Hello in Chinese? or The State of Things
This morning I was listening to the radio. The announcer who apparently didn’t have better things to talk about asked callers to call in with how to say ‘hello’ in other languages. I had just turned on the radio when I heard a woman say:
“OHIO is hello in Chinese. Just like the state.”
A few seconds later she explained she saw a Big Bird in China video about 10 years ago and vividly remembered how to say hello in Chinese. Too bad, but she got both the video and the country wrong. (minor details)
I am sure the video she watched was Big Bird in Japan. But as for the country… I am not sure…
Wow. One of the things that really gets on my nerves is when people get cultures confused. I suppose in this case it was an honest mistake but it still sort of bothers me.
Appropriate picture too.
Oh and thank you for such a great blog and for TJP and TJS. It’s amazing how much better my Japanese is thanks to you. Happy Thanksgiving!
Tyler
Thanks! I appreciate it!
For some reason China and Japan get confused all the time. It doesn’t seem to happen to Korea, though. I guess they are lucky.
I think the reason Korea doesn’t get confused is simply because it’s not as “popular” or well known as China and Japan. If Korean Town was as popular as China Town in major cities I’m sure we’d have people wanting to go to Korea to see the Great Wall of China.
I think it could be the -ese factor too.
China -> Chinese
Japan -> Japanese
*Korea -> Koreaese