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Why do the Chinese like to have an English name.

Recently, someone asked me why the Chinese like to give themselves an English name, but Japanese don't do that. That's a good question. I would say because nowadays we are using an unique Latin character's spelling system called Pinyin in People Republic China. With Pinyin, a Westerner cannot pronounce the name correctly. Probably, you'll call Qian Xue as "Kian Zue", but the correct sounds like "Chan Shred", totally different, right? So, we have an English name for a Westerner pronouncing is the idea. Furthermore, I supposed Japanese name's Latin character's pronunciation are similar to English like "Yoko", so they don't have to take an English name instead of it. Does it make sense? Actually, prior to PRC being established, we had a Wade–Giles system which was widely used in here, with it Westerner could pronounce the name correctly, but unfortunately, it has been abolished half century ago in mainland China. However, you can still found it in Taiwan and Hongkong.

That's my point, what's your ideas?

February 19, 2014
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How to call Chinese name is appropriate in China, how about westerner?

Here in China, people always have names with two or three characters, each character having one syllable. If someone's name just with two characters you should call their entire name over.But if some's name with three characters, call their last two characters is considered in manners, For example: if someone is called Wang Bing, then you should address them as Wang Bing; if someone is called Wang Xiao Bing, then you should address that person as Xiao Bing. Or, you just call them their surname plus their job title, like Doctor Wang. Never do what they do in American television shows: don't call someone who's Chinese with a one syllable name like "Lee"," Sun" so on, because it's a little weird and seems like you don't respect others.

Let me explain to you more accurately why should call someone has a name with three characters just call last two. If you speak out entire three characters means formal or you'd like to emphasize your words to him. But if you speak out last two means between you two seems like more intimately. Particular in the meeting or working space people want to show their friendly to others. For example, Mao Ze Dong always call Deng Xiao Ping as Xiao Ping, if call him Deng Xiao Ping, There must be something wrong, then Deng Xiao Ping should be careful it. But if you are very closed and in your private space, call them either two words or three are OK.

Is there some hidden rules about how to call someone's name is properly in westerner's world?

