Comments on: A “foreigner” in my own country, “yellow” people, and other funny Chinese racial talk http://chinahopelive.net/2009/04/12/a-foreigner-in-my-own-country-yellow-people-and-other-funny-chinese-racial-talk A cross-cultural adventure with the personal side of China. Mon, 13 Feb 2012 06:34:37 +0000 hourly 1 By: Anise http://chinahopelive.net/2009/04/12/a-foreigner-in-my-own-country-yellow-people-and-other-funny-chinese-racial-talk/comment-page-1#comment-54400 Anise Sat, 22 Oct 2011 11:56:22 +0000 http://chinahopelive.net/?p=3232#comment-54400 I used to get called 鬼佬 all the time Shen Zhen... but there's an interesting phenomenon that happens there. Most of the city speaks Mandarin because of the number of migrants from other parts of the country, but most people swear or speak colloquialisms in Cantonese. People who called me Guai Lo did so in Cantonese either in a friendly context (much like I assume teenage girls lovingly refers to their girlfriends as "bitches") or in a very rude context. Thus, the intent of the person was quite clear :) I still love Cantonese swearing, it's the funniest thing I've ever had the pleasure of learning. I used to get called 鬼佬 all the time Shen Zhen… but there’s an interesting phenomenon that happens there. Most of the city speaks Mandarin because of the number of migrants from other parts of the country, but most people swear or speak colloquialisms in Cantonese. People who called me Guai Lo did so in Cantonese either in a friendly context (much like I assume teenage girls lovingly refers to their girlfriends as “ ”) or in a very rude context. Thus, the intent of the person was quite clear :)

I still love Cantonese swearing, it’s the funniest thing I’ve ever had the pleasure of learning.

]]> By: Jack http://chinahopelive.net/2009/04/12/a-foreigner-in-my-own-country-yellow-people-and-other-funny-chinese-racial-talk/comment-page-1#comment-52273 Jack Wed, 14 Sep 2011 05:22:59 +0000 http://chinahopelive.net/?p=3232#comment-52273 I think the main thing to understand about Chinese and "racism" is the intent, or almost everything you need to understand about China is about "intent". As you pointed out, Chinese interpretation of racism is that of the "Nazi" or extremist - because that's what they know INSIDE China. If you ask Chinese expat what racism is (who has live oversea for extended period) they will have a different interpretation I guarantee. The fundamental thing here is Chinese judge things through people's intention - is it malice? or is it innocent slip up? or is it genuine concern? I think the main thing to understand about Chinese and “racism” is the intent, or almost everything you need to understand about China is about “intent”. As you pointed out, Chinese interpretation of racism is that of the “Nazi” or extremist – because that’s what they know INSIDE China. If you ask Chinese expat what racism is (who has live oversea for extended period) they will have a different interpretation I guarantee. The fundamental thing here is Chinese judge things through people’s intention – is it malice? or is it innocent slip up? or is it genuine concern?

]]> By: Joel 大江 http://chinahopelive.net/2009/04/12/a-foreigner-in-my-own-country-yellow-people-and-other-funny-chinese-racial-talk/comment-page-1#comment-51432 Joel 大江 Wed, 31 Aug 2011 22:40:20 +0000 http://chinahopelive.net/?p=3232#comment-51432 I've never heard of people thinking that "外国人" is an insulting term, though I have heard people being annoyed at the way it is shouted sometimes (although personally, think foreigners are sometimes too sensitive). I get mixed answers Chinese people about "老外", however. As for the “owning the world" comment-- that's mostly a joke about China's growing power as a nation and the idea that the Chinese civilization is the greatest ever and the natural central peak of the human development. I’ve never heard of people thinking that “外国人” is an insulting term, though I have heard people being annoyed at the way it is shouted sometimes (although personally, think foreigners are sometimes too sensitive). I get mixed answers Chinese people about “老外”, however. As for the “owning the world” comment– that’s mostly a joke about China’s growing power as a nation and the idea that the Chinese civilization is the greatest ever and the natural central peak of the human development.

