Those of us living in the western industrialized world are well aware of the growing giant in East Asia. China, a poverty-stricken nation after World War Two, now not only has the world’s largest middle class, it has an economy that is growing faster that the rest of the world combined according to some economists.

One thing is certain; China is growing much faster than our knowledge of the country. Many westerners who live in China, or have lived in China, say that most peoples’ knowledge of China is thirty to forty years out of date. We assume many things that are not true, for example, there is very little interest amongst the majority of Chinese people in becoming a democracy. We westerners were always told that almost everyone in China wanted to “escape” and come to a land of the free. The truth is, there is very little interest in leaving China amongst the majority. People over fifty remember life under Mao and the Cultural Revolution which included starvation, oppression, poverty and living in fear. Now, those same people live in modern condo apartments with colored televisions, computers, and all the appliances that westerners have. Furthermore, the average city dweller has enough disposable income to eat in a restaurant every day of the week if they choose to do so.

The Communist Party of China CPC) knows they cannot bully 1.37 billion people so they have adapted policies which keeps them in power… 1) have a strong economy which results in a secure and comfortable standard of living; 2) keep people content by providing efficient government services, and 3) maintaining a low profile; people seldom even think of government. The police, which were little more than brutal Party goons under Mao and his successors, seldom intrude on the lives of the average person; they are much more likely to mediate disputes, rather than arrest someone.

You may be surprised to learn that there are eight opposition political parties in China and not all Ministers of the Central Government are members of the CPC.

Will China replace the USA as the world’s most powerful nation? Not likely as a military power but quite probably as an economic power. China’s defense budget is less than one-quarter that of the US defense budget. These two countries need each other if they are to continue being the world’s economic powerhouses.

The Chinese people are aware of the continual “China bashing” by some western leaders and the western media, and this just makes the Chinese people more nationalistic and supportive of their government. Chinese President Xi Jinping, for example, has a domestic approval rating of 90%, far above the approval rating of any leader of a democracy.

There will always be people craving for Chinese takeaway. This is because they had a taste of these delectable dishes and realize how satisfying this is. The best part about it is that Chinese takeaway is also affordable. Imagine getting good quality in a lot of quantity at an affordable rate. Why do you think China Towns are scattered all over the globe? Every country has a version of China Town now, because of the popularity of Chinese food.

Then there’s the fortune cookie. One wouldn’t mind getting these cookies, cracking it open and seeing whether the fortune is accurate or not. It’s like an addition to an already-satisfying meal. Even when Westerners are in Eastern countries such as China, Hong Kong, and Taiwan, they still want to get their fill of Chinese food.

There’s something about eating Chinese food for the first time. It’s like it leaves a mark on your taste buds. You will constantly crave for Chinese food so imagine the delight of having access to Chinese takeaway. Not only that, there is also Chinese food delivery. You can be up late at night working on a project or just be suffering from insomnia. If you are experiencing any of these, just grab your phone and dial the number of your favorite Chinese restaurant and order your favorite Chinese takeaway.

If you take a closer look at the booming Chinese food industry, you would see that these restaurants were started by Chinese immigrants. It only comes to show that immigrants can succeed on western soil even when they bring their cultures with them. This is a living testament that by inculcating something they have grown up with and introducing this to others can reap great benefits. Soon enough, Chinese restaurants just keep popping up left and right.

It is interesting to see that there is still a high demand for Chinese food. This has been the case for over ten years now. People just don’t get tired of what the Chinese can give us. There are wide selections of delectable dishes ranging from dumplings and sweet and sour pork to lo mein of all kinds. You can mix and match your orders one day and then get something different the next day. Then there’s the soup as well as the tea that gives you a fuzzy feel. Don’t forget your fortune cookie. No harm checking out whether your fortune is accurate.

Westerners have embraced this Eastern culture – Chinese food. They also do their own versions because Chinese food is easy to cook anyway. You just have to get your hands on the ingredients and that would be so easy – thanks to China Town.

