Piangere cinese

[joscurtin]

I have a vague idea of the meaning of this phrase.
Is it common in all of Italy, or just in the North?
Can someone give me an idea of the origin of the phrase?

Joe from Massachusetts

[Enrico il Pentolaio]

"joscurtin" ha scritto nel messaggio

Post by joscurtin
I have a vague idea of the meaning of this phrase.

Really?
I don't.

Post by joscurtin
Is it common in all of Italy, or just in the North?

Well, I live in the North of Italy but I've never heard that expression.
Where did you find it?

Tschüss,
Enrico il Pentolaio.
--
"Animals are a lot like people. Some of them act badly because they've had a
hard time or have been mistreated. But, like people, some of them are just
jerks." (The Simpsons)

[joscurtin]

Post by Enrico il Pentolaio
"joscurtin" ha scritto nel messaggio

Post by joscurtin
I have a vague idea of the meaning of this phrase.

Really?
I don't.

Post by joscurtin
Is it common in all of Italy, or just in the North?

Well, I live in the North of Italy but I've never heard that

expression.

Maybe it's only used in Italia Orientale? :>)

Post by Enrico il Pentolaio
Where did you find it?

Various newsgroups.
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=%22piangere+cinese%22&btnG=Google+Search

Devo piangere cinese per ottenere una buona risposta da questo gruppo.
(Esempio, non dichiarazione).

Joe from Massachusetts

[beginner]

Post by Enrico il Pentolaio

Post by Enrico il Pentolaio

Post by joscurtin
Is it common in all of Italy, or just in the North?

Well, I live in the North of Italy but I've never heard that

expression.
Maybe it's only used in Italia Orientale? :>)

I live in Italia Orientale but I've never heard that expression. Insomma
non è proprio così comune. Forse circola un po' di più nel gergo giovanile.

Post by Enrico il Pentolaio
Devo piangere cinese per ottenere una buona risposta da questo gruppo.
(Esempio, non dichiarazione).

Anch'io ho a che fare con la Cina. Trovo questa:

The Chinese use two brush strokes to write the word "crisis". One brush
stroke for danger, the other for opportunity. In a crisis bw aware of
the danger - but recognize the opportunity. (Richard M. Nixon)

La lingua cinese usa due segni per scrivere la parola "crisi". Uno per
il pericolo, l'altro per l'opportunità. In una crisi vedi il pericolo -
ma riconosci l'opportunità. (Richrd M. Nixon)

Penso di aver tradotto giusto, ma "brush strokes" che roba è? (colpo di
spazzola?)

bye

[Mary Cassidy]

Post by beginner
Penso di aver tradotto giusto, ma "brush strokes" che roba è? (colpo di
spazzola?)

Pennellata.

[joscurtin]

Post by Mary Cassidy

Post by beginner
Penso di aver tradotto giusto, ma "brush strokes" che roba è? (colpo di
spazzola?)

Pennellata.

The Chinese (and the Koreans, and the Japanese) prefer writing
personal letters with a calligraphy brush, rather than with a pen,
because the brush allows them to vary the width of the strokes. They
take great pride in the appearance of their writing. Chinese
calligraphy, often called "brush calligraphy" is almost an art form.

Joe from Massachusetts

[beginner]

Post by joscurtin

Post by Mary Cassidy
Pennellata.

The Chinese (and the Koreans, and the Japanese) prefer writing
personal letters with a calligraphy brush, rather than with a pen,
because the brush allows them to vary the width of the strokes. They
take great pride in the appearance of their writing. Chinese
calligraphy, often called "brush calligraphy" is almost an art form.
Joe from Massachusetts

Avrei dovuto arrivarci, che "brush" non è solo spazzola, ma anche
pennello, e che "stroke" non è solo carezza, ma anche colpo, ma nessun
vocabolario mi metteva le due cose insieme ed ero perplessa. E sì che me
lo diceva la frase stessa di stare attenta al doppio significato delle
parole ;-)

Thank you

[Mary Cassidy]

Post by joscurtin
I have a vague idea of the meaning of this phrase.
Is it common in all of Italy, or just in the North?
Can someone give me an idea of the origin of the phrase?

