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Fun Stuff (Beginner)
Too Many Mothers, Too Much Worry.
Free Chinese Lessons - What Do You Get When You Put a Mother and a Mother-in-law Together?
Jason is an American who can only speak and understand a little Chinese. His girlfriend, Lili, is a native Chinese. One day, Jason needs to leave for Shanghai on business. Lili sees him off at the railway station.
Qīn'àide, huŏchē kuài kāi le. Nĭ gănjĭn shàng chē ba.
Lili: 亲爱的， 火车 快 开了。你 赶紧 上 车 吧。
Honey, the train is about to leave. Hurry up and get aboard.
Lili: 亲爱的， 火车 快 开了。你 赶紧 上 车 吧。
Honey, the train is about to leave. Hurry up and get aboard.
Hăo de. Wŏ zŏu le. Nĭ yào zhàogù hăo zìjĭ, ànshí chī fàn, ànshí shuì jiào...
Jason: 好 的。我 走了。你 要 照顾 好自己，按时吃 饭，按时 睡 觉......
Jason: 好 的。我 走了。你 要 照顾 好自己，按时吃 饭，按时 睡 觉......
Alright. I’m leaving. Please take care of yourself. Remember to eat a little something and get to sleep on time...
Aiya! Bié pópo māma de la! Wŏ yòu bú shì xiăo háizi.
Lili: 哎呀！别 婆婆 妈妈 的 啦！我 又 不 是 小 孩子。
Come on! Don't be my mother and mother in law rolled into one. I’m not a child.
Lili: 哎呀！别 婆婆 妈妈 的 啦！我 又 不 是 小 孩子。
Come on! Don't be my mother and mother in law rolled into one. I’m not a child.
Nĭ māma wŏ mama zĕnme le?
Jason: 你 妈妈 我 妈妈 怎么 了？
Wait, what’s wrong with our mothers?
Jason: 你 妈妈 我 妈妈 怎么 了？
Wait, what’s wrong with our mothers?
Haha haha...
Lili: 哈哈 哈哈......
Haha Haha...
Lili: 哈哈 哈哈......
Haha Haha...
Do you understand why Lili burst into laugher?
Lili burst into laughter because Jason misunderstood the phrase “婆婆妈妈 (pópó māma).” In Chinese, “婆婆 (pópó)” is the term a woman uses to greet her mother-in-law and “妈妈 (māma)” refers to one’s mother. When they’re put together, they form a new phrase: “婆婆妈妈 (pópó māma),” which means being fussy or overly concerned (like an old lady). It is often used to describe people who are too emotional or fussy. In the dialogue above, after Lili urged Jason to leave, Jason, showing his concern, began to exhort Lili to take care of herself. Lili used “婆婆妈妈 (pópó māma)” to tease him, but not to talk about their mothers.
Example one:
Nĭ néngbunéng xiàng ge nánzi hàn yíyàng? Bié zŏng shì pópo māma de.
你 能不能 像 个 男子 汉 一样？ 别 总 是 婆婆 妈妈 的。
Could you behave like a man? Don't act like an old lady.
你 能不能 像 个 男子 汉 一样？ 别 总 是 婆婆 妈妈 的。
Could you behave like a man? Don't act like an old lady.
Example two:
Lăogōng, wŏ hái xiăng dàishàng yúsăn, màozi, hái yŏu...
Wife: 老公， 我 还 想 带上 雨伞，帽子，还 有......
Honey, I also want to bring the umbrella, my hat and...
Wife: 老公， 我 还 想 带上 雨伞，帽子，还 有......
Honey, I also want to bring the umbrella, my hat and...
Kuàidiăn ba, búyào pópó māma de le.
Husband: 快点 吧，不要 婆婆 妈妈 的 了。
Quickly, please don't make a big fuss!
Husband: 快点 吧，不要 婆婆 妈妈 的 了。
Quickly, please don't make a big fuss!
Discussion
I have learned Survival Chinese courses here for a week and noticed that in Lesson 4 of the Survival Chinese course there is the measure word "个." The usage of this is not very clear to me? Could you explain it? Thanks!
- Tina
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