Below are a few Chinese proverbs or expressions that I have found extremely useful. They are all written in pinyin as Chinese characters may not display properly here.

Chinese Pinyin: “mei chi putao shuo putao suan”

Literal translation – haven’t eaten grapes say grapes sour

Believe that grapes are sour even though you have never eaten a grape.

This is a fairly easy proverb to understand and use. It’s means you have an opinion or judgment about something you have never investigated or know very little about i.e. your opinion has no foundation and you have no right to be passing a judgment on a certain topic or thing. Just like someone who says grapes are sour even though they have never eaten one.

I find this a very useful proverb in China as I often encounter people who’s opinions are just heresay. For example, when people find out that I come from Canada the usual conversation that follows is something along the line of how rich and wonderful Canada is. I like to make sure that Chinese people know that Canada has poor people too, the streets AREN’T paved with gold despite what they may think or hear. One time I told someone that Canada had homeless people and the local refused to believe me. He went on to tell ME what Canada was like even though he had never been there. So the proverb above would have been useful had I known it at that time.

There is another proverb almost the same as the proverb above but with a slightly different meaning:

Chinese Pinyin: “chi budao putao shuo putao suan”

Literal translation – eat not arrive grape say grape sour

Say/believe grapes are sour if you are unable to eat them (in order to falsely comfort oneself)

This proverb or saying is almost the same as the first but the meaning is quite different. It’s common for us as humans to envy what we don’t have or can’t afford. So we often pretend we don’t want the thing we can’t have or afford in an effort to comfort ourselves, but we know what mind games we are trying to play on ourselves and so do the people who hear us try to do so. That’s basically what this expression is meaning. A nice new BMW car drives by and someone says “Wow what a nice car” and you say “Ah BMWs aren’t that great anyway”. You don’t actually believe what you are saying but you say it anyways.

Chinese Pinyin: “guangong mianqian shua dadao”

Literal translation – Guangong (name of famous warlord) in front of play sword

OR

Play with a sword in the presence of Guangong

This basically means to attempt to show ones limited skills in the presence of someone who is highly skilled.

Guangong (also known as Guanyu) was a noted excellent swordsman. No one dared challenge him to a sword fight, sort of like a Billy the Kid of Chinese history. So of course if someone was attempting to show their swordsmanship in front of Guanyu it would be embarrassing, really, as he would be no match for Guanyu.

I especially like the idioms that encompass a little bit of Chinese culture or history like this one. Any idiom involving Guanyu, Zhugeliang and such figures are all the much more intriguing and interesting in my opinion.

The modern day usage of this proverb I think is pretty obvious. If anyone is trying to flaunt their skills in the presence of someone who’s skills surpass the “flaunter” then this proverb applies.

There are 2 sides to its usage I think. One usage is if perhaps you want to express your humility. If someone is more skilled than you in something but you still carry out the task for whatever reason you can say that you are guan1gong1 mian4qian2 shua1 da4dao1. If you say this in this situation you are guaranteed to get a smile or laugh from your chinese friend. Because you are essentially admitting that they are much better than you at this skill (whatever it may be). So it’s a way to give them a compliment or give them some “face”. Further, a foreigner using an expression like this which is close to their hearts is guaranteed to have an excellent reception.

In a negative way this could also be used to sort of put someone in their place i.e. someone who thinks a little bit too much of themselves because they are limitedly skilled in some area. If someone is in their presence whom is much better then this proverb could be used to humble them or to let them realise they should step aside and let the pro take over.

Another idiom that basically carries the same meaning is ban1men2nong4fu3. The meaning is basically the same, but I much prefer using guan1gong1 mian4qian2 shua1 da4dao1 because of the visual image and the cultural content.