"Piangere in cinese" is quite common in the north, but I don't know the
origin.

"Mostrarsi disperato, anche fingendo, per cercare di convincere qcn.
supplicandolo: un prestito? Nemmeno se piange in cinese."

http://www.demauroparavia.it/82390

[joscurtin]

Post by Mary Cassidy

Post by joscurtin
I have a vague idea of the meaning of this phrase.
Is it common in all of Italy, or just in the North?
Can someone give me an idea of the origin of the phrase?

"Piangere in cinese" is quite common in the north, but I don't know the
origin.
"Mostrarsi disperato, anche fingendo, per cercare di convincere qcn.
supplicandolo: un prestito? Nemmeno se piange in cinese."
http://www.demauroparavia.it/82390

I tried a few dictionaries, and didn't find it. I should have tried
them all.
Thanks.

Joe from Massachusetts

[tabhall]

"Piangere in cinese" is quite common in the north, <cut>

Maybe it's quite common in the western area. I live in the north-east
and I've never heard it.

Tabhall

[joscurtin]

Post by tabhall

"Piangere in cinese" is quite common in the north, <cut>

Maybe it's quite common in the western area. I live in the

north-east

Post by tabhall
and I've never heard it.

Hmm...I wonder where that could be.
Do you say "fuminante" or "fulminant", or neither?
Do you say "ombra" or "ombreta", or neither? :>)

Joe from Massachusetts

[tabhall]

Post by joscurtin
Hmm...I wonder where that could be.

Far-off north east, just up in the corner, between Austria and Slovenia

Post by joscurtin
Do you say "fuminante" or "fulminant", or neither?

I guess you forgot an "l" in "fulminante". I can't see any association
with Chinese cries...the only possible words flashing trough my mind are
"idea" and "pneumonia".

Post by joscurtin
Do you say "ombra" or "ombreta", or neither? :>)

Neither. We've got our own language here, no need to be copycats of the
Venetians :-)
A glass of wine would be a "tajùt".

Mandi (ciao)
Tabhall

[joscurtin]

Post by tabhall

Post by joscurtin
Hmm...I wonder where that could be.

Far-off north east, just up in the corner, between Austria and

Slovenia

Post by tabhall

Post by joscurtin
Do you say "fuminante" or "fulminant", or neither?

I guess you forgot an "l" in "fulminante".

Fuminante and poenta don't need an "l" in the Veneto.
Fulminante means something else.
If you say neither "fuminante" or "fulminant", I might think you were
a "Ladin". :>)

Post by tabhall

Post by joscurtin
Do you say "ombra" or "ombreta", or neither? :>)

Neither. We've got our own language here, no need to be copycats of the
Venetians :-)
A glass of wine would be a "tajùt".

As I remember it, they say "ombra" in Venice and Mestre, but "ombreta"
in the west.
I have heard "taj". "Taj"/"tajùt" - is that like ombra/ombreta? :>)

Post by tabhall
Mandi (ciao)

I thought that was more like "addio".

Preferisso molte de più el "ciao vecio" de venessia.

Joe from Massachusetts

[FB]

[...]

Post by joscurtin
Fuminante and poenta don't need an "l" in the Veneto.
Fulminante means something else.
If you say neither "fuminante" or "fulminant", I might think you were
a "Ladin". :>)

[...]

Post by joscurtin

Post by tabhall
A glass of wine would be a "tajùt".

As I remember it, they say "ombra" in Venice and Mestre, but "ombreta"
in the west.
I have heard "taj". "Taj"/"tajùt" - is that like ombra/ombreta? :>)

Post by tabhall
Mandi (ciao)

I thought that was more like "addio".
Preferisso molte de più el "ciao vecio" de venessia.

She's from Friuli.


Ciao, FB

[beginner]

Post by FB

Post by joscurtin

Post by tabhall
Mandi (ciao)

I thought that was more like "addio".
Preferisso molte de più el "ciao vecio" de venessia.

She's from Friuli.
Ciao, FB

Mandi non è "addio", ma ciao, arrivederci.

