Oh, wow. You speak some Mandarin?
I get asked this occassionally, fortunately in English. However, the person asking the question is often Chinese themselves. I guess they are suprised I am even making an effort.
When I answer, no, I am answering a true no. This isn't the no I answer when I say I don't speak Spanish or German. Those no's really mean that I can't remember how to conjugate verbs in anything but the present tense, or I can't remember whether a particular preposition requires the Dativ or Genitiv case. However, with enough alcohol, I will willingly recite Goethe in the original, or involve myself in an intense discussion on the state of education in the Dominican Republic with a cab driver in San Juan.
However, my "No I don't speak Mandarin" is pretty much true. I usually get the question when I have attempted to say one of the few words and phrases I've managed to pick up in three short weeks. These fall into three main categories.
1) Good manners: I have learned Hello, Good-bye, How are You, Please, Thank you. I also include on this list I don't want, as I frequently have to say that to people flier-ing outside of restaraunts.
2) Food: Some of these I actually don't know the English words for, but I can order Chinese food and request it vegetarian, and I can ask for it not to be hot for Myles. I can also ask for the check. This is a big improvement over my vast knowledge of Czech, which after a week on vacation in Prague five years ago, is limited to pivo. (On the bright side, if I ever go to Poland, I have a head start).
3) General operation of a two-year-old. Do you have any idea how often in a given day I say, "Watch out!" or "Be careful!"? I didn't either, until I learned the Madarin for it, and Myles started to insist I only say it in Chinese. The other necessary phrase is "I'm sorry" as in "I'm sorry he just spilled his juice all the floor," or I'm sorry he just upset the display of detergent," or "I'm sorry he just broke a plate," or "I'm sorry he just ran full force into your backside."
When I answer, no, I am answering a true no. This isn't the no I answer when I say I don't speak Spanish or German. Those no's really mean that I can't remember how to conjugate verbs in anything but the present tense, or I can't remember whether a particular preposition requires the Dativ or Genitiv case. However, with enough alcohol, I will willingly recite Goethe in the original, or involve myself in an intense discussion on the state of education in the Dominican Republic with a cab driver in San Juan.
However, my "No I don't speak Mandarin" is pretty much true. I usually get the question when I have attempted to say one of the few words and phrases I've managed to pick up in three short weeks. These fall into three main categories.
1) Good manners: I have learned Hello, Good-bye, How are You, Please, Thank you. I also include on this list I don't want, as I frequently have to say that to people flier-ing outside of restaraunts.
2) Food: Some of these I actually don't know the English words for, but I can order Chinese food and request it vegetarian, and I can ask for it not to be hot for Myles. I can also ask for the check. This is a big improvement over my vast knowledge of Czech, which after a week on vacation in Prague five years ago, is limited to pivo. (On the bright side, if I ever go to Poland, I have a head start).
3) General operation of a two-year-old. Do you have any idea how often in a given day I say, "Watch out!" or "Be careful!"? I didn't either, until I learned the Madarin for it, and Myles started to insist I only say it in Chinese. The other necessary phrase is "I'm sorry" as in "I'm sorry he just spilled his juice all the floor," or I'm sorry he just upset the display of detergent," or "I'm sorry he just broke a plate," or "I'm sorry he just ran full force into your backside."
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