Redditor Living In China Gets Fed Up Of Translating Chinese To British Couple, Calls Them Out For Not Learning The Language Despite Already Living There For Years

"They’ve been here 3 years longer than I have and can’t say anything other than NIHAO and XIEXIE."

Sophia

• Published in Interesting
• September 26, 2023

In the bustling metropolis of Guangzhou, China, a Reddit found themselves entangled in a linguistic conundrum with their British neighbors. Despite living in this vibrant Chinese city for several years, the British couple had not made any significant strides in learning the local language beyond basic greetings like "NIHAO" and "XIEXIE."

OP, an Albanian who had immersed themselves in learning Chinese to a commendable extent within their six months in the country, grew increasingly exasperated by the couple's dependency on their translation services. The British pair frequently sought OP's assistance, knocking on their door or making phone calls whenever they encountered Chinese-language challenges.

However, OP reached a breaking point and decided to confront their neighbors. They sternly advised the couple to cease their reliance on translation and instead invest time in learning Chinese.

After all, the British couple had resided in China for years, providing ample opportunity to become at least conversational in the language.

The conversation took a tense turn as the British couple vehemently objected to OP's stance, accusing them of being uncooperative and making their lives unnecessarily difficult. Undeterred by this backlash, OP firmly resolved to communicate with the couple exclusively in Chinese and Albanian henceforth.

Just take a look at the original post...

OP, an Albanian resident in Guangzhou learned Mandarin after seeing a post and encouraged a British couple, living in the same building for three years but speaking only basic Chinese, to start learning the language.

OP insisted on their responsibility to learn Chinese, causing a heated argument, and declared they would communicate in both Chinese and Albanian from then on.

Scroll down to see what people had to say!

It's almost as if some folks think their passport comes with a free universal translator while they yell "Speak English!" like it's an enchantment spell.

Totally agree, Brits abroad often want the sunshine without the language lessons.

Ah, well, that explains it. They must think "MI6" stands for "Mandarin In 6 months"!

Living in a place for over a decade and not speaking the local language is like eating Swiss cheese without savoring Swiss chocolate—a missed opportunity!

It's like they think they can navigate life in China with Google Translate as their co-pilot...

Indeed, some folks act like translation apps are ancient artifacts, preferring to be "Very Important Pesterers" instead.

Exactly, it's like trying to drive a car with just two gears and then blaming the road for being too bumpy!

In the bigger picture, learning the language of one's surroundings is a wise choice, even if personal preferences don't align.

It's a classic case of "double standards: when abroad, learn the cord," but somehow "in America, it's English or absurd."

It's certainly interesting how perspectives can shift depending on the context.

Different situations call for different considerations.

Effort speaks!

It does seem like some folks are in "Español-exit mode," relying on their kids as language liaisons. Being able to say only "hello" after two decades is like using a smartphone just for phone calls—missing out on all the other amazing features!

"She still doesn't think she speaks it well enough."

It's common sense, not hypocrisy!

OP isn't the A here; the British couple should brush up on their language skills.

Double standards abound, and ethnic-based criticism is counterproductive.

Learning the local language is a universal handshake of respect.

Language barriers can be a real tongue twister!

In this view, relying on neighbors for language due to laziness is like expecting them to pack an empty suitcase for the journey—a frustrating situation for all.

After three years of zero language effort, expecting others to translate is like asking a stone to roll. Language learning takes some effort from both sides!

Offering good advice is like opening a door; if they choose not to walk through it, it's their own roadblock.

Expecting their neighbor to be a long-term translator is like renting a personal neighbor, showing a sense of entitlement.

It's like they think English is the universal remote for communication, but the world is still using multiple channels!

Completely agree; moving to a new country means learning the language. It's like entering a library but refusing to read the books.

It's like different countries have a linguistic double standard switch—flip it, and the labels change!

Living in the U.S., learning some English for practical reasons is widely expected, regardless of political beliefs.

Frustrating when people won't learn the local language after decades abroad.

Some resist the challenge of learning a new language and dislike hearing the truth.

OP's frustration served as a catalyst for addressing an issue that had persisted for far too long. The story also highlighted the broader question of cultural assimilation and the responsibility that expatriates bear in adopting the language and customs of their host country.

What do you think of this situation?

Comment down your thoughts, or share this article for all your family and friends to see!

Sophia