]]> By: Spencer http://chinahopelive.net/2009/04/12/a-foreigner-in-my-own-country-yellow-people-and-other-funny-chinese-racial-talk/comment-page-1#comment-50925 Spencer Mon, 22 Aug 2011 23:07:48 +0000 http://chinahopelive.net/?p=3232#comment-50925 About the "waiguoren" issue; it's not a Middle Kingdom Syndrome. We tend to call anyone outside of China "waiguoren", particularly if/especially when we don't know their racial ethnicity. And "waiguoren" should be taken as meaning "people outside of the country(china)". It's a casual umbrella term that clearly describes those who are not(or do not look) chinese. It's not an insulting term, either, unless one would prefer to be described by their race (as Americans and other countries favor). There's no belief in owning the world involved, frankly. About the “waiguoren” issue; it’s not a Middle Kingdom Syndrome. We tend to call anyone outside of China “waiguoren”, particularly if/especially when we don’t know their racial ethnicity. And “waiguoren” should be taken as meaning “people outside of the country(china)”. It’s a casual umbrella term that clearly describes those who are not(or do not look) chinese. It’s not an insulting term, either, unless one would prefer to be described by their race (as Americans and other countries favor). There’s no belief in owning the world involved, frankly.

]]> By: Hei Gui (BLACK Devil!) Shuai Rang http://chinahopelive.net/2009/04/12/a-foreigner-in-my-own-country-yellow-people-and-other-funny-chinese-racial-talk/comment-page-1#comment-12757 Hei Gui (BLACK Devil!) Shuai Rang Wed, 10 Mar 2010 19:24:57 +0000 http://chinahopelive.net/?p=3232#comment-12757 What is racism? I am still trying to formulate a definition. I think this could be part of the problem. Of course there are the extreme cases in which people get lynched and stuff like that. But don't you think perhaps we are all prejudiced to some extent. I am trying hard to be objective. I mean I live in a country in Africa (not the country -Africa) in which I get segregated by different tribes for example. And sometimes I'll ignore a remark about white people or Asians because I have come to feel that all people are to a degree prejudiced. There is the form of prejudice though that shows that the exhibitor lacks any kind of critical thinking tools. I have experienced prejudice in Europe, but it was quite different from the kind in Asia. Europeans will say something like "So, how long have you been a refugee here?" Funny stuff like that!(Funny because I probably made more money than them). And they would say it out of genuine concern for my financial status and whether I was getting enough to eat and such. Nice people really, just pre-judgmental. In my country people think most Chinese know Gong Fu. I might have been a victim to that kind of misconception too at some point to really ubsurd stuff like Chinese are canibals. Living in China I got a tremendous variety of receptions from different people. I one met the mayor of a certain town while I was teaching English, not that I am any good at the language. It was holiday season and most of the white people had gone on holiday (from the University). Some people would crowd around me and watch in amazment as I haggled for things in the market. They would want to touch my hair and see if they could wipe the dark colour off my skin. The problems would arise mostly when I would take walks with female Chinese. Usually they would insult the girl instead of me. Once I was walking hand in hand with two blond friends and they just could not believe it. Bikes would crash into them. It simply did not make sense to them that two blonds could be in the company of a 黑鬼(Black Devil). We literally causes a bicycle pile up! Then a company I worked with took me on a clearly planned visit to a brothel, had all the girls line up, and when I declined they were astonished, as though I was disproving some well know fact that black people never say know to sex, much less when its free and you can choose lol... Then there's the Mao Tai ceremony in which you have to drink a tea cup of 60% or something jin (bai jiu) with every official. Thats crazy, and there's no excuse that will suffice! I love China and cant wait to go back! What is racism? I am still trying to formulate a definition. I think this could be part of the problem. Of course there are the extreme cases in which people get lynched and stuff like that. But don’t you think perhaps we are all prejudiced to some extent. I am trying hard to be objective.

I mean I live in a country in Africa (not the country -Africa) in which I get segregated by different tribes for example. And sometimes I’ll ignore a remark about white people or Asians because I have come to feel that all people are to a degree prejudiced. There is the form of prejudice though that shows that the exhibitor lacks any kind of critical thinking tools.

