Forms of address

It is important to use an appropriate term to address a person. It shows that one is cultivated and knows how to show respect to the other person, and it clarifi es the relationship between the people concerned.

The following are diff erent forms of addressing people: 1. Using family relationship:

Unlike common usage in English, one should not address a family member using just the fi rst name. One addresses them using their family relationship (refer to family relationship section) terms. For diff erent aunts: ྥྥ gūgu, ྼཛྷ yímā, etc. For diff erent uncles: ԃ ԃ bóbo, ননshūshu, 㟙㟙 jiùjiu, etc. For the same generation: ໻ હ dàgē, Ѡྤ èrjiě, ූહ tánggē, 㸼ྍbia ˇ omèi, etc. Husband and wife address each other using fi rst names or 㗕Ԉܓ la ˇ obànr, old companion, if they are older.

2. Using family relationship terms in a social situation:

If the speaker is younger, he/she might address people as: নন shūshu, uncle; 䰓ྼ āyí, aunt; ⠋⠋ yéye, grandpa; ཊཊ na ˇ inai, grandma, etc.

3. More polite:

Surname + one of the following: ܜ⫳ xiānsheng, Mr.; ໿Ҏ f ūren, madam; ໾໾ tàitai, Mrs.; ཇ຿ nu ‥ˇ shì, Ms.; ᇣྤ xia ˇ ojie, Miss. For example: ᓴܜ⫳ Zhāng xiānsheng; ⬄໿Ҏ Tián f ūren, etc.

4. Using names:

Full names or personal names are generally used among colleagues and people who know each other well, as in the following variations: (1) using full name; (2) for both sexes: 㗕 la ˇ o (older), ໻ dà (similar age) or ᇣ xia ˇ o (younger) + surname . For example: 㗕ᓴ La ˇ o Zhāng, ໻ᴢ Dà Lî ˇ , ᇣ⥟ Xia ˇ o Wáng; (3) using only fi rst name: generally only used among the same sex, older to younger, husband and wife, close friends, schoolmates and neighbors.

5. Surname + la ˇ o:

For socially respected and accomplished persons of both sexes: ਼㗕 Zhōu La ˇ o, ⬄㗕 Tián La ˇ o.

6. Using the person’s profession:

Only using the name of the profession or surname + profession. These can be: ᬭᥜ jiàoshòu, professor; म຿ bóshì, Dr. (Ph.D.), 㗕 Ꮬ la ˇ oshī, teacher or someone accomplished in a fi eld of endeavor; ໻໿ dàifu/ए⫳ yīshēng, medical doctor; Ӯ䅵 kuàiji, accountant; ᕟᏜ lü ` shī, lawyer; ໻Փ dàshî ˇ , ambassador; খ䌲 cānzàn, counsellor; ᘏ乚џ zo ˇ nglî ˇ ngshì, consul general; 乚џ lî ˇ ngshì, consul; ᘏ㒣⧚ zo ˇ ngjīnglî ˇ , president (of a company), etc.

7. Using position titles:

(1) using only position title; (2) surname + position title; (3) full name + position title. Here are some position titles: 䚼䭓 bùzha ˇ ng, Minister (of a government department); ⳕ䭓 shěngzha ˇ ng, Governor/Premier; Ꮦ䭓 shìzha ˇ ng, Mayor; ໘䭓 chùzha ˇ ng,

Bureau Chief/Director; ᷵䭓xiàozha ˇ ng, President/Principal; 䰶䭓 yuànzhăng, Dean; Џӏ zhu ˇ rèn, Director.

8. Addressing strangers:

(1) For a young person to address an older person: 㗕໻⠋ la ˇ odàye, “grandpa”; 㗕໻࿬ la ˇ odàniáng, “grandma”; (2) to address a store

clerk, a taxi driver, etc.: Ꮬٙ shīfu, “master worker”; (3) to address young children: ᇣ᳟ট xia ˇ o péngyou, little friend (s); ᇣྥ࿬ xia ˇ o gūniang, young girl; ᇣӭᄤ xia ˇ o hu ˇ ozi, young chap.

3.6 Social interaction

3.6.1 Greetings

(1) general:

Դདʽ Nî ˇ ha ˇ o!

How are you?; Good morning/afternoon/evening! ᙼདʽ

Nín ha ˇ o!

(polite form of above) ԴӀᮽʽ

Nî ˇ men za ˇ o!

Good morning everybody! ᮽϞདʽ Za ˇ oshang ha ˇ o! Good morning! ᰮᅝDŽ Wa ˇ n ān. Good night. དЙϡ㾕ˈᙼ䑿ԧད৫˛ Ha ˇ ojiu ˇ bújiàn, nín shēnti ha ˇ o ma? Long time no see. How are you doing? ⃶䖢⃶䖢ʽ

Huānyíng, huānyíng! Welcome!

(2) more famliar, intimate, more casual, or when running into each other:

ৗ佁њ৫˛ Chīfànle ma?