Chinese Pinyin: “luobo baicai ge you suo ai”

Literal translation – Turnip Chinese Cabbage each has actual love

OR

Turnip, Cabbage everyone has their own preference

It basically means It means “Everybody has their own personal taste” or “Each persons likes and dislikes are different”

This is one of my MOST used expressions. If you live in China then this is a MUST learn. Reason being I was sick and tired of going into restaurants and asking for dishes to be modified to the way I like them (i.e. don’t put any hot peppers in, as I don’t like spicy food). Too many times the waitress told me it was “impossible”. When I asked why was it “impossible” the answer was always “because it won’t taste good that way”. I have no idea where this logic possibly comes from and how it can be so common nationwide, but it is. So I was SO happy to stumble upon this idiom/phrase which basically throws a spanner in their logic using their own language. Now I don’t need to argue with the waitresses or explain to them that I have the right to decide what does and doesn’t taste good. Once I get any resistance from the staff regarding my desires to change the dishes to my liking I simply utter the proverb/saying above and they normally smile (surprised a foreigner knows how to use such an expression) and they get the point. Strange that such an expression exists in their language but yet they insists on telling others what does and doesn’t taste good.

Anyways, be sure to learn this as you will use it almost daily (or at least almost every time you go to a restaurant).

Learning the Chinese language can be difficult, so it is important that you develop a proper learning strategy before diving into your studies. Howard Gardner’s Theory of Multiple Intelligences is a great theory to reference when developing your learning strategy. The theory states that there are seven distinct types of learners, visual-spatial, bodily-kinesthetic, musical, interpersonal, intrapersonal, linguistic, and logical-mathematical. This article will focus on learning strategies for bodily-kinesthetic learners.

What Are Bodily-Kinesthetic Learners

Bodily-kinesthetic learners are people who are very in touch with their bodies. They are good with their hands, and they enjoy using movement, making things, and touching objects. They can be found in a range of professions, from dancers to surgeons. These are the type of people who tend to communicate as much with their body language as they do through spoken words. If you are one of these learners you will learn well through physical activity, role-playing, acting, and many other types of hands-on learning. You should incorporate physical objects and tools into your learning strategy.

Learning Strategy 1

If you are a bodily-kinesthetic learner, you need to get your hands on real objects, so, when learning basic vocabulary words, do just that. For example, if you want to learn the names of basic kitchen items, start collecting those items and using them as study tools. Instead of using flash cards to memorize, for example, the names of eating utensils, get real knives and forks and chopsticks and put them into a box. Memorize their names by reaching into the box, pulling out an item and reciting its name in Chinese.

Learning Strategy 2

Role playing is a powerful tool for anyone learning a foreign language. It is especially powerful, though, for bodily-kinesthetic learners. If you are one of these learners, you need to find a partner ASAP. There is an unending supply of role-playing activities when learning Chinese. For example, you can act like you’re in a restaurant, a travel agency, or a hotel. You can ask each other for directions or have mock business meetings. You can even spend an entire day together acting like tourists or tour guides, or anything else you like. The important thing is to communicate as much as possible using Chinese.

Learning Strategy 3

If you are a bodily-kinesthetic learner, you are good at acting out, which means you most likely deliver passionate speeches. You may or may not be a great speech writer, but that’s not important here. What’s important is the delivery. So, what you can do is go online and search for famous speeches that have been translated into Chinese (there are lots of them). Memorize the speeches and then deliver them to your friends and family members.

Learning Strategy 4

Building things is a powerful way for bodily-kinesthetic learners to remember things. How can this help you learn a language? Well, say you want to learn how to discuss family in your target language. You can actually build a family tree. It doesn’t have to be too sophisticated or time consuming. You can use paper and other objects, or just draw a picture. It’s the act of creating something with your hands that will help you learn.

Summary

If you are a bodily-kinesthetic learner, you need to be active. Don’t just sit at a desk and memorize vocabulary words. If you do, you will become bored and lose interest in your studies. Instead, collect physical objects and use them as study tools. Be sure you stay active, building, creating and performing as you learn.

