Comments on: HAA-LOW!!!

By: Limin

Limin — Wed, 05 Sep 2007 11:41:58 +0000

I’m a teacher of English. After reading your blog, I really feel there’s a wide cultural gap between us.Suppose I stay abroad, it’s Ok to hear”nihao”.

By: LT

LT — Sun, 15 Jul 2007 12:13:09 +0000

I thought the comment from James was really interesting as well. He describes various sides of this, how other Chinese would also not appreciate it, the combination of guts and insecurity that makes someone shout it out, and such.

Ben makes some nice differentiation about the various motivations of people, noting the particularly “not really friendly” aspect of this kind of hello, it is definitely a mocking sort of hello, if I might add a little bit of comparison:

In the U.S. upon seeing a person who appears Asian, white persons react in various ways.

1. No real reaction, no biggie, yah so.
2. Notices, ya so, what’s it got to do with anything, cool.
3. Are you from China, I just got back from Beijing. 真觉得不错，有多变化。
4. Ni hao, are you from Japan?
5. Qingchong qing Chinaman!

Ben’s talking about number five. Just like in the U.S., the same varieties exist in China aka U.S. 20 years ago, or whenever ago, and still in some parts. IMO

By: Shanghai Roundeye

Shanghai Roundeye — Mon, 28 May 2007 13:04:58 +0000

Nice article. It happens once in a while here in Shanghai but usually not downtown. Its mostly down some alley or side street. My friends and I have pondered the same question of “Is it mocking or not?” for quite a while now. I don’t mind shy children trying out the English they just learned in class but I do hate it when some punk thinks he’s funny by making you turn your head when he shouts to you. Thanks for the Chinese tip of saying “gan ma”. My Mandarin is pretty rough and that seems to be a better way of replying than “chi wo de ji ba!”. Did I even spell that right? You get the idea.

By: Shopgirl's Shanghai blog

Shopgirl's Shanghai blog — Tue, 22 May 2007 15:45:57 +0000

Has happened several times that people say ni hao to me in Sweden, mostly other foreigners in Sweden though.

By: Malcolm

Malcolm — Sun, 20 May 2007 14:09:28 +0000

> To put it simply, it would be like me walking around the streets in Kansas > City, and whenever I see a Chinese person (or any Asian for that matter) > yelling “Chinaman” at them. I’m sure this has happened at points in
> US history.

Ben: The US equivalent “greeting” is “ching chang chong”. I got it two months ago in NYC (5th Ave.).

By: Jeremy

Jeremy — Mon, 07 May 2007 09:51:33 +0000

yeah, a hell lot of chinese do pronounce hello kinda like hollow.

By: James G

James G — Thu, 26 Apr 2007 07:53:14 +0000

Living in Beijing I don’t get haa-loowed very often, but it does happen, especially by tubers (tubaozi) who have just come in from the countryside for the first time. I don’t usually react verbally unless it’s clear that the guy is trying to get points from his friends at my expense, in which case I casually say 班门弄斧. This way they realize not only that the laowai speaks Chinese, but speaks well enough to know 成语, and they start laughing at the haa-lower. Petty–sure, but it makes me feel better.

By: Benjamin Ross

Benjamin Ross — Wed, 21 Mar 2007 14:57:20 +0000

Actually, I have come up with a new strategy in dealing with the “hello’s.” Now when people do it to me (assuming they are mocking) I turn around and stare at them open-mouthed as if I have never seen a Chinese person before. This strategy turns the tables quite nicely and seems to be pretty effective.

By: John B

John B — Tue, 13 Mar 2007 12:01:04 +0000

James,

如果骚扰老外是一种表示胆量的方法，那么这些流氓真是太可怜了。一般他们并不是“在一个老外面前班门弄斧”，而是是等我们过去了再喊起来。那算什么胆量？

By: Michael O

Michael O — Sun, 04 Mar 2007 17:15:19 +0000

Hi Ben-

FABULOUSLY FUNNY BLOG-
The descriptions are over the top funny and great material for a comic or even a scene in a childrens musical.

The first culture to find a kosher pig will win..

Your top 10 list is GREAT!

Keep in touch and let me know when you will be back on this side of the world.
Michael O