VIP Class Notes (Lily)[R]

Vocabulary

1.weird= strange, 奇怪
ex: There’s a weird man looking at us, let’s run.
ex: “Is you bag real?” is a weird question.

2. rather= 宁可 宁愿，更准确的说
ex: I would rather go swimming with him. 我宁愿和他去游泳。
ex: I’d rather eat take-out everyday. 我宁可每天吃外卖。

3. being used =被利用
ex: You always ask me to translate things for you for free, I feel like I’m being used.
ex: When people use you, it means you still have values.

4. make good money= make lots of money
ex: Lawyers make good money.
ex: Entrepreneurs make good money. 

5. benefits= good sides 好处
ex: What are the benefits in learning English? It’s easier to get a promotion.
ex: There are many benefits in swimming.

6. good deal=划算
ex: I only bought the Lady Dior for 16000 rmb. “Wow, that’s a good deal!”
ex: You got the computer for a good deal!

7. private= 私人的
ex: I used to go to private school. 我曾经／以前去私立学校
ex: This is my privacy， I need some private space/time.  这是我的隐私。我需要私人空间。

8. ripped off= 被坑了
ex: You bought this shirt for 800 rmb? You got ripped off!

Reading

https://www.echinacities.com/expat-corner/6-Things-for-Chinese-People-to-Avoid-When-Making-Friends-with-Foreigners

1. Don’t ask if you can be friends

This kind of directness when applied to friendship seems weird to foreigners and is too much of an initial commitment before we get to know you. That kind of candor can scare the laowai away, as friendship to us is not something that you vocally agree on, but rather something that is built over time.

2. Don’t ask if you can practice your English with us

This kind of transactional-like approach can simply make your target feel like they’re being used. Remember that foreigners in China can make good money giving simple conversation classes, so most will see no benefit in chatting with you simply so you can improve your English. Ask if they want to have a coffee or a drink sometime instead. You’ll still get to practice your English, but you might make a genuine friend, too!

3. Don’t ask us about money

While it’s very common to talk about money in China, this is a big no-no in Western cultures. We feel quite uncomfortable when asked about our salaries or how much we paid for something, unless we got an amazing deal, of course. To most of us, our salaries and how much rent we pay are private matters, so we will either refuse to answer or lie, probably quoting a lower figure. It’s embarrassing for us if a Chinese person thinks we’re overpaid, rich or being ripped off.