"Do you like playing with friends on the weekend?" my students asked me first semester. I found myself weirded out by the expression, but this week I had a revelation: play together is literally how you say "hang out" in Chinese.
Coming to China has been very humbling for me. I used to laugh at Chinglish, and while a good Chinglish sign still gives me a chuckle, I don't mock the nonsensical ones unless I can read every Chinese character above. I've also realized that every Chinglish word or expression my students use is an opportunity for me to hear Chinese and learn something about Chinese. Even the strange words and expressions have definite sensible Chinese lurking behind them.
Some of the common Chinglish expressions I hear frequently include:
"No sanks" (meaning: you're welcome--a transliteration of how you say you're welcome in Chinese).
"Both is okay." I love how soft and gentle this one sounds.
"Wear more clothes." Okay, not exactly Chinglish, but the advice comes from traditional Chinese medicine, balancing the temperatures in the body.
"Where are you going?" In America to be polite we ask what's up? This is the Chinese version of that, meaning the same thing.
"He is very fashion." or "My parents make me happiness." Nouns and adjectives aren't as different as in English, causing some adorable confusion.
"uzhrually"--that "s" in "usually" is so difficult to pronounce for some reason!!
There's lots more, but that gives you a taste for now!!
