Comments on: Stump the Laowai: shuǎlài 耍赖 http://laowaichinese.net/stump-the-laowai-shu%c7%8elai-%e8%80%8d%e8%b5%96.htm Tips and Strategies for Learning to Speak Mandarin Chinese Wed, 08 Feb 2012 18:29:39 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Bamboo http://laowaichinese.net/stump-the-laowai-shu%c7%8elai-%e8%80%8d%e8%b5%96.htm/comment-page-1#comment-7124 Bamboo Thu, 19 Mar 2009 07:03:15 +0000 http://laowaichinese.net/?p=700#comment-7124 just like lie, On the one hand,there are true lies which will hurt someone or deceive somebody. On the other hand,there are benignant lies in China which are good for someone...am I right? just like lie,
On the one hand,there are true lies which will hurt someone or deceive somebody.
On the other hand,there are benignant lies in China which are good for someone…am I right?

]]> By: John http://laowaichinese.net/stump-the-laowai-shu%c7%8elai-%e8%80%8d%e8%b5%96.htm/comment-page-1#comment-7101 John Fri, 13 Mar 2009 08:32:48 +0000 http://laowaichinese.net/?p=700#comment-7101 "耍赖" To act unreasonably and shamelessly. “耍赖”
To act unreasonably and shamelessly.

]]> By: Lisa http://laowaichinese.net/stump-the-laowai-shu%c7%8elai-%e8%80%8d%e8%b5%96.htm/comment-page-1#comment-7087 Lisa Tue, 10 Mar 2009 01:09:17 +0000 http://laowaichinese.net/?p=700#comment-7087 I am a native Chinese. Most of the posts got it right. It means "get away with with an agreement, often oral and reached informally among friends". It is not 褒义. I am a native Chinese. Most of the posts got it right. It means “get away with with an agreement, often oral and reached informally among friends”. It is not 褒义.

]]> By: Stephan http://laowaichinese.net/stump-the-laowai-shu%c7%8elai-%e8%80%8d%e8%b5%96.htm/comment-page-1#comment-7059 Stephan Thu, 05 Mar 2009 13:23:11 +0000 http://laowaichinese.net/?p=700#comment-7059 Sounds a little (in some situations, perhaps not "cheating" however) like Chutzpah to me (I'm not Jewish, so my understanding of that word is also suspect) Sounds a little (in some situations, perhaps not “cheating” however) like Chutzpah to me (I’m not Jewish, so my understanding of that word is also suspect)

]]> By: nomi http://laowaichinese.net/stump-the-laowai-shu%c7%8elai-%e8%80%8d%e8%b5%96.htm/comment-page-1#comment-7056 nomi Thu, 05 Mar 2009 08:32:54 +0000 http://laowaichinese.net/?p=700#comment-7056 generally, 耍赖 is not baoyi(褒义) generally, 耍赖 is not baoyi(褒义)

]]> By: Jim Mahler http://laowaichinese.net/stump-the-laowai-shu%c7%8elai-%e8%80%8d%e8%b5%96.htm/comment-page-1#comment-7050 Jim Mahler Wed, 04 Mar 2009 06:01:34 +0000 http://laowaichinese.net/?p=700#comment-7050 When I'm having trouble grasping a Chinese term (which happens with regularity) I sometimes find it helpful to look in a Chinese dictionary to see how the natives define it. Here, 现代汉语词典 gives 使用无赖手段, "to use untrustworthy methods". From this, it would seem that all the translations offered above are pretty good. We might also add: acting dishonorably, betraying someone’s trust, being irresponsible, dishonorable, undependable. The student who thought 耍赖 was a good thing must have been thinking of the "getting away with something" aspect of the term. Better keep an eye on that one! When I’m having trouble grasping a Chinese term (which happens with regularity) I sometimes find it helpful to look in a Chinese dictionary to see how the natives define it. Here, 现代汉语词典 gives 使用无赖手段, “to use untrustworthy methods”.

From this, it would seem that all the translations offered above are pretty good. We might also add: acting dishonorably, betraying someone’s trust, being irresponsible, dishonorable, undependable.

The student who thought 耍赖 was a good thing must have been thinking of the “getting away with something” aspect of the term. Better keep an eye on that one!

]]> By: Glen http://laowaichinese.net/stump-the-laowai-shu%c7%8elai-%e8%80%8d%e8%b5%96.htm/comment-page-1#comment-7047 Glen Wed, 04 Mar 2009 01:07:46 +0000 http://laowaichinese.net/?p=700#comment-7047 My Chinese friend gave me two examples on how to use it. 1. A and B have a bet on something like guessing tomorrow's weather forecast. A said he will give 100RMB to B if it rains tomorrow. Tomorrow it does rain, but A didn't give money to B. A is 耍赖！ 2. A and B have a bet with playing cards, A changes his cards under table, A is 耍赖！ My Chinese friend gave me two examples on how to use it.

1. A and B have a bet on something like guessing tomorrow’s weather forecast. A said he will give 100RMB to B if it rains tomorrow. Tomorrow it does rain, but A didn’t give money to B. A is 耍赖！

2. A and B have a bet with playing cards, A changes his cards under table, A is 耍赖！

]]> By: Albert http://laowaichinese.net/stump-the-laowai-shu%c7%8elai-%e8%80%8d%e8%b5%96.htm/comment-page-1#comment-7046 Albert Tue, 03 Mar 2009 23:18:05 +0000 http://laowaichinese.net/?p=700#comment-7046 Alec, Good ones. So, that dictionary translates Chinese to Japanese? Or does it give English definitions for Chinese and Japanese words? Alec,

Good ones. So, that dictionary translates Chinese to Japanese? Or does it give English definitions for Chinese and Japanese words?

]]> By: Alec http://laowaichinese.net/stump-the-laowai-shu%c7%8elai-%e8%80%8d%e8%b5%96.htm/comment-page-1#comment-7045 Alec Tue, 03 Mar 2009 20:12:42 +0000 http://laowaichinese.net/?p=700#comment-7045 My Chinese-Japanese dictionary gives two definitions: 1) To act unreasonably. To force one's unreasonables ideas on a person. To act rashly. 2) To pretend not to know something you do know. To feign ignorance. To play dumb. Merge these two definitions together and you have 耍赖! My Chinese-Japanese dictionary gives two definitions:

1) To act unreasonably. To force one’s unreasonables ideas on a person. To act rashly.
2) To pretend not to know something you do know. To feign ignorance. To play dumb.

Merge these two definitions together and you have 耍赖!

]]> By: Albert http://laowaichinese.net/stump-the-laowai-shu%c7%8elai-%e8%80%8d%e8%b5%96.htm/comment-page-1#comment-7042 Albert Tue, 03 Mar 2009 10:34:01 +0000 http://laowaichinese.net/?p=700#comment-7042 Max, Thanks for the Wenlin example. It just confirms "get away with." Tom, A great example and great definition! I'm planning to update the MDBG dictionary definition soon. Could we say, "Openly acting dishonestly (i.e. breaking an agreement, etc.)" for the definition? Max,
Thanks for the Wenlin example. It just confirms “get away with.”

Tom,
A great example and great definition! I’m planning to update the MDBG dictionary definition soon.

Could we say, “Openly acting dishonestly (i.e. breaking an agreement, etc.)” for the definition?

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