EastAsiaStudent: hmm perhaps explicit is better. I don't think I will use the laowai one since in this instance the Chinese tourists (coming to Paris) are the foreigners... @MaLaTang: could you explain the first one ? I don't think I have enough political history knowledge and vocabulary to make use of your 2nd suggestion @creamyhorror: also probably too advanced for me @skylee: thanks, that photo was funny. I'll consider 诚招朋友. @imluffy: does this mean "Eastern countries are not defeated"? could you elaborate about the implications to Chinese people? @guoke: my colloquial Chinese is non-existent... I would undoubtedly be utterly defeated in an abuse exchange... although that could perhaps be useful at some point Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
imron Posted October 22, 2011 at 08:59 PM Report Share Posted October 22, 2011 at 08:59 PM Did you look up just the meaning, or any of the background behind it? It's basically from a famous scene in a well-known Wuxia novel that many Chinese know and love. I don't think anyone who saw such a t-shirt would take it seriously, but it would most definitely be a conversation starter, probably with most people wanting to know if you've read《射雕英雄传》. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kenny同志 Posted October 23, 2011 at 12:02 AM Report Share Posted October 23, 2011 at 12:02 AM Imron, 比武招亲 can be found in many wuxia novels/TV series/films. It’s not unique in 射雕英雄传. @edelwies 东方不败 is a widely known fictional character that originates from Louis Cha's 笑傲江湖 and whose 武功 is unrivaled in the world. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
imluffy Posted October 23, 2011 at 02:21 AM Report Share Posted October 23, 2011 at 02:21 AM @kenny2006woo You are right. But the most important thing is that 东方不败 is a man without genitals after he pratice the Kongfu of 葵花宝典。 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xiaocai Posted October 23, 2011 at 04:43 AM Report Share Posted October 23, 2011 at 04:43 AM I don't think anyone will be too keen to label themselves as "man without genital organ" though. There are many less offensive ways to strike up a conversation with a stranger... I think 誠徵朋友 or just 徵友 will be suitable for beginners. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
edelweis Posted October 23, 2011 at 03:04 PM Author Report Share Posted October 23, 2011 at 03:04 PM thanks for the explanations. Well I guess I need to read up and learn more before I can use most of these. Indeed skylee's suggestion is probably the most suitable one Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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