In many places in China, old traditions and the stereotyping of people and things still exist. However, with greater liberalisation and awareness, especially amongst the younger generations, certain older traditions such as only wanting a male child are dying out. Be sure you can discuss some of these interesting topics effectively in Mandarin Chinese…
In this Podcast, you will learn:
(i) How to talk about traditions relating to having children in China
(ii) To discuss your gender preferences if you are planning a family
Dialogue:
A pregnant woman is talking to her friend:
(在咖啡厅)
(zài kā fēi tīng)
(at the café)
A:小美，有没有想过要男孩还是女孩？
Xiǎo Měi, yǒu méi yǒu xiǎng guò yào nán hái hái shì nǚ hái?
Xiao Mei, have you thought about having a boy or a girl?
B:我都无所谓。我觉得各有各的好。但是我老公很想要女孩。
Wǒ dōu wú suǒ wèi. Wǒ jué de gè yǒu gè de hǎo. Dàn shì wǒ lǎo gōng hěn xiǎng yào nǚ hái.
I’m fine with either one. I think each child will have their own good points, but my husband really wants a girl.
A:为什么？
Wèi shén me?
Why?
B:他觉得还是女孩比较关心爸妈。
Tā jué de hái shì nǚ hái bǐ jiào guān xīn bà mā.
He thinks that girls usually care more about their parents.
A:对，女儿是爸妈的小棉袄嘛。
Duì, nǚ ér shì bà mā de xiǎo mián ǎo ma.
Daughters are parents’ “cotton-padded jackets”.
B:当然我是想生两个。嘿嘿。最好是一男一女！
Dāng rán wǒ shì xiǎng shēng liǎng gè. Hēi hei. Zuì hǎo shì yī nán yī nǚ!
Of course, I want to have two. The best combination is one boy and one girl.
Chinese words and phrases mentioned in this Podcast:
有没有：have to do something or not
想：think about
猴年：the year of the Monkey
一个猴年的宝宝／猴宝宝：a monkey baby
要：want to have
男孩：boy
女孩：girl
要孩子：want a child
老公：husband
各有各的好：each have their own good
无所谓：something doesn’t really matter
觉得：think
还是：adv., expresses emphasis here
比较：more
关心：care
爸妈：parents
棉袄：”cotton-padded jacket”
当然：of course
生：give birth
一男一女：one boy one girl
Cultural/Grammar notes:
‘无所谓’ is a very useful expression.
E.g. 午饭吃什么我无所谓。
Wǔ fàn chī shén me wǒ wú suǒ wèi.
I’m fine with whatever we are having for lunch.
咱们去哪儿他都无所谓。
Zán men qù nǎ er tā dōu wú suǒ wèi.
Wherever we are going, he won’t mind.
‘棉袄’ is a kind of top you can see in the film The Road Home (‘我的父亲母亲’) starring Zhang Ziyi. It is the red top she wears in the winter.
‘女儿是爸妈的小棉袄’ is a Chinese saying which means ‘daughters care more about parents’; it’s like wearing a warm jacket in winter which can keep you warm and comfortable.
In China, when you are pregnant and do ultrasound testing in hospital, they don’t reveal the baby’s gender for you even if you ask for it. This is because many traditional Chinese parents might want to have an abortion if they know that they are having a girl. However, times are changing and, currently, many of the younger generation, especially in big cities, love to have girls (just as mentioned in the dialog above).
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