Home  Learn More Handout 2-2: Proper Titles
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Handout 2-2: Proper Titles |
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Written by Taospark
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Sunday, 08 June 2008 |
Click here to go to Handout 2-1: Standalone Vocabulary Sheet
Click here to return to Lesson Two
Male
GWŎ Older Boy; Teenager "brother" informal
SŬK Young to Middle-age Male Adult informal
BŎK Older Male Adult informal
GŬNG Old Man/"grandfather" informal
LAU-BŬN Boss/Manager informal
LAU-XLCĒ Teacher formal
XLCĒN-SŎNG Sir formal
Female
GŪ Young Girl/Miss/Ms. (unmarried) informal
SĒM Young Woman/Mrs. (married) informal
MŌ Older Woman/Mrs. (married) informal
PŌ Old woman/"grandmother" informal
LAU-BŬN Boss/Manager informal
LAU-XLCĒ Teacher formal
XLCŪ-DEAH Ma'am/Young Lady formal
FŪ-GNĒN Well-off woman/Madam formal
 Addressing someone properly in Chinese is heavily influenced by the five Confucian relationships in the classic philosophy: imperial, parental, spousal, fraternal, and that of between friends.
Since Toisanese is a rural dialect that has now adapted to a modern age both here and in China, the bulk of proper titles falls into three briefer categories: familial, those in the workplace, and those in school.
Most formal titles will either follow closely or mirror entirely their Cantonese counterparts while informal ones will vary greatly, even by the specific part of Toisan that the speakers or their ancestors were from.
Formal conversation such as official family gatherings or dealing with customers requires the title be used early to establish the tone of the conversation as respectful and polite. Unlike English, titles are typically not used at the end of your sentences.
Titles in more relaxed situations can be used interchangeably with pronouns whether the subject you are referring to is there or not. Informal titles are also used to "bridge the gap" and establish familiarity with new friends or old ones you have not spoken to in some time.
As always, discretion is the best prerogative and only experience will enable you to properly judge how to deal with people in conversation while speaking Toisanese. Be polite so others will be okay just in case you say the wrong phrase and as always, practice 好多.
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Last Updated ( Saturday, 20 December 2008 )
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