I have experienced prejudice in Europe, but it was quite different from the kind in Asia. Europeans will say something like “So, how long have you been a refugee here?” Funny stuff like that!(Funny because I probably made more money than them). And they would say it out of genuine concern for my financial status and whether I was getting enough to eat and such. Nice people really, just pre-judgmental.

In my country people think most Chinese know Gong Fu. I might have been a victim to that kind of misconception too at some point to really ubsurd stuff like Chinese are canibals.

Living in China I got a tremendous variety of receptions from different people. I one met the mayor of a certain town while I was teaching English, not that I am any good at the language. It was holiday season and most of the white people had gone on holiday (from the University).

Some people would crowd around me and watch in amazment as I haggled for things in the market. They would want to touch my hair and see if they could wipe the dark colour off my skin.

The problems would arise mostly when I would take walks with female Chinese. Usually they would insult the girl instead of me. Once I was walking hand in hand with two blond friends and they just could not believe it. Bikes would crash into them. It simply did not make sense to them that two blonds could be in the company of a 黑鬼(Black Devil). We literally causes a bicycle pile up!

Then a company I worked with took me on a clearly planned visit to a brothel, had all the girls line up, and when I declined they were astonished, as though I was disproving some well know fact that black people never say know to sex, much less when its free and you can choose lol…

Then there’s the Mao Tai ceremony in which you have to drink a tea cup of 60% or something jin (bai jiu) with every official. Thats crazy, and there’s no excuse that will suffice!

I love China and cant wait to go back!

]]> By: Free Baby Accessories, compliments of Tianjin & the One Child Policy | China Hope Live http://chinahopelive.net/2009/04/12/a-foreigner-in-my-own-country-yellow-people-and-other-funny-chinese-racial-talk/comment-page-1#comment-9639 Free Baby Accessories, compliments of Tianjin & the One Child Policy | China Hope Live Tue, 15 Dec 2009 02:17:35 +0000 http://chinahopelive.net/?p=3232#comment-9639 [...] A “foreigner” in my own country, “yellow” people, and other funny Chinese racial talk ~ Discuss (0) ~ [...] [...] A “foreigner” in my own country, “yellow” people, and other funny Chinese racial talk ~ Discuss (0) ~ [...]

]]> By: Random snippets of Chinese conversation overheard in Vancouver (Do laowai have big heads?) | China Hope Live http://chinahopelive.net/2009/04/12/a-foreigner-in-my-own-country-yellow-people-and-other-funny-chinese-racial-talk/comment-page-1#comment-7152 Random snippets of Chinese conversation overheard in Vancouver (Do laowai have big heads?) | China Hope Live Mon, 21 Sep 2009 19:13:55 +0000 http://chinahopelive.net/?p=3232#comment-7152 [...] else: when to meet or where to go or what to eat, etc. But occasionally you get funny stuff like, “Those foreigners are speaking Chinese!” (referring to us, and I’m a white Vancouverite born and raised), Mandarin radio [...] [...] else: when to meet or where to go or what to eat, etc. But occasionally you get funny stuff like, “Those foreigners are speaking Chinese!” (referring to us, and I’m a white Vancouverite born and raised), Mandarin radio [...]

]]> By: Joel http://chinahopelive.net/2009/04/12/a-foreigner-in-my-own-country-yellow-people-and-other-funny-chinese-racial-talk/comment-page-1#comment-6888 Joel Tue, 08 Sep 2009 22:45:32 +0000 http://chinahopelive.net/?p=3232#comment-6888 Ha, I can totally see that happening, including the family getting a kick out of calling each other foreign devils. In two years in Tianjin I don't think I ever overheard anyone using 洋鬼子, but my teachers said there are lots of terms for foreigners that Chinese people use among themselves but not with us - I forget which ones she told me about... 黄毛儿 may have been a local one, but I don't remember. My Chinese boss in Vancouver used 洋人 with me. Ha, I can totally see that happening, including the family getting a kick out of calling each other foreign devils.

