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Excuse me, can I kiss you?

 
I developed a technique for creating an awkward and somewhat entertaining misunderstanding with Chinese women while living in Beijing. I should point out that I never actually tried this since I was too shy!! But I think it might have been funny.

If you want to interrupt a stranger to ask a question in China, perhaps to ask directions or the time of day, you might use the following phrase:

对不起,我问你一下。。。

对不起 = dui4 bu4 qi2 = "opposite" + "not" + "angry"  = excuse me

我问你一下 = wo3 wen4 ni3 yi2 xia4 = "I" + "ask" + "you" + "1"+ "time" = may I ask...

This is a polight way to get someone's attention before beginning a conversation.

My innovation is to substitute the word 吻 [=wen3 = to kiss] for the word 问 [=wen4 = to ask]. Since only the tone is different,  Chinese people will assume you mispronounced the word accidentally (assuming you're not Asian). So the phrase goes:

对不起,我吻你一下。。。 

Which is a polight way of saying "excuse me, may I kiss you?"

Deliver the line, then pause for giggles.

(Comment back here if you actually try this... it's all theoretical at this point.)

Comments

haha,funny. But most of us can guess that what are you really want to say. 
 
 
 
like:你好吗? and 你号码?
Posted @ Wednesday, November 04, 2009 2:25 AM by biaoxiangye
nice use of chinese words
Posted @ Sunday, December 13, 2009 2:35 AM by varun
I was looking up 吻 [=wen3 = to kiss] in the dictionary today and guess what character is right before it?? 刎 [=wen3 = cut one's throat]... specifically, 自刎 [=zi4 wen3 = to cut one's own throat; commit suicide] 
 
Hmmm, not so romantic.
Posted @ Tuesday, June 29, 2010 4:46 AM by Jordyne Wu
Wow, 刎 is a great word Jordyne! 
 
Posted @ Tuesday, June 29, 2010 9:10 AM by Jonah Lopin
Interesting post. I actually had a similar post on my blog too. 
 
http://mychinesenotebook.blogspot.com/2011/03/make-sure-you-dont-get-toned-out.html
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