Interesting ways to call someone that you don't know!
When we start a conversation, the first thing we always do will be greeting or calling the reciever to attract attention. If we don't know the reciever, apart from using “你好” to start the conversation, what else can we say?
As in spanish, sometimes we use the words like "guapo, guapa" when we do not know the name of the recipient, in chinese we also have the words that can be used in this case. Let's see together!😉
老板 [ lǎobǎn] n. boss
It is used very often in small stores or restaurants where is easy to know who could be the owner.
e.g. 老板，这个饮料多少钱？
Lǎobǎn, zhège yǐnliào duō shǎo qián?
Boss, how much does this drink cost?
师傅 [shīfu] n. master
It is frequently used for teachers of certain technique or workers. We can call a driver, a mechanical worker or a master who is engaged in manual works.
e.g. (In a bus)
师傅，去人民广场是这个方向吗？
Shīfu, qù Rénmín guǎngchǎng shì zhège fāngxiàng ma?
Master, is this the right direction to People Square?
帅哥[shuàigē] handsome guy 美女 [měinǚ] beautiful girl
These words are used in the same case as in spanish. Quite possibly when you walk into a store that sells makeup or clothing products, the vendors will call you that.
e.g. 帅哥/美女，需要点什么吗？
Shuàigē/měinǚ, xūyào diǎn shénme ma?
Anything I can do for you handsome?
妹妹[mèimei] n. little sister
大姐 [dàjiě] n. big sister
阿姨[āyí] n. aunt
大哥[dàgē] n. big brother
叔叔[shūshu]，伯伯[bóbo] n. uncle
...
In case you already knew some chinese culture, you sure already noticed that we use family calls very frequently, even if we have no biological relationship. We use it to shorten the distance. Keep in mind that in chinese culture, girls prefer be called younger, while boys usually use the "哥" to give respect and sometimes give a higher position in the group. Also, when we know the person's last name, we will combine it with the deals, We take the Chen (陈) last name as an example:
陈姐，陈姨，陈哥，陈叔/陈伯……
先生[xiānshēng] n. Sir
小姐[xiǎojiě] n. young lady
Last, but not least, we can call peolpe using "先生" o "小姐". This is the most polite way, but also shows a kind of distance acording to the situation.
e.g. (When you enter a restaurant)
先生/小姐，您好，请问几位？
Xiānsheng/xiǎojiě, nín hǎo, qǐng wèn jǐ wèi?
Welcome sir/lady, how many do you have?
Here are the most common ways to call people, if you have more words that you think will fit on this list, or you've heard one that you do not understand, ask without a doubt! I'm Noah, let's learn Chinese through our daily lives!😆
July 23, 2020