In two years in Tianjin I don’t think I ever overheard anyone using 洋鬼子, but my teachers said there are lots of terms for foreigners that Chinese people use among themselves but not with us – I forget which ones she told me about… 黄毛儿 may have been a local one, but I don’t remember. My Chinese boss in Vancouver used 洋人 with me.

]]> By: Soon to be http://chinahopelive.net/2009/04/12/a-foreigner-in-my-own-country-yellow-people-and-other-funny-chinese-racial-talk/comment-page-1#comment-6882 Soon to be Mon, 07 Sep 2009 23:44:16 +0000 http://chinahopelive.net/?p=3232#comment-6882 I had a buddy taking the train from Beijing to Russia to take the Trans-Siberian home to Europe. He was stuck in a soft sleeper with his buddy and a Chinese family. He speaks great Chinese and his buddy....none. The Chinese family was going on and on about "the foreigner does this and the foreigner does that" and they even dropped the "<span class="info" title="洋鬼子 - 'foreign devil'">Yángguǐzi</span>" (sorry, no Chinese input on this computer) bomb a couple of times. So, Cheap vodka got the better of my buddy and he just sat there waiting for the border. As soon as they crossed he jumped and addressed the family in Chinese for the first time by saying "Ha, We're in Russia now! You guys are now foreign devils too!". This then took a tonne of explaining but he said once the smoke cleared the Chinese family actually got a kick out of it and started referring to each other as "foreign devils". I had a buddy taking the train from Beijing to Russia to take the Trans-Siberian home to Europe. He was stuck in a soft sleeper with his buddy and a Chinese family. He speaks great Chinese and his buddy….none. The Chinese family was going on and on about “the foreigner does this and the foreigner does that” and they even dropped the “Yángguǐzi” (sorry, no Chinese input on this computer) bomb a couple of times. So, Cheap vodka got the better of my buddy and he just sat there waiting for the border. As soon as they crossed he jumped and addressed the family in Chinese for the first time by saying “Ha, We’re in Russia now! You guys are now foreign devils too!”. This then took a tonne of explaining but he said once the smoke cleared the Chinese family actually got a kick out of it and started referring to each other as “foreign devils”.

]]> By: Danni http://chinahopelive.net/2009/04/12/a-foreigner-in-my-own-country-yellow-people-and-other-funny-chinese-racial-talk/comment-page-1#comment-6860 Danni Sat, 05 Sep 2009 02:56:59 +0000 http://chinahopelive.net/?p=3232#comment-6860 Before I moved to China with my Chinese boyfriend and we were living in the UK, we would go to a chinese buffet restaurant occasionally. Half of the restaurant was an all you can eat with anglicised chinese dishes and the other half was hot pot. The hot pot section was always filled with Chinese international students and chinese expats my boyfriend said to me"foreigners don't eat here, you are the only foreigner eating hot pot". I reminded him that I am not the foreigner in my home country. :) I hate how waiguoren is always translated to foreigner in English. "Foreign" means something that is in a place where it should not be, for example, foreign body. It is a word loaded with hatred. Overseas is the better translation. I am offended each time I arrive at Pudong airport and have to queue at the foreigners aisle. Anywhere else in the world it would be foreign/ overseas nationals. Before I moved to China with my Chinese boyfriend and we were living in the UK, we would go to a chinese buffet restaurant occasionally. Half of the restaurant was an all you can eat with anglicised chinese dishes and the other half was hot pot. The hot pot section was always filled with Chinese international students and chinese expats my boyfriend said to me”foreigners don’t eat here, you are the only foreigner eating hot pot”. I reminded him that I am not the foreigner in my home country. :)
I hate how waiguoren is always translated to foreigner in English. “Foreign” means something that is in a place where it should not be, for example, foreign body. It is a word loaded with hatred. Overseas is the better translation. I am offended each time I arrive at Pudong airport and have to queue at the foreigners aisle. Anywhere else in the world it would be foreign/ overseas nationals.

]]>