User Comments - anjie

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anjie

Posted on: Funny Rice
June 14, 2009 at 9:28 AM

I have told the joke a few times both in Shanghai and in Beijing. My SH colleagues didn't know it, but thought it was very funny. My BJ colleagues all knew it, and yes the joke does keep going: Who is the mother of "hua"? "Huabi sheng hua" (paint brush drew the flower, or paint brush gave birth to the flower). Then it goes on, "Who is their grandfather, who is the brother?.....  These are funny because they are "double entendre"! The listener hears both meanings at the same instant - there are hundreds of these in Chinese. Maybe we can start a group on it.  I think may Chinese learned this at a young age in school, and it is also delightful to have the memories come back.

 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Double_entendre

If someone knows the full list of the "who is the mother, etc jokes, please post it here. It's a great icebreaker and fun to tell my customers over dinners etc.

AnJie

Posted on: All About Measure Words
October 15, 2007 at 5:55 AM

Sorry, I meant in the "back". Here is a good flash card site for m-words. AnJie

Posted on: All About Measure Words
October 15, 2007 at 5:51 AM

Tuttle's Learners Chinese/English Dictionary has a nice m-word list in the bad. Additionally, it's the best dictionary I have found for learning. http://www.amazon.com/Tuttle-Learners-Chinese-English-Dictionary/dp/0804835527