What Is Said But Not Meant （言不由衷）

The other day a friend of mine let me know that he had a wonderful business meeting with his prospective British customer. "Wonderful how?" I was curious. At lightning speed he cited the Briton's "encouraging" remarks which were remarkably discouraging if truth be told. Of course, I told him the truth. He is a good-sized adult. 

(B=Briton T=Truth A=American)

1.

B: With the greatest respect...

T: You are a dummy.

A: He is listening to me.

2.

B: That is a very valorous move.

T: You are insane. 

A: He thinks I have the guts.

3.

B: Oh, by the way...

T: It is very important for me to...

A: It is not very important for him to...

4.

B: Very interesting. 

T: That is clearly nonsense. 

A: He is impressed. 

5.

B: You must come for dinner. 

T: It isn't an invitation. I'm just being polite. 

A: I'll get an invitation soon. 

If an American could get a Briton so wrong, it's little wonder why China and Britain went to war with each other in 1839, when so much had been lost in translation. 

Author: Ren Qiulan 

 

 

 

 

所有跟帖： 

• 言不由衷。口講一套，心講另一套。美國人聽不出英國人的弦外之音。哈哈！現在忙一點，容後再賞。 -LYJiang- ♂ (0 bytes) () 01/27/2023 postreply 12:25:14

• 感謝Jiang 先生！好的，晚一點談談。 -renqiulan- ♂ (0 bytes) () 01/27/2023 postreply 12:29:16

• 中國人比較“言不由衷”，搶付餐費時候。。。。。。。 -lovecat08- ♀ (0 bytes) () 01/27/2023 postreply 12:28:04

• 美國人比較“開門見山”，付餐費時，自然AA 製。。。。。。 -lovecat08- ♀ (0 bytes) () 01/27/2023 postreply 12:29:29

• Right, Americans prefer to go Dutch. -renqiulan- ♂ (0 bytes) () 01/27/2023 postreply 13:15:23

• 謝謝愛貓板主！你說的情況，我在香港的“茶樓”見過。不過，與其說華人“言不由衷”，倒不如說華人重視人情世故吧。 -renqiulan- ♂ (0 bytes) () 01/27/2023 postreply 12:31:50

• 跟麵子更有關係吧。 -LYJiang- ♂ (0 bytes) () 01/27/2023 postreply 13:22:42

• 失麵子也就是失禮？我在香港目睹過不少“海派”埸麵，一個人付上一席，包括小費在內，麵不改容。 -renqiulan- ♂ (0 bytes) () 01/27/2023 postreply 13:27:51

• （充）當大老板嘛！ -LYJiang- ♂ (0 bytes) () 01/27/2023 postreply 13:29:26

• 老板或老闆，香港人稱之為老細，或大佬，或大老細。很有江湖風味。 -renqiulan- ♂ (0 bytes) () 01/27/2023 postreply 13:32:27

• 洋君頗有港氣。稍後再談。 -LYJiang- ♂ (0 bytes) () 01/27/2023 postreply 13:34:24

• 好的。 -renqiulan- ♂ (0 bytes) () 01/27/2023 postreply 13:56:52

• 香港黑社會當道，成龍，劉德華請客是豪爽頂天啊！ -lovecat08- ♀ (0 bytes) () 01/27/2023 postreply 13:35:55

• 恕我不敢茍同。古今中外，五湖四海，都有黑道，卻不一定當道。不看成龍，隻欣賞華仔粵片“天若有情”。最喜星爺的原莊港粵笑片。 -renqiulan- ♂ (0 bytes) () 01/27/2023 postreply 13:48:18

• 香港人吃席前，都有安排客人先打2小時的麻將，現在還如此嗎？ -lovecat08- ♀ (0 bytes) () 01/27/2023 postreply 13:33:24

• 打麻將或打麻雀，我是敬而遠之的，太吵耳了，髒話又多，“頂唔順”。香港人做老細喚作“我出雞”，由他人付小費喚作“你出豉油” -renqiulan- ♂ (0 bytes) () 01/27/2023 postreply 13:43:02

• If someone responded your topic with one word “Interesting “ -changjia- ♀ (68 bytes) () 01/27/2023 postreply 14:00:58

• Thanks! It's a compliment regardless of the subtext. -renqiulan- ♂ (0 bytes) () 01/27/2023 postreply 14:27:23

• 有時候對方不同意你的說法；有時候對方不知如何回答；有時候可能確實有趣；都適用interesting。 -梧桐之丘- ♂ (0 bytes) () 01/27/2023 postreply 15:09:27

• 謝謝梧桐版主！ -renqiulan- ♂ (0 bytes) () 01/27/2023 postreply 15:46:02

• The Brit responded to my pal in a specific CONTEXT. -renqiulan- ♂ (0 bytes) () 01/27/2023 postreply 22:07:58

• 翻譯1）聽者隻按照自己的意願理解並翻譯成自己所願意接受的意思；2）雞同鴨講現在依然是！ -梧桐之丘- ♂ (0 bytes) () 01/27/2023 postreply 15:06:28

• I know where he comes from. So why not play it cool? -renqiulan- ♂ (0 bytes) () 01/27/2023 postreply 15:38:45

• Just let my friend know the world is far from Americanized. -renqiulan- ♂ (0 bytes) () 01/27/2023 postreply 15:43:27

• 洋君果然是個諫友。我覺得，不少美國人放眼著美國，不太多美國人放眼看世界。當然，仍比某‘’未來超級大國‘’更宏觀天下。 -LYJiang- ♂ (0 bytes) () 01/27/2023 postreply 16:25:02

• 先生說的有道理。謝謝！ -renqiulan- ♂ (0 bytes) () 01/27/2023 postreply 16:29:02