{"id":1586,"date":"2014-02-20T06:45:47","date_gmt":"2014-02-20T06:45:47","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.digmandarin.com\/?p=1586"},"modified":"2023-08-31T06:12:47","modified_gmt":"2023-08-31T06:12:47","slug":"how-to-address-people-in-chinese","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.digmandarin.com\/how-to-address-people-in-chinese.html","title":{"rendered":"How to Address Someone Based on Their Status in Chinese"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
Do people in China still use the term \u540c\u5fd7 (t\u00f3ng zh\u00ec) to address each other?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Although you may have seen people in communist China calling each other \u540c\u5fd7 with enthusiasm in movies, the reality is that the use of this term has been declining since China’s reforms in the 1980s.<\/p>\n\n\n
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Nowadays, \u540c\u5fd7 is mostly used to address Communist Party leaders in meetings or news reports, or to address management and staff in state-owned enterprises.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
However, \u540c\u5fd7 is now also used to refer to homosexuals, and its usage in this context has been increasing. When used to refer to someone’s sexual orientation, one would say:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
XXX\u662f\u4e2a\u540c\u5fd7\u3002(XXXsh\u00ec g\u00e8 t\u00f3ng zh\u00ec.) XXX is homosexual.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Furthermore, movies exploring homosexuality are known as \u540c\u5fd7\u7535\u5f71 (t\u00f3ng zh\u00ec di\u00e0n y\u01d0ng).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
After phasing out \u540c\u5fd7, some of the terms commonly used before the foundation of the People\u2019s Republic of China in 1949 have returned to daily use. However, over time, some of these terms, like \u5c0f\u59d0, have undergone many changes. We’ll discuss the meanings of these terms below.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
How to Address People Based on Marital Status: \u5148\u751f\uff0c\u5973\u58eb\uff0c\u592a\u592a\uff0cand \u5c0f\u59d0<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Note that for all of these terms, in contrast to English, the surname should be placed in front. For example, Mr. Wang is \u738b\u5148\u751f, not \u5148\u751f\u738b. These titles can also be used without surnames.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u5148\u751f (xi\u0101n sheng, Mr.)<\/strong> is a respectful way to address a man. It could also mean \u201chusband\u201d depending on context, as in the following example:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u8fd9\u662f\u6211\u5148\u751f (zh\u00e8 sh\u00ec w\u01d2 xi\u0101n sheng)\u3002 This is my husband.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u5148\u751f is also used to refer to accomplished scholars in a respectful sense, regardless of gender.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u5973\u58eb (n\u01da sh\u00ec, Ms.) <\/strong><\/strong>is a respectful way to address a woman.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u592a\u592a (t\u00e0i tai, Mrs.)<\/strong> is a respectful way to address a married woman. It can also mean “wife” like \u5148\u751f. In mainland China, women do not take their husbands’ surnames after marriage. Instead, they use their own surname followed by t\u00e0i tai. In Hong Kong and Taiwan, some women take their husband’s surname and keep their maiden names as middle names.<\/p>\n\n\n
\n<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n
\u5c0f\u59d0 (xi\u01ceo ji\u011b, Miss)<\/strong> is a respectful way to address a woman in formal settings. However, depending on the context, it can also refer to a waitress or a flight attendant. Before 1949, \u5c0f\u59d0 generally referred to single women from wealthy or aristocratic families. However, it became associated with women from the bourgeoisie class, and it was stigmatized. The term reemerged in the 80s and became more inclusive, mostly referring to young women. Recently, in informal settings, it has been widely used to refer to female sex workers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
So this brings us to the question of how to address women in daily life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
When addressing women in daily life, you can use “\u5973\u58eb” (n\u01da sh\u00ec), “\u592a\u592a” (t\u00e0i tai), or “\u5c0f\u59d0” (xi\u01ceo ji\u011b) in formal settings. For informal settings, it’s common to use their full names. You can also use “\u5c0f [surname]” (e.g., \u5c0f\u738b xi\u01ceo w\u00e1ng) for younger people, or “\u8001 [surname]” for older people. Close friends may address each other by first name. In the workplace, people prefer to address each other by job titles or ranks to show respect.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