Invece a proposito di "ciao", il mio dizionario etimologico mi dice che
è proprio un termine veneziano, da "schiao", schiavo, Modo di salutare
altrui, con molta confidenza (1829, Boerio); corrisponde a forme come
"servo suo" e simili. Poi si è diffuso in tutta Italia.

Beh, ciao.

[joscurtin]

Post by beginner

Post by FB

Post by joscurtin

Post by tabhall
Mandi (ciao)

I thought that was more like "addio".
Preferisso molte de più el "ciao vecio" de venessia.

She's from Friuli.
Ciao, FB

Mandi non è "addio", ma ciao, arrivederci.
Invece a proposito di "ciao", il mio dizionario etimologico mi dice che
è proprio un termine veneziano, da "schiao", schiavo, Modo di

salutare

Post by beginner
altrui, con molta confidenza (1829, Boerio); corrisponde a forme come
"servo suo" e simili. Poi si è diffuso in tutta Italia.

Earlier this year, I read in the "Giornale di Vicenza" about a girl
from Thiene in the Province of Vicenza who had written a thesis at the
University of Udine in 2004, entitled "Gli americani a Vicenza - 50
anni senza integrazione". Although the full text was not published,
the "Giornale di Vicenza" article stated that the thesis explored the
reasons why the large American community in Vicenza has failed to
establish closer contacts with the local community, and in particular
failed to learn the Italian language. Speaking of the Vicentine and
American communities, the author said "Le due realtà non entrano in
contatto tra di loro". Since I spent two years in Vicenza, and did
learn the language, and did have many contacts with the community, I
was and remain dismayed that more of my compatriots did not find it
important to do as I did. This is a subject of great interest to me,
and I would like to obtain a copy of this thesis, if at all possible.
I was wondering if you or any of the other Friulani might know if
there is a database of theses at the University of Udine which might
be available on line, which would contain the full text of this
thesis, or if it might be available through some other source on line,
or where I might inquire as to how to obtain a copy?
http://www2.autistici.org/mediablitz/rassegna/130105.html

Mandi,

Joe from Massachusetts

[beginner]

Post by joscurtin
Earlier this year, I read in the "Giornale di Vicenza" about a girl
from Thiene in the Province of Vicenza who had written a thesis at the
University of Udine in 2004, entitled "Gli americani a Vicenza - 50
anni senza integrazione". Although the full text was not published,
the "Giornale di Vicenza" article stated that the thesis explored the
reasons why the large American community in Vicenza has failed to
establish closer contacts with the local community, and in particular
failed to learn the Italian language. Speaking of the Vicentine and
American communities, the author said "Le due realtà non entrano in
contatto tra di loro". Since I spent two years in Vicenza, and did
learn the language, and did have many contacts with the community, I
was and remain dismayed that more of my compatriots did not find it
important to do as I did. This is a subject of great interest to me,
and I would like to obtain a copy of this thesis, if at all possible.
I was wondering if you or any of the other Friulani might know if
there is a database of theses at the University of Udine which might
be available on line, which would contain the full text of this
thesis, or if it might be available through some other source on line,
or where I might inquire as to how to obtain a copy?
http://www2.autistici.org/mediablitz/rassegna/130105.html
Mandi,
Joe from Massachusetts

Ho cercato nel sito dell'università di Udine (www.uniud.it) ed ho
trovato qualcosa qui:

http://www.uniud.it/didattica/offerta/strutture_speciali/servizio_bibliotecario

Se da qui entri nella sezione "cataloghi" che trovi in fondo a questa
pagina, come "ospite" (perché non sei un loro studente), e nella pagina
che ti compare, nella ricerca semplice, scrivi "Chiara Meneghello", ti
compare la sua tesi "The community relations of Carlo Ederle American
military base at Vicenza", Facoltà di Lingue e letterature straniere,
corso di laurea in Relazioni pubbliche, 53 pagine, e altri dati, il
relatore etc. Non ho messo direttamente questo link perché è
lunghissimo. Poi non ho capito se la tesi è disponibile on-line (c'è un
"aggiungi al mio catalogo eletronico") o se è solo disponibile per il
prestito, ma è su carta.