Even in this day and age Chinese Masks are used within two main elements of Chinese culture. The New Year masks which are worn by Chinese people to welcome the new year throughout the world. And the Opera masks which are painted and drawn on the faces of the actors and singers and are used to depict the traits and characteristics of the role each actor is playing.

Chinese New Years masks are not seen at any other time of the year. The exciting and extravagant Chinese New Year can last for a week or longer and ends with the Yuanxiao which is a lantern festival. The masks used depict the moods and emotion of enjoyment and happiness which tie in with the ceremonies and festival. Chinese people typically will buy presents, buy new clothes and cook expensive meals for the new year period. Throughout this period many works of art and crafts like the Chinese masks in their rich and vivid colors are worn and displayed to show the nature of the festivity.

Chinese Masks are made up of numerous materials like stones and metals, leather and cloth, paper and grass and more. They are then painted in different color themes and designs. Some masks may represent animal or human characteristics like the lion or the dragon. Red is also a popular color, thought to bring prosperity and many red masks will be seen during the celebrations.

Chinese New Year is based in lore of deities, spirits, good and evil beings and animal ancestors. Masks commonly depict these characteristics and powers and are held in high esteem during the ceremonies and dances involved in the Chinese New Year.

The dragon holds special significance at new years and is a bringer of good luck and fortune, especially for farming and harvesting and is also the bringer of rain. The New Years celebrations mark the beginning of the planting and farming seasons in China, and so the two tie closely together.

The dragon mask is a key symbol of fortune and prosperity for the New Year. The dragon mask is an important part of Chinese heritage and specifically New Year parades. While the dragon mask may not hold the same importance that it did during ancient times, no present day New Years parade is without it.

The dragon mask began as this kind of symbol, but through the centuries the role of the mask in Chinese society has changed. The mask is no longer seen as such an important part of agricultural prosperity today, but it is still a very important symbol to the Chinese people.

The dragon masks used during parades are commonly very complex and elaborate with vivid colors, usually in gold, red and blue with fur and feathers headed by the large dragon mask which usually features bright red. A traditional dragon mask will typically have either a wide rounded mouth or a yawning jaw. The person at the head of the dragon dance procession will wear the mask or hold it above his or her head as the dragon dances and snakes along through the streets.

The other type of masks in Chinese culture are the modern Chinese Opera masks which are either painted on or are worn as thin cloth masks. The tradition of facial make up started from totems created centuries ago times which later became facial paintings. Basic depictions of painted faces were discovered in tomb murals during the Song dynasty. Later this evolved and as the paints improved, along with the skills of the painters and crafters and the tools they used the masks evolved to don full color themes and designs and came to depict different artistic roles, different emotions and different moods.

Frequently used facial make ups include yellow which represents cruelty, Silver and Gold which are typically used to represent gods and demons and for spirits and ghosts, blue which is vigor and valor and green which depicts justice and chivalry. These color themes have remained the same for ages and were handed down and refined throughout the ages of Chinese art, culture and history.

According to the Department of Health and Human Services, seventy percent of diseases are preventable, yet most people have no idea of how to do this. Western-style aerobic exercises or workouts at the gym are not enough to be truly well. Most exercises focus on building muscles or endurance but Qi Gong (Chi Kung) focuses on the whole body, physical, mentally, emotionally and spiritually. The benefits of Qi Gong are so many that it has been made part of the Chinese national health care system and is practiced by millions of people across the world.

