Responding to Compliments 哪裡哪裡！ | Learn Chinese Now
Ben: Hey guys, I want to welcome Karen to the show. I always like to have an actual Chinese person on the show so you are sure it is really Chinese you are learning, not just something some dumb white guy has made up. So Karen why don't you introduce yourself...
Karen: Hi everyone, I'm Karen -- you may have seen me before as the anchor for NTD China News, I'm super excited to join Ben on Learn Chinese Now!
Ben, I have a question for you, if someone compliments you in Chinese, what would you say?
Ben: so for example, if they said my Chinese is awesome, which it is, I would just say, Xie Xie, which means Thank you. (謝謝 xièxiè - Thank you)
Karen: wow, you are really up yourself. What you should've really said is Na Li Na Li
(哪裡哪裡 nǎlǐ nǎlǐ Where, where?)
Ben: so I'm supposed to respond with....where? Am I asking them for directions now?
Karen: well, literally, that's what the words say...but, Na Li Na Li is what Chinese people say when they receive a complement, as a polite way to deny the praise that's been given to them.
Ben: alright, so it's like saying, where, where, where is my Chinese good, I don't see it being good, something like that right?
Karen: exactly, so when someone says you're pretty or handsome, you would also say, Na Li, Na Li
Ben: yeah, like to say, where, where am I handsome? Now Karen, why do Chinese people have this expression'
Karen: well it's linked to traditional Chinese Confucianism , where being modest and not revealing your strengths is seen as a good personal trait. So, in addition to Na Li, Na Li, there are also a few different things people say to play down a compliment. Hm, Ben your new haircut looks really good!
Ben: Tai Kua Zhang Le. That means you're exaggerating too much. Karen, have I have ever told you that you're just a great co-host? (太誇張了 tài kuāzhāng le - You exaggerate too much!)
Karen: bu gan dang, bug an dang -- so Bu means no, Gan means to dare, Dang, means to be -- so really that means I don't dare to be this great co-host you say I am.
(不敢當 bù no gǎn dare dāng to be)
Ben: don't forget, sometimes Na Li really does just mean, where. Karen, Ni Lian Shang You Ge mao mao chong.
Karen: ah, na li, na li, na li!
End
Ben: what do you think
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