Wednesday, March 15, 2006
Quick tip - Don't be a light bulb!
(note: if you are reading this in an RSS reader, you probably won't be able to see the pinyin tooltips, in which case you should click on the link to the original post.)
Two's company, three's a crowd. So what do you say when your friend invites you to go out with him and his girlfriend? "I don't want to be the third wheel", right? Not in China - you say "I don't want to be your light bulb!"
电灯泡 - electric light bulb
e.g - 我不要做你们的电灯泡 - I don't want to be the third wheel
I like this imagery - imagine a couple getting nice and cozy in a dark corner, when suddenly - BING - the electric light bulb comes on and the pair can't get any privacy. So take some Chinese advice - don't be a light bulb!
Two's company, three's a crowd. So what do you say when your friend invites you to go out with him and his girlfriend? "I don't want to be the third wheel", right? Not in China - you say "I don't want to be your light bulb!"
电灯泡 - electric light bulb
e.g - 我不要做你们的电灯泡 - I don't want to be the third wheel
I like this imagery - imagine a couple getting nice and cozy in a dark corner, when suddenly - BING - the electric light bulb comes on and the pair can't get any privacy. So take some Chinese advice - don't be a light bulb!
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Labels: Quick Tips
posted by Dan at 5:46 PM
3 comments
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3 Comments:
Oh, I like this one! Good explanation, too.
I've heard the phrase 'play gooseberry' in English, which I think means the same thing, but I've never known why.
Lovely phrase, and not one that's very intuitive either. Good spot.
i was looking for the rite way to express 电灯泡(a light bulb)in english.. and found you were teaching people the chinese expression of 'the thrid wheel'.
interesting.
cheers!
btw, we are in the same city ;P
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