Qi Gong can be used for health reasons, for self-cultivation, to enhance vitality and develop internal force, to promote youthfulness and longevity and to expand the mind and intellect. During personal practice, slow and graceful movements combined with relaxed breathing and mental concentration is used to balance and increase a person’s life force or energy (qi). The benefits of exercise increase massively when breathing techniques and focused intention are added to physical movement. Thus it is an excellent way to keep fit and lose weight. It can be completely tailored to your abilities from dynamic, intricate workouts and sequences to simple non-strenuous movements and meditation. Depending on how it is practiced, it can be invigorating or very relaxing. It gives an overall sense of well-being and improves coordination and balance and builds self-esteem and confidence. Also, because the movements require coordination between right and left limbs, it balances the right and left sides of the brain. The movements combined with breathing techniques encourage efficient use of oxygen for digestion and metabolism balancing.

Qi Gong is part of Traditional Chinese Medicine and is accepted as a complementary treatment option. The practitioner transforms their ‘chi’ energy into healing energy and addresses the root cause of illness and disease, treating the patient as a whole. Qi Gong improves blood circulation and enhances the body’s immune function as well as aiding in the regeneration and regulation of the nervous, digestive, lymphatic and circulatory/cardiovascular systems and the body’s internal organs. It is used as a preventative and curative method and can be used for general health maintenance, physical rehabilitation, bone density and balance, cancer treatment, arthritis, back pains, diabetes, hypertension and stress. While not scientifically proven, research on thousands of patients has suggested that Qi Gong lowers blood pressure, pulse rates, metabolic rates and oxygen demand. It also seems to trigger the body’s relaxation response by reducing the level of dopamine, a neurotransmitter that controls neurological activity. An ancient history, devout following and amazing case studies is proof enough without the science!

America is a country that is home to people from every part of the world. If one has a strong desire to count the cultures represented in the general population, it might be a very exhausting test of perseverance. An interesting cultural trend that has bloomed in America for some time now is the culture of Chinese Americans. “Chinese Americanism” is a phenomenon that has been the result of people with Chinese origin living in America. As the years have passed greater mobility from China to America has increased. It is still true that the tide of immigration from East Asia continues to grow. In the experience of Chinese Americans, they have largely succeeded in exerting their unique influence in a variety of ways throughout the American culture and its “melting pot” society. In fact, Chinese Americans have been living, working, and raising their children here in North America for many generations!

The official statistics of the United States note that the original wave of Chinese immigrants began in 1820. However, the actual number of Chinese people migrating to American soil was quite low before 1848. After the famous “California Gold Rush” many people of Chinese origin starting coming in greater numbers. Four years after the gold rush ended more than 25,000 Chinese people had come to the land called “America.” Most of the people migrating to the United States in the beginning were young men with a basic level of education who were seeking manual labor employment. Unfortunately, there came to be a total ban on Chinese immigration from 1885 to 1943. This was the result of the controversial “Chinese Exclusion Act.” After this Chinese immigration was tightly restricted until 1965. During the years since then many Chinese people have successfully made their journey to America. The people with Chinese ancestry who are born in America are immediately granted full citizenship by the United States. However, since the People’s Republic of China does not permit dual citizenship Chinese people who are naturalized U.S. citizens must lose their Chinese citizenship.

It is no secret these days that Chinese immigrants have made a major contribution in several important fields in this country. Professor Steven Chu is one such individual that has won the Nobel Prize. He is also a Chinese American. Other Nobel Prize winners with Chinese American roots would include Samuel C.C. Ting, Tsung Dao Lee, Chen Ning Yang, and Daniel Chee Tsue.

It has been said (even by Chinese people themselves) that they have a different way of life than other Americans. They have kept many of their strongest cultural traditions alive during their long sojourn in America. Some of these traditions have even become grafted into modern American life! One of the most notable influences of Chinese Americans has been in the area of cuisine. It started out a long time ago when Americans were first exposed to tasty Chinese cuisine, probably at the behest of their Chinese friends and neighbors. Not too long afterward Chinese restaurants were showing up all across America offering traditional Chinese food to American customers. As time passed a new type of “American Chinese cuisine” developed. It was really a fusion between American and Chinese cuisine. However, it didn’t seem to matter to most people. The Chinese restaurant business came into existence with a popular appeal!