August 8, 2013
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How westerner call Chinese is appropriate behavior in China. In my country, people are expected to never praise themselves, if you do that, it seems as if you are the person who doesn't have self-respect and lost dignity even like a joker. You are supposed to wait someone gives your compliment. This behavior could keep your modesty and everyone believes it's a virtue. Here, people always have two or three characters names and one character with one syllable, so when you have a meeting, make sure you always call them two syllables, if some's name with three syllable then you call the last two. Or, you just call them surname plus their job title, like Doctor Lee. Never do that like American's movies shows, call someone who's Chinese with one syllable like "Lee"," Sun" so on, it's a little weird and seems like don't respect others.
August 8, 2013
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Law of drunken driving Actually, a new law has been announced by traffic police department in our country. It's concerned about strict punishment for drunken driving; if someone drinks more than one bottle of beer, that guy might be thrown into detention house for a fortnight by testing with alcohol detectors. His license will be revoked as well. It's effective, but we still have lots of regulations nobody like to abide by; I know sometime they try to get away with the punishment. But I really think the traffic police should increase their patrol and heavily fine anyone who wants to against the law. Maybe it's too serious, but a good social order is always built by strict governance.
August 5, 2013
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A disaster I'd experienced First of all the follow text based on my true experience. On a day in the 2008, I was sat in my office. All of sudden the whole building started shaking. A couple of seconds later I realized that was an earthquake. So I hide under the desk as soon as I could. I couldn't imagine how big scale of that earthquake was, but the cutthroat shaking lasted several minutes, it was a really terrible experience, I thought I was going to die. After the shaking stopped, everybody went down to the street. It was an outrageous 8. 8 Richter scales earthquake, the epicentre only 100km far from my city which has millions of people live there, about hundred thousand people were killed. Even now, sometimes I feel shaking but it just caused by my heart beat, it's an earthquake aftermath.
August 5, 2013
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Get money from the bank Dear Sir and Madam, I'm writing for asking a loan from your bank to open a mortgage in order to purchase the flat which I'm currently renting. Owning a flat I will be able to receive more benefits than renting, not only to avoid currency inflation, but also this brings me a sense of stability. So, I deem that is a valuable property investment for the long run. I'd like to have an enclosed budget outline including my income, expenses and savings per month. My payment of the rent is $500 per month. I also put out $800 into a high interest savings account every month. As you see, my deposit adds up to $1300 in order to pay off loan, I suppose I can afford it. Please don't hesitate to contact me if you need more information, looking forward to hearing from you. Your sincerely!
May 17, 2013
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When politeness VS habit of ignorance China is a country with an ancient civilization, but nowadays a lot of rude behaviour happens often in anywhere. It is caused by urbanization process; lots of people moved into city from countryside; they don't know how people behave in cities, and don't respect others. For example, they play mahjong in the elevator lobby of my building, and when they are playing they talk loudly and smoke. Once I asked them they're expected to follow good manners in public; they were exasperated and said that's their habit and right. In my country, people are supposed to be more polite. I thought this change in civilization in the country will last for a couple of decades. It depends on mainly people's education level.
May 10, 2013
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“But I must see my doctor now!” Time: 10am Characters: You and the doctor’s receptionist Situation: You need to make an appointment for today to see your doctor because you’ve got a very bad cold. You want to see the doctor now because at 10.30am you are going bowling, then having a haircut, then having a sauna, and then having a romantic meal – all with different people A: "Excuse me. I know it is a bit short notice, but I have an extremely bad cold and I need to see the doctor immediately." B: "I am sorry, sir, but that will not be possible because all appointments are taken this morning. However, I could fit you in this afternoon at 2.30." A: "I'm sure the doctor won't take more than a couple of minutes to examine and give me a prescription for my cold. Isn't there anything that you can do to help me because I have a lot of appointments this after noon." B: "As I have explained, sir, it will not be possible to fit you in before 2.30, unless there has been a cancellation." A: "Has there been any cancellation?" B: "Unfortunately, no, sir. I would suggest that you tried to re-schedule your other appointments and that I fit you in at 2.30." I'm trying to re-schedule my other appointments A: "Hello, Lee, it's me Howell. How are you doing?" B: "Hello, Howell. You don't sound too good! What's up?" A: "Well, I've got a really bad cold and I'm at the doctor's surgery now and I'm hoping to get in to see the doctor in a few minutes." B: "Well, are you going to be able to make it to the bowling centre?" A: "Well, that is the reason why I'm phoning. I think I might have to take a raincheck. How about tomorrow?" B: "No, tomorrow's no good for me. I've got too much on at work tomorrow." A: "What about making another appointment when I get better?" B: "Ok, perhaps that will be best." A: "Excuse me. I've tried phoning all my friends to reschedule the appointment I have for today, but they are unable to reschedule. Could you possibly squeeze me in somewhere before 10.30? It really is urgent and I do have a bad cough." B: "Well, it does sound as if you have a bad cough, sir. Let me see if it would be possible for the doctor to see you as an emergency case." A: "Well, that would be great. I would be very grateful to you for anything you can do to help me." B: "Ok. Just a minute, sir while I check with one of the doctors. If you would just care to take a seat and I will get back to you in a minute." A: "Thank you very much, I really do appreciate your help." B: "I tell you what I will do."
May 9, 2013
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“Extra! Extra! Read all about it!” “Extra! Extra! Read all about it!” Place: A street in your town Time: 11.30am Characters: You and a newspaper seller Situation: You buy a newspaper from a small kiosk on the street. The seller gives you the wrong change for a five pound note Scenes: i) You buy the newspaper and discover the mistake ii) You challenge the seller but they refuse to accept that they have made a mistake iii) You decide to set up your own newspaper kiosk next to the seller’s and start a price war by selling your newspapers at a discount A: "Can you give me a copy of Le Monde, how much is it?" B: "Sure, One pound fifty, here you are." A: "Here's the money, thank you!." B: "You are welcome!" After a while A: "Excuse me, but I gave you a five pound note for this newspaper and you seem to have given me the wrong change." B: "No, sir, I don't think so! You gave me a five pound note and I gave you three pounds fifty change. I gave you a two pound coin, a one pound coin and a fifty pence." A: "Yeah, I gave you a five pound note and you gave me the change. I put the change in my pocket and looked at the headlines immediately. When I looked at my change, I saw that you had given me two one pound coins and a fifty pence piece. You gave me the wrong change. You still owe me another pound." B: "I don't think so. You gave me five pounds and I gave you three pounds fifty in change. I know I gave you a two pound coin because it was the last two pound coin I had." A: "I am afraid I don't have any two pound coin on me. I have just one pound coins." B: "You really should examine your change before you leave my stall. You can't expect me to recognise mistakes that happen away from my stall. There's nothing I can do to help you, sir." The seller turns away and said to another customer: "Sir, can I help you?." A: "You can't do that, you still owe me one pound. What are you going to do about it?" B: "There is nothing I can do about it. I have given you your change. You accepted and went away. If there had been a problem with the change, why didn't you tell me straightaway, instead of walking off?" A: "Well, if that's the way you want to play it, I will set up my own newspaper kiosk, right next to yours and I will undercut your prices. I tell you what I am going to do." B: "Are you crazy? What a stupid idea? Do you know anything about selling newspapers? Do you have a licence to sell newspapers? Do you think they let anybody sell newspapers? Do you can sell newspapers at whatever price
May 7, 2013
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Experienced an earth quake again A couple of weeks ago, one morning, when I had just got up and was sitting on the bed with my wife, I felt a slight swaying. Then I said "An earthquake is coming." My wife didn't believe. "I don't think so." she said. But, in just a while, the whole building was shaking very hard as I leapt out of bed. I took my wife into the bathroom, we couldn't think about anything; just wait till it stops, she cried. We both were terrified, and I thought again that I'm going to die. The earthquake went on for one minute; after it stopped, we went down to the garage as quickly as we could. Then we drove out of the building when someone was beeping nonstop behind my car. It was a 7.0 Richter scale earthquake I learned later; the epicentre was 120km from Chengdu. It killed 200 people, and about 10,000 people were hospitalized. A lesser than 8.8 Richter scale earthquake had happened here 5 years ago, and about 100 thousand people were killed in the big one.
May 6, 2013
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