Killer Fact 洋鬼子 yáng guǐzi

Killer Fact  洋鬼子 yáng guǐzi

Here is something interesting a pejorative term for foreigners 洋鬼子 yáng guǐzi  literal translation is a 'Foreign Devil'. 

Now where does this all come from?  I am glad you asked. Historically (not now of course) the Chinese viewed people beyond their borders as barbarians.

Two derogatory terms were used;

In the southern parts of China, the term Gweilo or Gwai Lo 鬼佬; Cantonese gwai2 lou2 was used.

In Northern parts of China, the term Western ocean ghost 西洋 鬼子 Xi Yang Guizi was used, Europe West of China.

Breaking it down;

The term gui 鬼 ghost in guizi devils 鬼子 is an adjective that can be used to express hate and deprecation. The character gui 鬼 alone can have negative connotations.

More information;

Westerners were called Yang Guizi 洋鬼子 during Boxer Rebellion 1898 - 1901.

Japanese military in the term devil soldiers Guizi Bing 鬼子兵 during the Second Sino-Japanese War 1937 - 1945.  The Korean military with the term Second Devil Er Guizi 二鬼子.

Guizi can be used to refer to either Japanese 日本鬼子; pinyin: rìběn guǐzi; literally "Japanese devil", or  東洋鬼子; pinyin: dōngyáng guǐzi; literally "east ocean devil".

Westerners  洋鬼子 yáng guǐzi; literally "Westernern devil, west ocean devil" or 西洋鬼子; pinyin: xiyáng guǐzi; literally "west ocean devil".

Now another word for foreigners in Mandarin Chinese is Laowai   老外 lǎowài literally "Old Outsider" (Alien is actually the best translation) is also a little bit controversial with some folk. Especially the expatriate community in China. Similarities in other lands include gringo  how some Americans view the Spanish/Brazilian Portuguese in their lands, the Japanese word gaijin,  Thailand has farang and Germans have Ausländer. By the way I have been a  gaijin, a farang and an  Ausländer and it didn't bother me.

你好。我是样鬼子。

Multimedia Chinese Teaching System

Found another Chinese language learning resource. The Rutgers Multimedia Chinese Teaching System has four levels of lessons for first year to fourth year students. It has plenty of content in simplified hanzi, pinyin, audio and English. There is also content in traditional characters.The scripts for learning are quite detailed. Accompanying these pages of scripts are grammar explanations.  There is plenty of content in this site.


However, despite the content navigation for the site is very poor. It is difficult to navigate around the site as menus are not consistent. Sometimes links at the bottom and sometimes the left side navigation changes from English to Chinese Hanzi.   I do not know if this is intentional (perhaps it is an attempt at partial immersion in Chinese). Definitely makes moving around the site challenging. Some of the pages are not set out well. It is difficult to find related content quickly. 


 If the site were redesigned with a consistent navigation it would be better. This site may be useful to supplement your main study. It is a pity that it is difficult to find specific information as the materials and grammar are detailed.

"The Rutgers Multimedia Chinese Teaching System (RMCTS). This is a computer based multimedia curriculum to supplement First year, Second year, and Advanced Chinese (Third and Fourth year) language instruction at Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey."

Multimedia Chinese Teaching System 

Will Studying Mandarin Get Me A Job At The Goldman Sachs?

Will Studying Mandarin Get Me A Job At The Goldman Sachs?

Found this blog post from Wall Street Oasis offering advice for the serious Chinese language learner.  Definitely a study plan for the ambitious serious Mandarin learner.

"Opinions will vary on how to get this experience, but my advice is this:


Year 1: Home university


Summer: intensive language program at a well-known Chinese university


Year 2: Home university, take a “business in China” class/short study trip, if you university has one 


Summer: intern ship with a random mainland firm (likely a small one)


Year 3: Study at a well-known Chinese university, and ideally a part-time internship with a less random mainland firm


Summer: even less random full-time intern ship


Year 4: Home university


???


PROFIT"  from Olafenzer  at Wall Street Oasis

One would have to be very committed, dedicated and ambitious to be studying between your home country and a Chinese university for four years.