I was just sitting in my local Chinese takeaway restaurant and decided to draw one of the fish they have swimming round in a large tank. When I had done it and the food was ready I showed my drawing to the lady behind the counter. I explained that it was a quick sketch as the fish kept swimming. It looks a bit worried but that’s just my drawing.
I asked how to say thank you as the food there is always lovely and the people in the restaurant said xie Xie and wrote it down next to the sketch. They are Mandarin speakers. I had asked if they were Cantonese. But they said no. The words are very similar in both languages but that the writing of Chinese script is the same in both languages (dialects). I think I remember reading that in a friends blog here, that even if the words are pronounced differently the script is the same.
Anyway it was a tasty supper and it’s nice to communicate even if it’s only with a few shared words.
Thinking about it the words I have learnt in other languages like Greek and Thai all tend to be the ones meaning please and thank you. I must have been bought up right!
Your fish drawing looks great. I am always interested in other cultures and their language.
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Yes. I think we should be respectful and try and make friends with people, not antagonise them x
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I envy you. There’s no good Chinese food within 200 miles of me, maybe more 😦
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We are surrounded by a Japanese restaurant, Thai restaurant and takeaway, several Indian restaurants, a Jamaican takeaway, a couple of Chinese takeaways, and English restaurants and cafes. It’s mad!
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sound like Heaven. 🙂
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Pretty much!
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