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Thread: Foreigner, Westerner or Expat?

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[quote=SANYACHINA,229305]"Used appropriately in a proper context with proper respect then no harm is done."

Why you have to use a CHINESE word in English context? Just call him/her/them "foreigner" and it will be OK. As I can see you have no problem with using English.

"And although the terms "laowai" and "foreigner" are usually used (in China, at least) to refer to white people, there is nothing in those terms that restricts them to being used to refer to white people, nor is there anything in them that implies that all non-Chinese are the same."

Hehe, EVEN for some of the Xinjiang minorities, some Han-chinese are trying to use such a terminology! Of course it will make people to feel unconfortable! Yes, we are not the same, but we are Easterners and we are part of one and the same society, so just it is OK, do not use separative terminology.

"Yes, some people dislike being reminded that they are, in fact, foreigners"

They dislike to be called "laowai", because for some of them it sounds not just bad, but they EVEN do not know what is this exactly means!

"but that is a simple fact. If they don't like it they're just going to have to learn to deal with it."

Depends. For example in some Western societies the close freinds call each other "gey". If you are there, may be you will be not happy someone to say "hello" to you in thier way: "Hi, gey! Where R U going?", and then, probably, you will feel upset if you have to "learn to deal with it".

And once again - a lot of "laowai"-s, they don't like to learn how to deal with it. They ALREADY have some dealing "methods" like this:

but I am pretty sure you will not like them.*

____

* The brief intro about the story:

In Europe a deputy is walking down the street with his puppy. He met a young guy who parked his car in a wrong place. The deputy told him : "It is not right. Move your car." And then the young man with his fists broke his nose and head. You can see the blood in the street and you can see the beaten deputy over here:

http://www.segabg.com/online/img%5C2001-10-13%5Ci150402.jpg

That is all why I am trying to explain you some simple truths. It will be pity because of one word to get bad results.

Be happy! :)

[/quote]

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