Comments on: ?? http://simpsonsparadox.com/2007/02/%e5%b0%8f%e5%a7%90.html Wed, 23 May 2012 17:16:38 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3 By: The Humanaught http://simpsonsparadox.com/2007/02/%e5%b0%8f%e5%a7%90.html/comment-page-1#comment-740 The Humanaught Fri, 09 Mar 2007 03:40:00 +0000 http://simpsonsparadox.com/?p=452#comment-740 Stephen's pretty much right, though there is a bit of a geographical commonality to it.<br/><br/>In the North East I never heard Xiao Jie used in restaurants... mostly because FOOOYUAR! is just more fun to shout across a smoke-filled dongbei fandian.<br/><br/>Here in Suzhou, the people are noticeably softer in their conversations and fuwuyuan shouts are frowned upon (hell, they probably spit in my food anyway). Xiaojie is the norm here everywhere from restaurants to clothing shops to little red-lit barber shops (in which the xiaojei's provide the extra services).<br/><br/>It's completely contextual... very similar to the word "madam" in English. Stephen’s pretty much right, though there is a bit of a geographical commonality to it.

In the North East I never heard Xiao Jie used in restaurants… mostly because FOOOYUAR! is just more fun to shout across a smoke-filled dongbei fandian.

Here in Suzhou, the people are noticeably softer in their conversations and fuwuyuan shouts are frowned upon (hell, they probably spit in my food anyway). Xiaojie is the norm here everywhere from restaurants to clothing shops to little red-lit barber shops (in which the xiaojei’s provide the extra services).

It’s completely contextual… very similar to the word “madam” in English.

]]> By: Stephen http://simpsonsparadox.com/2007/02/%e5%b0%8f%e5%a7%90.html/comment-page-1#comment-732 Stephen Tue, 27 Feb 2007 11:04:00 +0000 http://simpsonsparadox.com/?p=452#comment-732 It means both, depending on the context. At least that's how my Mandarin prof explained it. If the girl is wearing hookerish clothes, then xiaojie probably means hooker. It means both, depending on the context. At least that’s how my Mandarin prof explained it. If the girl is wearing hookerish clothes, then xiaojie probably means hooker.

]]> By: Meg http://simpsonsparadox.com/2007/02/%e5%b0%8f%e5%a7%90.html/comment-page-1#comment-729 Meg Mon, 26 Feb 2007 05:21:00 +0000 http://simpsonsparadox.com/?p=452#comment-729 I was told that it meant hooker, and so it's not an appropriate address for waitresses, etc. and I should use fuyuan, (unless looking for extra service!). <br/><br/>Maybe it's regional? I was told that it meant hooker, and so it’s not an appropriate address for waitresses, etc. and I should use fuyuan, (unless looking for extra service!).

Maybe it’s regional?

]]> By: Stuart http://simpsonsparadox.com/2007/02/%e5%b0%8f%e5%a7%90.html/comment-page-1#comment-726 Stuart Sat, 24 Feb 2007 01:16:00 +0000 http://simpsonsparadox.com/?p=452#comment-726 Xiaojie is a perfectly normal form of address (despite the fact that it has come to mean something nefarious). For instance, Zhang Xiaojie still means Miss Zhang in every province in China, and people still use it that way. It is also used to address waitresses. I've heard Chinese people say this many, many, many times. Plus, I've used it myself with no adverse effects. Xiaojie is a perfectly normal form of address (despite the fact that it has come to mean something nefarious). For instance, Zhang Xiaojie still means Miss Zhang in every province in China, and people still use it that way. It is also used to address waitresses. I’ve heard Chinese people say this many, many, many times. Plus, I’ve used it myself with no adverse effects.

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