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Sign up with Google Sign up with FacebookQ: "love" vs "ai" - does it mean the same to you?
An old old question (though, perhaps, not on this forum...).
For those who are bi-or multi-lingual, does hearing things in a different langauge (not your native) have the same emotional impact?
If someone is trying to be insulting, does it have much affect??
爱 doesn't, really, but 想 means a lot more to me than "miss". Even though me and my wife tend to speak a lot more Chinese, she doesn't like me saying romantic things in Chinese, because it doesn't seem like a very romantic language to her. I kind of agree.
Insults piss me off a lot more in Chinese, because the unwarranted sense of clever smugness (people only insult me when they think I can't understand their Chinese, and they think they're being GENIUSES), and because I'm always being held to stereotypes and so on, I feel I have to be on the defence a lot more here.
In general, though, the fact that Chinese don't use that much casual, straight-faced sarcasm makes it a lot more genuine sounding to me, especially in the mouths of older people. At least, depending who I'm speaking with. There's a certain warmth to Chinese - as most Chinese speak it - that's hard to describe. Happy doesn't seem that happy. Sad doesn't seem that sad. Angry seems super pissed off. Haughty and arrogant in Chinese are more haughty and arrogant than you could ever get away with in English. Caring and concern sound to be more from the heart.
Before China, I was in Portugal, and Portuguese sounds a lot more emotional to me, and has a lot more impact on me, mainly as the locals aren't nearly as reserved about talking about emotional things. Also, they tend to have a more words for various emotions, with various shades of meaning (ie, feliz, alegre, contente, etc. could all work as 'happy' in English, but are a lot more distinct in Pt.). Happiness sounds happier, and sadness sounds way sadder, although angry doesn't seem nearly as angry.
I feel anything said in any language other than your native one,doesnot have the same impact.I knows 6 languages for ex and telling someone that I love him/her in my native language is definitely not the same than telling him/her in chinese for ex.I just dont feel it!
I agree with the posts above. It sure does not carry the same meaning even if it is the same word. I do know some sign language, and for my GF and me it is fun to say "I love you" in sign language anywhere, and no one understands what is going on. But "wo ai ni" just does not feel the same.
And Kchur is also right, Portuguese, Spanish, and above all, French, are and sound more romantic to my ears. For example, in Spanish there are two words for "love", one is the love for father, mother, sisters, brothers, and it is "querer". and the other is the feelings for GF or wife, and it is "amar". And of course, "je t'aime" to me beats them all !
GuilinRaf:
There is a third one. If you tell your significant other "eres mi vida" he/she/it will melt in your arms! Ok, that is a phrase, not a word. Never mind!
HappyExPat:
"eres mi vida", you are my life, yes, it does not sound the same. Like the first one is more intense........
GuilinRaf:
Trust me, if you whisper that into the ear of your spanish speaking significant other it is something that goes beyond "te amo".
It depends, I think, on different things, no matter what language.
If it's his native tongue and I can see it in his eyes... rawr.
If he's practicing a new langauge and it's adorable... aww.
If he's being silly and trying to make me giggle... rawr and aww.
If he's whispering it my ear while we're in the throes of passion ... purr.
If he's pounding it out in morse code while he's cleaning the house... cream.
(bonus points if he's wearing boxer briefs and bear claw slippers) ;)
It's all in the way you say it, not really the language you say it in, for me, anyway.
DaBen:
I just tried it, and it's really hard to keep the hips at the proper pace to spell out a word while trying to run the vacuum or dust a nearby shelf.... but for you Hugs, I'll perfect the combo.
HugAPanda:
Swoon!!! But... do me a teenie tiny lil favor... switch from the BBs and slippers to the assless pants with the purple sequins? You can call me putty in your hands ;))