#datingchina

An essential part of learning Chinese, or any other foreign language, is to follow the popular slang of contemporary life. Much of this I have learned by watching popular Chinese dramas and comedy shows, just as many Chinese people learned English slang through watching Friends. One spoken term I heard on TV and asked my Chinese teacher about is “电灯泡 (diàndēngpào)”. My teacher explained to the class what this popular expression means and today I’ll share the meaning with you!

In short, “电灯泡 (diàndēngpào)” means “third wheel”. Or, a friend who gets in the way of two lovers on a date or romantic situation. The origin of the term, which comes from Cantonese, doesn’t translate to “third wheel”, oddly enough it translates to a “light bulb”.

The popular, everyday phrase “电灯泡 (diàndēngpào)” comes from...

One of the speaking topics that I love to explore, and that is never dull, in my Mandarin Chinese classes is the endless conversation on dating and relationships. Students enjoy comparing the behavior of men and women between cultures and are always curious about how these relationship matters are typically dealt with in China. We like talking about the “battle of the sexes” and learning about each other while also practicing our Chinese.

Recently, a survey of Chinese “netizens” (we love this term!) revealed a list of “The Top 10 Chinese Expressions Men Say That Annoy Women the Most”. I like to share this with my class to facilitate discussion and...