ming
how do you answer? Yes/No 是/不 Oui/Non/Si Ja/nein/noch

Yes/No 对/不 Oui/Non/Si Ja/nein/noch

How do you answer an affirmative question and a negative question?

we can see 3 different ways: English way, Chinese way, French-Deutsch way.

Is it hot?

(when it is)     yes, 是,oui,ja

(when it is not)no,不,non,nein

Is it not hot?

(when it is)     yes, 不,si,noch
(when it is not)no,是,non,nein

how do other languages answer these two questions?

 

2014년 9월 24일 오전 10:22
댓글 · 3

Another one :

When someone says: Do you mind doing this ...?

You are supposed to say No (as in "No, I don't mind..)

2014년 9월 24일

I'm aware that this yes/no issue can cause misunderstanding.

 

I remember one classic example when an Asian student who was staying with an English family told his landlady that he would be going to London for the day.

She said:

'Then you won't be home for dinner, then?'

He replied:

'Yes.'

By this reply, he meant 'Yes - what you say is correct'. However, his English landlady interpreted this as 'Yes - I will be home for dinner'. So she made for dinner for him, and was angry when he didn't show up. He was upset, because thought that he has told her that he didn't need dinner. 

 

Would this same misunderstanding happen between two people of different cultures speaking your language?

 

 

2014년 9월 24일

Да/Нет

2014년 9월 24일
ming
언어 구사 능력
아랍어, 중국어(북경어), 영어, 프랑스어, 독일어, 일본어, 한국어, 스페인어
학습 언어
아랍어, 프랑스어, 독일어, 일본어, 한국어, 스페인어