How do you ask someone in Chinese (Mandarin) whether they are being racist or just rude?
“Are you being racist, or just rude?”
Maybe the Taiwanese would be helpful too, since I’m in the south (Kaohsiung).
Thanks.
Unless you are already to the point where you can say this in Mandarin (or Taiwanese), it doesn’t seem likely to me that this would BE a good thing for you to say to anyone. The reason would be that this statement seems very Western – you have already decided that the person is being either racist or rude, both of which are bad in your eyes. It’s a sarcastic thing to say, and it really sounds like someone who just doesn’t “get it” about Taiwan yet. Attitudes ARE different in Taiwan, and people often make statements that would be profoundly racist or rude in the West, but which are considered “normal” here. I’m not going to get into a philosophical discussion of whether this is “right” or not; I’m just trying to think about what language or what kind of interaction is considered appropriate in Chinese in Taiwan, unless you are looking to start a bar fight (in which case others would be better equipped than I to tell you how to go about it.) 
If it were me, and I truly wanted to understand how the person felt about what he had just said, I might ask something like:
不知道你剛剛說的那句話, 你不會覺得有點種族歧視還是不禮貌嗎?
This of course is an actual question (although I would guess it could still be taken as a criticism and/or attack)， along the lines of “Don’t you think what you just said might be a bit racist or rude?”
If the person made a statement about YOU that you felt was racist or rude, you could say:
聽你剛剛那句話， 我會覺得有點種族歧視， 聽起來不太禮貌， 你大概不是那個意思吧？
(“Hearing what you just said, I feel it’s a bit racist. It sounds rude [to me]. You probably didn’t mean it that way, right?”)
All but the most dedicated person who really meant the statement to be racist would probably have to back down and apologize, or at least explain for awhile, if you say that.
Again, none of what I have posted above are “fighting words”. If you’re looking for an argument, you probably don’t want to have it in Mandarin (or even less in Taiwanese!) if you’re not up to it.
For mothers who insist on doing the point-and-comment thing with foreigners, sometimes it’s fun to come out with something like:
在今天全球化的社會， 你會覺得那是最好培養小孩的國際展望方式嗎？
(“In today’s globalized society, do you think that is the best way to develop your child’s world vision?”)
Of course you have to realize that 99% of the people in Taiwan see nothing wrong with pointing to a person and saying to a kid, “See the foreigner?” They really think this IS the way to build their kid’s global vision, evidently, in tandem with encouraging the child to go speak his three words of English with the poor foreigner. So in terms of this stuff, you are truly fighting a losing battle.
bu4 zhi1dao4 ni3 gang1gang1 shuo1de na4ju4hua4, ni3 bu2hui4 jue2de you3 (yi1)dian3 zhong3zu2 qi2shi4 hai2shi4 bu4 li2mao4 ma?
ting1 ni3 gang1gang1 na4ju4hua4, wo3 hui4 jue2de you3dian3 zhong3zu2 qi2shi4, ting1qi3lai2 bu2tai4 li3mao4, ni3 da4gai4 bu2shi4 na4ge yi4si4 ba?
[quote=“ironlady”]For mothers who insist on doing the point-and-comment thing with foreigners, sometimes it’s fun to come out with something like:
在今天全球化的社會， 你會覺得那是最好培養小孩的國際展望方式嗎？
(“In today’s globalized society, do you think that is the best way to develop your child’s world vision?”)[/quote]
Or 國際觀 (guo2 ji4 guan1)
Ironlady’s comments are right on the money. Also, people here have a very different understanding of sarcasm here, and a comment such as “Are you being racist or just rude?” would probably be met with blank stares of confusion. Nine times out of ten people who make seemingly racist statements here are unaware that their comments are offensive.
I’m not trying to defend racists - not in the least. But I’m just trying to say that a comment like “Are you being racist or just rude?” is unlikely to do any good.
[quote=“Cyberguerrilla”]How do you ask someone in Chinese (Mandarin) whether they are being racist or just rude?
“Are you being racist, or just rude?”
[/quote]
zaijian
bu4 zhi1dao4 ni3 gang1gang1 shuo1de na4ju4hua4, ni3 bu2hui4 jue2de you3 (yi1)dian3 zhong3zu2 qi2shi4 hai2shi4 bu4 li2mao4 ma?
ting1 ni3 gang1gang1 na4ju4hua4, wo3 hui4 jue2de you3dian3 zhong3zu2 qi2shi4, ting1qi3lai2 bu2tai4 li3mao4, ni3 da4gai4 bu2shi4 na4ge yi4si4 ba?[/quote]
translation please for those of us who cant read mandarin OR pinyin 
[quote=“Tempo Gain”][quote=“Cyberguerrilla”]How do you ask someone in Chinese (Mandarin) whether they are being racist or just rude?
“Are you being racist, or just rude?”
[/quote]
zaijian[/quote]
Bingo.
If you’re going to point out something that you find racist and/or impolite, you better be ready to back yourself up conversationally. If you were just planning on stating this and walking away, I’m sure those people will just be confused. And if you’re asking how to say this relatively easy question, I’m going to assume that you won’t be able to back yourself up much at all.
[quote=“ironlady”]Unless you are already to the point where you can say this in Mandarin (or Taiwanese), it doesn’t seem likely to me that this would BE a good thing for you to say to anyone. The reason would be that this statement seems very Western – .[/quote] :ohreally: :ohreally: :ohreally:
Bollocks. Or should I say I politely disagree? 
There are people who are racists here. I call them that and nothing else.
Thats why we have the words for racism and discrimination.
You’re statement that it’s not a good thing to say is I belive to be incorrect. There’s a difference when somebody is just being rude when it’s racist.