How to Address People in Work Settings<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Jobs with Higher Social Status<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Certain jobs have a higher social status in China and those who perform these jobs are usually referred to by their job titles. Examples of these job titles include \u533b\u751f (y\u012b sh\u0113ng, doctor), \u62a4\u58eb (h\u00f9 sh\u00ec, nurse), \u5f8b\u5e08 (l\u01dc sh\u012b, lawyer), \u6cd5\u5b98 (f\u01ce gu\u0101n, judge), \u4f1a\u8ba1 (ku\u00e0i j\u00ec, accountant), \u6559\u6388 (ji\u00e0osh\u00f2u, professor), \u8001\u5e08 (l\u01ceo sh\u012b, teacher), and \u535a\u58eb(b\u00f3 sh\u00ec, Ph.D.). Surnames may also be placed directly before the appropriate job title.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It’s important to note that the term “\u8001\u5e08 (l\u01ceo sh\u012b, teacher)” has evolved from its original meaning in recent years. It is now commonly used in schools, media, and entertainment to respectfully address someone who is knowledgeable, has expertise in a certain field (such as a movie director), or simply works in an academic context (such as an administrative staff member in a school).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Titles Based on Rank<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
When addressing individuals who work for the government or in commercial enterprises, it’s common to use their rank. Examples include \u5e02\u957f (sh\u00ec zh\u01ceng, mayor), \u6821\u957f (xi\u00e0ozh\u01ceng, school principal), \u7ecf\u7406 (j\u012bng l\u01d0, manager), and \u8463\u4e8b (d\u01d2ng sh\u00ec, director). Surnames can also be placed before the rank when addressing these individuals.<\/p>\n\n\n
\n<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n
In Chinese, \u526f (f\u00f9) is used for a deputy position, such as deputy mayor (\u526f\u5e02\u957f) or deputy director (\u526f\u4e3b\u4efb). However, it is a sign of respect to address individuals with deputy roles by their main title. For instance, you would address a deputy mayor (\u526f\u5e02\u957f) simply as \u201cmayor\u201d (\u5e02\u957f). This tradition may have originated from the competitive atmosphere of Chinese government offices, where deputies aspire to become principal one day and drop the “deputy” label from their title.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The term \u603b (z\u01d2ng) is also gaining popularity and means “chief”. It was first used as an abbreviation for high-ranking job titles such as \u603b\u7ecf\u7406 (z\u01d2ng j\u012bng l\u01d0, general manager), \u603b\u88c1 (z\u01d2ng c\u00e1i, chairman or president), and \u603b\u5de5\u7a0b\u5e08 (z\u01d2ng g\u014dng ch\u00e9ng sh\u012b, chief engineer). To show respect, such people are addressed by their surname followed by \u603b (e.g., \u738b\u603b with \u738b being the surname). However, the term has now expanded beyond its original meaning and is used widely to address individuals with a relatively high rank in government, state-owned enterprises, or commercial companies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Those Who Work in Service Positions<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\u670d\u52a1\u5458(f\u00fa w\u00f9 yu\u00e1n)<\/strong> <\/strong>is used to address a waiter or waitress.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The term “\u5e08\u5085” (sh\u012b fu, master)<\/strong> has evolved over time and is now commonly used in three ways:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
as a respectful way to address someone with expertise in a certain skill or trade, such as a chef, plumber, or martial artist<\/li>
as a term of respect for blue-collar workers, like cab drivers, factory workers, or sales clerks<\/li>
as a respectful way to address monks or nuns.<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n
Closing Thoughts<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
In China, addressing people requires skill. As China underwent various political and social changes over the years, the ways of addressing people have also evolved. The use of \u540c\u5fd7 has been mostly limited to addressing Communist Party leaders and is being replaced by other terms in daily life, whereas the use of \u540c\u5fd7 to refer to homosexuals has become more popular. Traditional terms like \u5148\u751f, \u5973\u58eb, \u592a\u592a, and \u5c0f\u59d0 are still commonly used, especially in formal settings. However, informal settings allow the use of full names or informal nicknames. In work settings, it is common to address people by their job titles or ranks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Overall, the choice of how to address someone in China depends on the context, the relationship between the speakers, and the social status of the person being addressed. Share your tips with us by commenting below!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Do people in China still use the term \u540c\u5fd7 (t\u00f3ng zh\u00ec) to address each other? Although you may have seen people in communist China calling each other \u540c\u5fd7 with enthusiasm in movies, the reality is that the use of this term has been declining since China’s reforms in the 1980s. Nowadays, \u540c\u5fd7 is mostly used…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":19,"featured_media":4247,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[1,176],"tags":[77,122,93,78,81,89],"post_series":[],"yoast_head":"\n
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