Chinese Mandarin vs. Taiwanese Mandarin (chop suey)

Languages vary not only with time, but also with space. Yesterday we talked about the changes of Mandarin with time; today let’s see what’s with the space.

With English, we have British and American English. With Mandarin,  there’re also some variations between what’s used in China and Taiwan. Some of the differences are so much that they cause misunderstanding.

For example, when James Sung 宋楚瑜(sung4 chu3 yu2), the former Taiwan premier, visited Beijing in 2005, he used the phrase 窩心(wo xin) in the press conference to describe how he felt about China’s reception. All the present Chinese officials were startled and confused, because in China, 窩心 means the indignant and uncomfortable feeling you have when you’re done wrong. On the contrary, for a Taiwanese it refers to the feeling you have when you’re touched and thankful for others’ kindliness.

Last summer I visited Xian in China and learned more about those differences. Take 土豆(tu3 dou4) for example. In China it means potato, while in Taiwanese it’s peanut. We call chewing gum 口香糖(kou3 xiang tang2) while they call it 口膠(kou3 jiao). But it sounds piercing and weird when a Chinese says to a Taiwanese “Want some chewing gum?” because口膠 sounds exactly the same as口交, oral sex.

In China, the instant noodles is 方便麵 (fang bian4 mian4); in Taiwan it’s 泡麵 (pao4 mian4) or 速食麵 (su4 shi2 mian4)You use 免洗餐具 (mian3 xi3 can ju4), disposable tableware in Taiwan but 一次性餐具 (yi2 ci4 xing4 can ju4) in China. Americans say “way to go!” Taiwanese say 好棒 (hao3 bang4) while Chinese say 好樣的 (hao3 yang4 de) We say 水準(shui3 zhun3) for level but they say 水平(shui3 ping2) We use 氣氛(qi4 fen) for atmosphere while they say 氛圍(fen wei2)

Of course the misunderstanding gets lesser and lesser with the fast development of information and communication. Though the separation of the space inevitably causes variations, what makes me really 窩心 (here used in Chinese way) is the appearance and prevalence of the simplified Chinese.

Simplified Chinese is sometimes illogical and confusing because to make it simple, they use the same word for different things. Some of them also lose the beauty of the characters. When I said we attach 春聯(chun lian2) because we’re “obsessive” with words in my previous writing, “Obsessive with names and words,” I was kind of half joking. Another important reason for us to do so is to show and appreciate the beauty of the Chinese calligraphy.

How many languages do you know in the world that besides being a means of communication, it in itself is a form of art? Each Chinese character has a unique form, like each human being has his features. (Making it the most difficult language to learn, as some of my foreign friends claim, though)

Last year when I visited China, one of the teachers I met showed me his calligraphy after I praised his handwriting. He also answered my long-time question about how they deal with the characters. He told me they were still using traditional characters in Chinese calligraphy.

How I wish I could show you the beauty of the Chinese calligraphy! But if you have the chance to appreciate the masterpieces of Chinese calligraphers, please watch them close.

窩心=窝心

口膠=口胶

麵=面

氣氛=气氛

氛圍=氛围

春聯=春联