Where does the OP talk about people pointing a calling others furriners???
When you confront people here about their racism you are showing them your disgust for it.
The OP is right to learn how to know the difference in Chinese as the meaning are so very different.
The OP will use the terms when required. This sentence below is not one of them. Looks like it was typed in English and cobbled together out of a Chinese PDA…
[quote]在今天全球化的社會， 你會覺得那是最好培養小孩的國際展望方式嗎？
(“In today’s globalized society, do you think that is the best way to develop your child’s world vision?”) [/quote]
Bollocks.
There are people who are racists here. I call them that and nothing else.[/quote]
Ironlady’s point is that the statement “Are you a racist or are you just bring rude?” is constructed with a very Western style of sarcasm that will probably just confuse people here.
If you confront a racist here, you can call them racist directly rather than in a way that might be cryptic to them.
If I hear any kind of racist comments like that, I always ask them if they are being racist? Why not?
May I suggest:
不知道你對我的膚色有問題還是你沒家教沒教養呢?
Bu4 zhi1dao4 ni3 dui4 wo3de fu1se4 you3 wen4ti2 hai2shi4 ni3 mei2 jia1jiao4 mei2 jiao4yang3 ne1?
Translation: Do you have a problem with my skin colour or were you brought up with neither manners nor education?
If you’re feeling a bit bolder afterwards, feel free to add:
欠揍啊?
Qian4zou4 a?
Translation: Looking for a beating?
EDIT: I forgot to add " " because even the first line are fighting words (calling someone 沒家教 or 沒教養). The English translation loses quite a bit of cultural context.
Jim:
I just wonder if the point Ironlady and others are making here is that, if you directly challenge others’ perceived racist or rude actions or words, you are being excessively direct and confrontational. Such a style might not suit the Chinese communication style-- to my limited understanding of it-- very well. I had that impression when I read OP’s question, originally. In English, and as westerners, we may say such things as a way of making the other “wake up” and realize the error in their words or actions. From where I come from, someone telling another that their actions are racist will usually result in some kind of a PC shaming. I couldn’t see saying something like this in Chinese as accomplishing anything positive. It would probably just result in a loss of face of some sort and be akin to telling the guy to fuck his mother. OK if you want to fight; not OK if you are trying to communicate, educate or have some sort of positive effect on others’ perceptions or behaviour. At any rate, you will most likely only offend with this approach. If that is your intent, economy of words is better. A simple three word insult would accomplish that goal more effectively.
Chinese people can be sarcastic, but whilst we say it is the lowest form of wit, they use it as such. It usually comes moments before blows or some real venting.
Yes perhaps you’re right Stimpy. But as you know me personnaly you know I’m a stand up guy.
I like to take issues by the throat. I like to kill
kill
kill
eat burnt dead bodies and feel veins in me teeth.
OK… not really but if you feel that a loss of ace as you so put it is not comfortable for the locals then perhaps they should think about what they do or say that causes this in the first place.
I mean, where do they lose their faces? Down a toilet bowl? Fell off into the deep fryer?
I’ve only got one face and I keep it attached to the rest of my head.
Aussies like the direct approach. Short and shrift. We don;t beat around the bush with niceties when sorting these things out. People like to hide behind their PC wording whilst actually thinking of more useful words they’d really like to be saying.
One thing I learnt when working in Australian Dept of Foreign Affairs & Trade ( you need to learn this before you get posted overseas ) The art of being a diplomat, is being able to tell somebody, to go to hell, in such a way, they look forward to the trip.
i think you could say such a thing to most educated, or open minded people here. they are not unfamiliar with the concept of racism and will often bring it up themselves. prefacing it with “rude” is not likely to be helpful. better to make the choice yourself and say one or the other. i think a certain kind of wiseass sarcasm we take for granted where i come from for sure is mostly going to go over heads here.
as for a certain generally less educated or open minded type of person, talk about racism or this or that “zhuyi”, in fact most talk in general isn’t going to sink in. of course this group is going to make up the far larger part of such interactions. best to ignore them and walk away until your chinese or taiwanese is really up to taking command of the situation, even then it will still probably be better to say “zaijian”
[quote=“Satellite TV”]I like to kill
kill
kill
eat burnt dead bodies and feel veins in me teeth.
OK… [/quote]
OK. Off to the group W bench for you.
Kid… Have you rehabilitated your self?
What I mean is step back and smell the flowers. Remember you are the alien here. Unless you want to make with the probes and cow bothering then you will always stand out. I say if you going to go into the jungle to fight then you should CLASH. Just be yourself and let the narrow minded yokels alone. You wouldn’t go bothering rednecks in the Okies, or hoods in the Crip would you? Why do it in Taiwan?
If you were in a Chinese restaurant in the West, and you stuck your chopsticks into your rice when you were reaching for a platter of food with both hands, would you think it appropriate that a Chinese person there ranted at you, “What the f***? Do you want to kill us all, or are you just an ignorant idiot with no culture?”
Pretty much the same thing. A Westerner who had never had much contact with Chinese would not realize that is a taboo, because based on his culture, it isn’t. A Taiwanese (regardless of contact with Westerners) would consider that statements like the one you mention are normal and not racist. After all, “we Chinese” call people fat to their faces, ask about money right out, and so on. It’s “you Westerners” who are impossibly mixed up about politeness and what is insulting and what is not.
Actually I’m not.
I’m a local.
Actually I’m not.
I’m a local. [/quote]
I think Chicken is saying you look like an alien.
Who let a local in here? fetch the porter and get me a gin, this is my club, my tax $ paid for it so do it my way.
Err. Sorry, that’s the Colonel Chicken talking. Does alien taste like chicken?