If a person desires to see Chinese culture in its fullest sphere on the American landscape today, then Chinatown is the logical place to go. “Chinatown” refers to a designated area of many larger cities that is deliberately constructed and maintained like a true Chinese community. Chinatown is full of restaurants, souvenir shops, and museums which display the culture of ancient and modern of China openly. The entire community is designed in a traditional Chinese style. These communities are located in many cities around the world too. This is further evidence that Chinese people have spread out across the globe. Their influence has been deeply and profoundly felt by many people who not of Chinese origin. So, Chinese people have come to the West in such a fashion. They have changed the way many people live… even if Westerners are not always aware of it. Chinese Americans can celebrate what they have accomplished so far. May your journey be a lucky and prosperous one too!

The Chinese YoYo is an ancient toy developed in China. The earliest examples of the toy were found to be from the Ming Dynasty. It is comprised of two identical discs attached together by an axle at the centre. Two sticks with a piece of string attached to the ends of the sticks are also required to use the toy. The yoyo is used by holding a stick in each hand while spinning the yoyo on the string attached to the sticks. The Chinese yoyo, also known as a diabolo, is used in a number of ethnic Chinese dances. It is also used by many jugglers as a tool to further enhance their performances. There are many tricks that can be accomplished using the toy. It can be thrown around the user’s back or flung up into the air and catching it on the string as it falls back down. Similar to a regular yoyo, this toy works by using the principle of gyroscopic rotation to maintain a stable spin.

A Chinese yoyo is traditionally made using bamboo. The problem with bamboo is that it tends to break easily so it cannot withstand repeated tricks over time. The modern versions of the toy are usually made with durable plastics that can survive repeated use over the years. The sticks used for the yoyo, however, are still commonly made of wood.

There are many tricks that can be accomplished using this toy and the simplest of them is making the yoyo accelerate. This can be done by using a technique called the open string drive where the yoyo is accelerated by moving the tow sticks up and down. A more difficult method of accelerating a yoyo is by using what is called a closed string drive. Here, users will have to wrap the string around the yoyo then moving the sticks. This can accelerate the yoyo even faster than by using an open string drive. Other tricks include the toss and catch, the elevator, the stick grind, the waterfall, the wrap and escape and the swing. There are also advanced level tricks like the Cicada, the suicide and around the world. These tricks take a while to learn and lots of practice is required to perfect them.

There are also variations of the toy that have appeared over the years. One such variation is called the single bell. This version only has one bell which makes the toy unstable. This version is also more difficult to use.

Before the dawn of globalization, people thought it would be fun to learn a second language, but never took it seriously. In high school, for example, young people have learned Spanish, French, German or even Latin, only to lose quickly after graduation. Recently, however, Chinese has become favorite language of choice and not just to teach high school and college, but also online. Their growing popularity should not be too surprising. More than 1 billion people speak Chinese. Being able to learn Chinese is not only fun, but also it is becoming an essential tool for business people and travelers worldwide. Take classes in Chinese language and mastery of the language opens the door to almost a fifth of the world population. Standard Mandarin is spoken in China Hong Kong Macao, Taiwan, Singapore, Malaysia, and many others around the world. Chinese language proficiency is essential for business people willing to expand into the Asian market, especially in the growing market for products and services at the Western China. Not only China has become a giant in the global economy, but also in the 2008, Olympics in Beijing promise to put China on the international stage, hosting the World competition. The entire nation will be exposed for the world to see the charm of the country and offer the discerning business travelers a great opportunity to learn the Chinese language. While the Chinese language have a reputation for being difficult to learn, the adoption of simplified Chinese characters and Pinyin Hanya development has made it easier for Westerners to learn Chinese.

One of the best ways to learn Chinese on a network is learning it online. Learning to speak Mandarin is easier when a student acts as a native speaker. Listening to language allows students to learn the correct pronunciation quickly. This is the first step in learning the Chinese language. Teaching how to use pinyin, you can quickly learn to read and pronounce the key characters. Native language can help you with pronunciation. Rules of language are more rigid than in English too, so you don’t need to learn from the myriad of exceptions to every rule.

