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。口讲一套，心讲另一套。美国人听不出英国人的弦外之音。哈哈！现在忙一点，容后再赏。 -LYJiang- ♂ (0 bytes) () 01/27/2023 postreply 12:25:14

• 感谢Jiang 先生！好的，晚一点谈谈。 -renqiulan- ♂ (0 bytes) () 01/27/2023 postreply 12:29:16

• 中国人比较“言不由衷”，抢付餐费时候。。。。。。。 -lovecat08- ♀ (0 bytes) () 01/27/2023 postreply 12:28:04

• 美国人比较“开门见山”，付餐费时，自然AA 制。。。。。。 -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

• 谢谢爱猫板主！你说的情况，我在香港的“茶楼”见过。不过，与其说华人“言不由衷”，倒不如说华人重视人情世故吧。 -renqiulan- ♂ (0 bytes) () 01/27/2023 postreply 12:31:50

• 跟面子更有关系吧。 -LYJiang- ♂ (0 bytes) () 01/27/2023 postreply 13:22:42

• 失面子也就是失礼？我在香港目睹过不少“海派”埸面，一个人付上一席，包括小费在內，面不改容。 -renqiulan- ♂ (0 bytes) () 01/27/2023 postreply 13:27:51

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

• 老板或老闆，香港人称之为老细，或大佬，或大老细。很有江湖风味。 -renqiulan- ♂ (0 bytes) () 01/27/2023 postreply 13:32:27

• 洋君颇有港气。稍后再谈。 -LYJiang- ♂ (0 bytes) () 01/27/2023 postreply 13:34:24

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

• 香港黑社会当道，成龙，刘德华请客是豪爽顶天啊！ -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，却不一定当道。不看成龙，只欣賞华仔粤片“天若有情”。最喜星爺的原庄港粤笑片。 -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小时的麻将，现在还如此吗？ -lovecat08- ♀ (0 bytes) () 01/27/2023 postreply 13:33:24

• 打麻将或打麻雀，我是敬而远之的，太吵耳了，脏话又多，“顶唔顺”。香港人做老细唤作“我出鸡”，由他人付小费喚作“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

• 有时候对方不同意你的说法；有时候对方不知如何回答；有时候可能确实有趣；都适用interesting。 -梧桐之丘- ♂ (0 bytes) () 01/27/2023 postreply 15:09:27

• 谢谢梧桐版主！ -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

• 翻译1）听者只按照自己的意愿理解并翻译成自己所愿意接受的意思；2）鸡同鸭讲现在依然是！ -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

• 洋君果然是个谏友。我觉得，不少美国人放眼着美国，不太多美国人放眼看世界。当然，仍比某‘’未来超级大国‘’更宏观天下。 -LYJiang- ♂ (0 bytes) () 01/27/2023 postreply 16:25:02

• 先生说的有道理。谢谢！ -renqiulan- ♂ (0 bytes) () 01/27/2023 postreply 16:29:02