<![CDATA[Do American Born Chinese understand Chinese language?]]>Just curious. Do American Born Chinese people understand Chinese language? Cos Everytime I wanna say sth in private when I go overseas I usually just say it in Chinese to my parents so nobody in the local society would understand.


Dont wanna find myself in an awkward position if suddenly someone nearby understands what you were talking about :x

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/topic/36533/do-american-born-chinese-understand-chinese-languageRSS for NodeSun, 19 Apr 2026 05:08:10 GMTWed, 06 Jun 2012 13:04:20 GMT60<![CDATA[Reply to Do American Born Chinese understand Chinese language? on Fri, 08 Jun 2012 16:29:58 GMT]]>When my grandparents migrated to Singapore, my aunt was married in China and later followed her in-laws and migrated to Canada. My cousins are born there. They speak Cantonese at home and don’t learn Chinese in school. They learn English and French instead. However, when my cousins grew up, they became interested in the Chinese language and took lessons. Meanwhile, Chinese became an ‘in thing’ to the western countries and many foreigners also started to learn Chinese and the culture.

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/776176https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/776176Fri, 08 Jun 2012 16:29:58 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Do American Born Chinese understand Chinese language? on Fri, 08 Jun 2012 14:59:43 GMT]]>mmm ok


by the way, I remember the winners of 1 season of Amazing Race were ABCs

apparently, their ‘Chinese’ background enabled them to get a better lead in China, Beijing, where 1 leg of the race was held

I know 1 ABC,

his mandarin is really 1 piece 1 piece

but he is fluent in cantonese

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/776135https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/776135Fri, 08 Jun 2012 14:59:43 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Do American Born Chinese understand Chinese language? on Fri, 08 Jun 2012 13:29:32 GMT]]>Today I was playing a computer game that was based in America.


There was this one American born Chinese and then I asked him if they are legible towards Chinese. He said yes and he could speak Cantonese too.

But he couldn’t really string the Chinese words together and he only knows very basic Chinese words.

He speaks in Chinese halfway and abruptly sticks English words inside.

And the phrases he knew were very limited to

我住在美国

He also knew how to say Good Morning, Good Night and Goodbye.

But he didn’t know how to say Good Afternoon :x

He said most of his friends are legible towards Chinese except one friend who moved to USA from China when he was 7.

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/776085https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/776085Fri, 08 Jun 2012 13:29:32 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Do American Born Chinese understand Chinese language? on Fri, 08 Jun 2012 13:17:29 GMT]]>today i met an american who speaks, read, and write mandarin better than anyone I have met


he spoke perfect inkrish at the conference proper, but during kopi time he spoke perfect mandarin — so perfect that it blows your mind !!!

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/776078https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/776078Fri, 08 Jun 2012 13:17:29 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Do American Born Chinese understand Chinese language? on Fri, 08 Jun 2012 13:14:19 GMT]]>

concern2:
3Boys:

[quote=\"Ichigokun\"]Just curious. Do American Born Chinese people understand Chinese language? Cos Everytime I wanna say sth in private when I go overseas I usually just say it in Chinese to my parents so nobody in the local society would understand.


Dont wanna find myself in an awkward position if suddenly someone nearby understands what you were talking about :x

I actually think this is quite rude behaviour. If someone spoke in a different language in front of me just so I could not understand what was being said, I would be really miffed.

I am curious - what do Angmos do when they want to say something in private to their family members? :?[/quote]they will say 'we talk about it another day'

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/776077https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/776077Fri, 08 Jun 2012 13:14:19 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Do American Born Chinese understand Chinese language? on Fri, 08 Jun 2012 10:05:51 GMT]]>I think angmohs are outgoing and straight compared to Asians. We Asians love to keep things private 😄

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/776044https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/776044Fri, 08 Jun 2012 10:05:51 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Do American Born Chinese understand Chinese language? on Fri, 08 Jun 2012 09:56:05 GMT]]>@concern2

Sign language or they whispered at a very low tone. But they usually won’t behave that wy.

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/776037https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/776037Fri, 08 Jun 2012 09:56:05 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Do American Born Chinese understand Chinese language? on Fri, 08 Jun 2012 06:33:08 GMT]]>

3Boys:
Ichigokun:

Just curious. Do American Born Chinese people understand Chinese language? Cos Everytime I wanna say sth in private when I go overseas I usually just say it in Chinese to my parents so nobody in the local society would understand.


Dont wanna find myself in an awkward position if suddenly someone nearby understands what you were talking about :x

I actually think this is quite rude behaviour. If someone spoke in a different language in front of me just so I could not understand what was being said, I would be really miffed.

I am curious - what do Angmos do when they want to say something in private to their family members? :?

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/775944https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/775944Fri, 08 Jun 2012 06:33:08 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Do American Born Chinese understand Chinese language? on Fri, 08 Jun 2012 01:07:17 GMT]]>

Intermezzo:
verykiasu2010:

[quote=\"jtoh\"]
terima kasih! 🙂

带你妈看戏

this one lagi best ~ :rotflmao:
those who understands malay / chinese oso won't get it .. :rotflmao:[/quote]
:goodpost:

XD I get it 😆 :rotflmao:

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/775787https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/775787Fri, 08 Jun 2012 01:07:17 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Do American Born Chinese understand Chinese language? on Fri, 08 Jun 2012 01:02:00 GMT]]>@3Boys

But I'm a foreigner, she might think I only knew Chinese and very minimal basic English. Surely she won't think that way...

