Does English have this feature as Chinese does?
In Chinese there are a variety of words we should never or manage to avoid to use. For example, there is a word that has three definitions.
1. grandfather;
2. a woman's father in law;
3. used to adress an eunuch, which is quite offensive in Chinese culture.
Although this word originally has the first two definitions, and is neutral, after the emergence of the third definition, people seldom use it.
Another example is the word which have the following to definitions:
1. to receive a guest;
2. used by prostitutes, meaning to trade sex for cash.
Does English have a similar feature? Should we avoid using some words because of their definitions that are confusing or offensive?
Search from various English teachers...
Answers · 13
3
Oh, while I was still typing, Sivaprasad Nair used the answer I was going to give about gay.
Well, let me amend my post and point out another one. The word cock is a good example, I'd say.
It means a rooster, but the second meaning is about male genitalia. So for that reason, it is good to say "rooster" and avoid using cock.
1
Actually, apart from the other suggestions, the word "oral" also comes to mind! Conversely, some fairly harsh words have been given a soft meaning in some versions of English.
1
fanny(female name and A North American term for the buttocks); fag (cigarette and American English slur for a gay or effeminate man)
1
Yes, indeed, the same feature exists in English. There are hundreds of such words. In some contexts the words are perfectly innocent. In other contexts, the words are crude, sexual or insulting. In some instances, the "improper" meaning has become predominate, so people avoid using the word in their other, "proper", meaning.
1
Yes. there are many. An example is GAY. It was originally used to mean happy, but now is more often used to mean a homosexual man. "Happy and gay" used to be an often used phrase, not it is not used much :D
ASS is another such word. Originally meant to be a donkey, it has begun to be used as another version of ARSE. So, it is not used much. Though as an insult both go well.
and then there are autoantonyms, the words that mean both the good and the bad, maybe the opposites. Take a look here :
http://www.fun-with-words.com/nym_autoantonyms.html
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