Chinese
Language Learning Program
Lesson
53 – Modest and honorific words
in Chinese (I)
Hello, everyone. Welcome back. This is Baixue’s Chinese
Language Learning Program. Last time, we learn a Chinese tongue twister. Today,
we will talk about some modest and honorific words in Chinese.
Some American friends asked me a question about why
Chinese people are not polite some times. For example, when they go to a restaurant,
they will say:” wǒ xiǎng yào yí gè hàn bǎo bāo. (我想要一个 汉堡包)” (I want to have a
hamburger.) My American friends will say just like this:“Could I have a
hamburger, please?”
Well, I have to say that this is only a Chinese talking habit. This does not mean
that Chinese people are not polite. They just do not know how to speak English
politely. But we do have a lot of modest and honorific words you may not know.
Ok, let’s talk about some of these Chinese modest and honorific words today. Some
of these words are used long
time ago, but we are still using them in
China now.
lìng zūn
令 尊 (your father)
zhè shì lìng zūn de dà bǐ.
这 是 令 尊 的 大 笔。
(This is your father's handwriting.)
lìng tang
令 堂 (your mother)
dài wǒ xiàng lìng táng wèn hòu，bié wàng le.
代 我 向 令 堂 问 候， 别 忘 了。
(Say hello to your mother for me, please don't forget it.)
jiǔ yǎng
久 仰 ( be very pleased to meet someone.) When you first time
meet someone, you say jiu yang.
jiǔ yǎng, jiǔ yǎng.
久 仰, 久 仰
(I have heard so much about you.)
jiǔ wé
久 违 (long time no see.)
hěn jiǔ méi jiàn miàn le, jiǔ wéi le.
很 久 没 见 面 了, 久 违 了。
(It is a long time since I saw you last.)
qiàn ān
欠 安 (not feeling well physically)
wǒ de péng yǒu men gào sù wǒ shuō nǐ jìn lái shēn tǐ
我 的 朋 友 们 告 诉 我 说 你 近 来 身 体
qiàn ān.
欠 安。
(My friends told me that you've been unwell.)
zhǐ jiào
指 教 (give advice or
comments.)
qǐng nín duō jiā zhǐ
jiào.
请 您 多 加 指 教。
(Kindly give us your
advice.)
bāo han
包 涵 (excuse, forgive)
yǒu shén me cuò wù，hái qǐng nǐ bāo hán.
有 什 么 错
误， 还 请
你 包 涵。
(Please excuse any mistakes there may
be.)
láo jià
劳 驾 (Excuse me；please)
láo jià bāng wǒ kàn
yī xià xíng lǐ, hǎo ma？
劳 驾 帮 我 看 一 下 行 李, 好 吗？
(Will you please keep
an eye on my luggage?)
jiè guāng
借 光 (excuse me; ask for help or favour; Please)
qǐng jiè guāng ràng
ràng lù！
请 借 光 让 让 路！
(Please make a way
for us.)
dǎ rǎo
打 扰 (bother; interrupt)
duì bù qǐ，dǎ rǎo nǐ yī xià，wǒ néng gēn nǐ tán yī
对 不 起，打 扰 你 一 下， 我 能 跟 你 谈 一
huì er ma？
会 儿 吗 ？
(I'm sorry to disturb you, but can I talk to you for a
moment?)
Ok, today’s idiom is
duì niú tán qín
对 牛 弹 琴
---means “play the lute to a cow; or cast [throw] pearls
before swine. -- to have [choose] the wrong audience or to waste one's effort.”
Ok, that is all for today.
xiè xiè!
谢 谢 ! (Thanks!)
xià cì jiàn
下 次 见! (See you next time!)
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