Difficulties in learning Chinese language

Complex, mysterious still, ridiculous many students from western worlds are attracted to China because of the writing system, which is surely one of the scripts most fascinating in the world. The more you learn the Chinese characters about the most exciting and compelling it becomes. A study of Chinese characters can become a permanent obsession, and you soon find yourself involved in the daily task of accumulation, drip of the vast ocean of characters, in a vain attempt to accumulate in the leaky bucket with memory long term. Signs of beauty are undeniable, but the Chinese people began to realize the importance of literacy, it becomes clear that these ideographs have been a bit like the bound feet – some fetishists may have liked how they looked but they are not practical for daily use. From practical standpoint, many things one could do to improve the language with time and develop a set of skills that has more value in the labor market. Learning Chinese was a wise move for many other reasons but not to those who need to make money or get a better job. Comparison of learning western language compared to Chinese is striking.

If you have been in a long distance relationship for any length of time you will know, as I do, how hard it can be. It’s even harder if the person you are having that relationship with is a Chinese person who’s native language is obviously not the same as your own! One of the biggest problems I experienced in the three long-distance relationships I’ve had, was misunderstandings due to culture-difference, these of themselves caused many sleepless nights on both sides, not to mention pointless arguments and the odd-break up.

The most important thing I found during the time apart was to be able to smooth misunderstandings over, and not create too many waves by exercising some much needed emotional discipline, but emotional discipline is not all you need in order to make sure the Chinese woman/girl in question still maintains her interest in you; in fact, although you may feel you are saying the right things, Mandarin being what it is, and Chinese women’s thinking and culture being vastly different from your own, you may not be hitting the right buttons at all! So let’s take a look at a few winning techniques that can make sure her interest doesn’t wane, or even worse, her attentions don’t go elsewhere.

1. Here is one that is always nice to use: ‘ju li chansheng mei’ or ‘absence makes the heart grow fonder’; the closer meaning is actually ‘distance creates beauty between people’, beauty in this case doesn’t particularly mean physical beauty, but can mean a kind of emotional beauty in much the same way as we may say seeing something through ‘rose tinted glasses’. Saying this sentence can therefore re-frame the long-distance experience into a romantic one for her, making its’ ongoing nature a pleasure rather than a burden.

2. ‘Wo zhen xiang ni, wode lao po'(wife). This sentence basically translated means ‘I really miss you, my wife’. Now, firstly, you do not need to be actually married in order to be allowed to say this, she may not even have agreed to be your Chinese bride. This is simply a way of showing your girlfriend that your feelings are strong and committed to her. This is really important to Chinese women, and don’t worry that this is the same as asking her to marry you, because it’s not. I hear Chinese guys and women (women use the term ‘lao gong’/husband) saying this to each other all the time, some of those relationships culminate in marriage and some do not. It’s simply a cultural difference you can use to your advantage. With the next one we’re going to use another great tactic.

3. With this one we’re really going to ‘amp-up’ the emotional feelings: ‘Duode nuhai xihuan wo, danshi wo yao ni, bu yao bie de’. This sentence means ‘Lots of girls like me (change to ‘nan ha’ if it’s a male), but I want you and no one else’. This is a great sentence for not only conveying a depth of feeling and commitment to her but also demonstrating your value.

Now, you may think you telling her other women are attracted to you is maybe a bit unnecessary, and in a normal relationship where you are together everyday and can see each other, I might agree with you; but you are in a long distance relationship and the main point is to keep her, so you will often need a little bit more than just good old-fashioned love, you may need the good old-fashioned green-eyed monster himself, jealousy. For sure, you will be on her mind for days after, and she’ll make sure she puts in the work for you to, instead of going luke-warm.