(Have you eaten?); How are you doing? Ϟ⧁এ˛

Shàngbānqu? Going to work? ϟ⧁଺˛ Xiàbān la? Just off work?

Ϟ䇒এ˛ Shàngkè qu? Going to classes? Ϟાܓএ˛ Shàng na ˇ r qu? Where to?/Hello! Ꮉ԰ᖭ৻˛ Gōngzuò máng ba? Busy with your work? ᆊ䞠䛑ད৻˛ Jiāli dōu ha ˇ o ba?

Everybody fi ne in your family? 䑿ԧད৻˛

Shēnti ha ˇ o ba?

How are you doing?/Are you doing well? (3) by addressing a person, ⿄੐ chēnghu:

਼㗕Ꮬʽ Zhōu la ˇ oshī! Professor Zhōu! 㗕⥟ʽ La ˇ o Wáng! Hi! Wang!

Responses: smile, nod, or ask the same question in return.

3.6.2 Introductions

(1) introducing others:

៥㒭ᙼҟ㒡ϔϟܓˈ䖭ԡᰃ໻ЎDŽ Wo ˇ gěi nín jièshaoyixiar, zhèwei shi Dàwèi. Let me introduce you. This is David. ᙼདDŽ䅸䆚Դˈᕜ催݈DŽ

Nín ha ˇ o. Rènshi nî ˇ , hěn gāoxìng.

How do you do? I’m happy to know you. (2) self-introduction:

៥ি⥯߽DŽᙼ䌉ྦྷ˛ Wo ˇ jiào Ma ˇ lì. Nín guìxìng?

My name is Mary. What is your honorable surname ? ܡ䌉ˈ៥ྦྷ૤DŽ

Mia ˇ n guì, wo ˇ xìng Táng.

Please do not say ‘honorable’. It is Tang. ᑌӮʽᑌӮʽ

Xìnghuì! xìnghuì!

3.6.3 Farewells (1) general: ݡ㾕ʽ Zàijiàn! Goodbye! ݡӮʽ Zàihuì!

(another form of above) ᯢ໽㾕DŽ

Míngtian jiàn. See you tomorrow. ಲ༈㾕DŽ

Huítóu jiàn. See you later. ϔӮܓ㾕DŽ Yìhuî ˇ r jiàn. See you shortly. ݡ㾕ˈϔ䏃ᑇᅝʽ Zàijiàn, yílùpíng’ān! Goodbye, bon voyage! (2) when seeing off a guest:

᜶䍄ʽ Mànzo ˇ u!

Take it easy./Drive safe!/Drive safely. ᳝ぎܓݡᴹ⥽ܓDŽ

Yo ˇ ukòngr, zài lái wánr.

Come to visit again when you have time. Responses:

䇋⬭ℹDŽ Qî ˇ ng liúbù.

Please do not walk me any farther. 䇋ಲDŽ Qî ˇ ng huí. Please go back. 3.6.4 Apologies ᇍϡ䍋DŽ Duìbuqî ˇ . Sorry. ໾ᇍϡ䍋њDŽ Tài duìbuqî ˇ le. So sorry.

ⳳᇍϡ䍋DŽ Zhēn duìbuqî ˇ . Really sorry. ⳳᢅℝDŽ Zhēn bàoqiàn. Truly sorry. ᇍϡ䍋ˈ៥ᦦϔহˈད৫˛ Duìbuqî ˇ , wo ˇ chā yíjù, ha ˇ o ma? I’m sorry. May I interrupt? 䇋ॳ䇙DŽ

Qî ˇ ng yuánliàng.

I beg your pardon./Please forgive me. Responses:

≵݇㋏DŽ Méi guānxi. That’s all right. ϡ㽕㋻DŽ Bú yàojî ˇ n. No problem. ৃҹDŽ Kěyi. Fine. 3.6.5 Requests 䇋䯂ˈ३᠔೼䙷ܓ˛ Qî ˇ ng wèn, cèsuo ˇ zài na ˇ r?

May I ask, where is the washroom? 䇋᜶⚍ܓ䇈DŽ

Qî ˇ ng màndia ˇ nr shuō. Please speak more slowly. 䇋ᐂᐂᖭˈད৫"

Qî ˇ ng bāngbang máng, ha ˇ o ma? Can you help me, please? ࢇ偒ˈ៥ⳟⳟ䙷ӊ໻㸷DŽ Láojià, wo ˇ kànkan nàjiàn dàyī.

May I trouble you? I’d like to take a look at that coat. ៥Ӏᰃϡᰃ᳔ད߿ᠧᡄҪ˛

Wo ˇ men shìbushi zuìha ˇ o bié da ˇ ra ˇ o tā? Would it be better if we do not disturb him? ៥㛑ϡ㛑ⳟϔϟܓ䖭Ͼᮄ⬉㛥˛

Wo ˇ néngbunéng kànyixiar zhège xīn diànna ˇ o? May I have a look at this new computer?