Anyway, 皇上息怒 😄 别生气。

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/775783https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/775783Fri, 08 Jun 2012 01:02:00 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Do American Born Chinese understand Chinese language? on Thu, 07 Jun 2012 14:55:32 GMT]]>@newuser;

I went to California!! XP The old woman might be Taiwanese! -gasp-

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/775652https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/775652Thu, 07 Jun 2012 14:55:32 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Do American Born Chinese understand Chinese language? on Thu, 07 Jun 2012 08:41:57 GMT]]>I used to live in CA San Jose. U may be surprised that alot of Asian are making an effort for their kids to learn Chinese. Plus don’t forget a lot of Taiwanese there too. So we used hokkien and talk. Lesser possibility although still risky.

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/775529https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/775529Thu, 07 Jun 2012 08:41:57 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Do American Born Chinese understand Chinese language? on Thu, 07 Jun 2012 08:04:00 GMT]]>

verykiasu2010:
jtoh:


terima kasih! 🙂

带你妈看戏

this one lagi best ~ :rotflmao:
those who understands malay / chinese oso won't get it .. :rotflmao:

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/775520https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/775520Thu, 07 Jun 2012 08:04:00 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Do American Born Chinese understand Chinese language? on Thu, 07 Jun 2012 03:33:51 GMT]]>

jtoh:

terima kasih! 🙂
带你妈看戏

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/775327https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/775327Thu, 07 Jun 2012 03:33:51 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Do American Born Chinese understand Chinese language? on Thu, 07 Jun 2012 03:11:09 GMT]]>

Ichigokun:
I mean its super embarrassing like to say the old grandma's piece of clothing she made was lousy in front of her esp with her staring at you.


If she doesn't understand what you said she will let it go :X
There are many diplomatic ways to say negative things.

No need to say the dress is not nice.

Can say the dress is not suitable for your mum/not her colour/cutting not right for her, etc.

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/775307https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/775307Thu, 07 Jun 2012 03:11:09 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Do American Born Chinese understand Chinese language? on Thu, 07 Jun 2012 02:59:51 GMT]]>

Ichigokun:
Just curious. Do American Born Chinese people understand Chinese language? Cos Everytime I wanna say sth in private when I go overseas I usually just say it in Chinese to my parents so nobody in the local society would understand.


Dont wanna find myself in an awkward position if suddenly someone nearby understands what you were talking about :x
I actually think this is quite rude behaviour. If someone spoke in a different language in front of me just so I could not understand what was being said, I would be really miffed.

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/775295https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/775295Thu, 07 Jun 2012 02:59:51 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Do American Born Chinese understand Chinese language? on Thu, 07 Jun 2012 02:39:14 GMT]]>

Intermezzo:
jtoh:

[quote=\"Ichigokun\"]@verykiasu2010


Most of them are Cantonese :3 I didn't say all.

Eeyer.. Liddat damn no privacy leh. Lol!

Try Malay. 🙂

:rotflmao: bagus satu, jtoh ~[/quote]terima kasih! 🙂

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/775274https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/775274Thu, 07 Jun 2012 02:39:14 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Do American Born Chinese understand Chinese language? on Thu, 07 Jun 2012 02:29:59 GMT]]>

Intermezzo:
jtoh:

[quote=\"Ichigokun\"]@verykiasu2010


Most of them are Cantonese :3 I didn't say all.

Eeyer.. Liddat damn no privacy leh. Lol!

Try Malay. 🙂

:rotflmao: bagus satu, jtoh ~[/quote]alamaaaak

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/775263https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/775263Thu, 07 Jun 2012 02:29:59 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Do American Born Chinese understand Chinese language? on Thu, 07 Jun 2012 01:04:24 GMT]]>

jtoh:
Ichigokun:

@verykiasu2010


Most of them are Cantonese :3 I didn't say all.

Eeyer.. Liddat damn no privacy leh. Lol!

Try Malay. 🙂

:rotflmao: bagus satu, jtoh ~

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/775203https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/775203Thu, 07 Jun 2012 01:04:24 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Do American Born Chinese understand Chinese language? on Thu, 07 Jun 2012 00:57:41 GMT]]>or Singlish, our ‘the other’ official language

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/775198https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/775198Thu, 07 Jun 2012 00:57:41 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Do American Born Chinese understand Chinese language? on Thu, 07 Jun 2012 00:32:59 GMT]]>

Ichigokun:
@verykiasu2010


Most of them are Cantonese :3 I didn't say all.

Eeyer.. Liddat damn no privacy leh. Lol!
Try Malay. 🙂

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/775188https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/775188Thu, 07 Jun 2012 00:32:59 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Do American Born Chinese understand Chinese language? on Wed, 06 Jun 2012 15:59:08 GMT]]>yes, they do.


the advertisement says so

click http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_KQQo2zeps8&feature=related

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/775108https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/775108Wed, 06 Jun 2012 15:59:08 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Do American Born Chinese understand Chinese language? on Wed, 06 Jun 2012 15:24:50 GMT]]>I mean its super embarrassing like to say the old grandma’s piece of clothing she made was lousy in front of her esp with her staring at you.


If she doesn’t understand what you said she will let it go :X

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/775090https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/775090Wed, 06 Jun 2012 15:24:50 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Do American Born Chinese understand Chinese language? on Wed, 06 Jun 2012 15:23:11 GMT]]>@verykiasu2010


Most of them are Cantonese :3 I didn’t say all.

Eeyer… Liddat damn no privacy leh. Lol!

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/775088https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/775088Wed, 06 Jun 2012 15:23:11 GMT