ciao,
fammi sapere

[beginner]

Post by joscurtin
Earlier this year, I read in the "Giornale di Vicenza" about a girl
from Thiene in the Province of Vicenza who had written a thesis at the
University of Udine in 2004, entitled "Gli americani a Vicenza - 50
anni senza integrazione". Although the full text was not published,
the "Giornale di Vicenza" article stated that the thesis explored the
reasons why the large American community in Vicenza has failed to
establish closer contacts with the local community, and in particular
failed to learn the Italian language. Speaking of the Vicentine and
American communities, the author said "Le due realtà non entrano in
contatto tra di loro". Since I spent two years in Vicenza, and did
learn the language, and did have many contacts with the community, I
was and remain dismayed that more of my compatriots did not find it
important to do as I did. This is a subject of great interest to me,
and I would like to obtain a copy of this thesis, if at all possible.
I was wondering if you or any of the other Friulani might know if
there is a database of theses at the University of Udine which might
be available on line, which would contain the full text of this
thesis, or if it might be available through some other source on line,
or where I might inquire as to how to obtain a copy?
http://www2.autistici.org/mediablitz/rassegna/130105.html
Mandi,
Joe from Massachusetts

Ho cercato nel sito dell'Università di Udine (www.uniud.it) e ho trovato
qualcosa all'interno del "sistema bibliotecario"

http://www.uniud.it/didattica/offerta/strutture_speciali/servizio_bibliotecario

Se da questa pagina, di cui ti ho messo il link, entri come "ospite"
(perché non sei un loro studente, ma un ospite) nella sezione
"cataloghi" e nella ricerca semplice che ti compare scrivi "Chiara
Meneghello", trovi la sua tesi, "The community relations of Carlo Ederle
American military base at Vicenza", facoltà di Lingua e Letterature
straniere, corso di laurea in Relazioni pubbliche.
Non ti ho messo questo link perchè era lunghissimo. A questo punto non
capisco se la tesi è reperibile on-line (c'è un "aggiungi al mio
scaffale elettronico") o solo se è possibile chiederla in prestito, ma è
su carta. Non è una tesi lunghissima: 53 pagine.

ciao,
fammi sapere

[joscurtin]

Post by beginner

Post by FB

Post by joscurtin

Post by tabhall
Mandi (ciao)

I thought that was more like "addio".
Preferisso molte de più el "ciao vecio" de venessia.

She's from Friuli.
Ciao, FB

Mandi non è "addio", ma ciao, arrivederci.
Invece a proposito di "ciao", il mio dizionario etimologico mi dice che
è proprio un termine veneziano, da "schiao", schiavo, Modo di

salutare

Post by beginner
altrui, con molta confidenza (1829, Boerio); corrisponde a forme come
"servo suo" e simili. Poi si è diffuso in tutta Italia.

Questo mi fa ricordare il "baciamo le mani" - "a vossia (a vostra
signoria)", comune in Sicilia.
"Usted" ("Lei") in spagnolo (derivazione "vuestra merced") è qualcosa
simile.

baciamo le mani, :>)

Joe from Massachusetts

[joscurtin]

Post by FB
[...]

Post by joscurtin
Fuminante and poenta don't need an "l" in the Veneto.
Fulminante means something else.
If you say neither "fuminante" or "fulminant", I might think you were
a "Ladin". :>)

[...]

Post by joscurtin

Post by tabhall
A glass of wine would be a "tajùt".

As I remember it, they say "ombra" in Venice and Mestre, but

"ombreta"

Post by FB

Post by joscurtin
in the west.
I have heard "taj". "Taj"/"tajùt" - is that like ombra/ombreta?

:>)

Post by FB

Post by joscurtin

Post by tabhall
Mandi (ciao)

I thought that was more like "addio".
Preferisso molte de più el "ciao vecio" de venessia.

She's from Friuli.

That's why I asked if she said "fuminante" or "fulminant", for
"match".
It's fuminante in much of the Veneto, and fulminant in Friuli.

Joe from Massachsetts

[tabhall]

Post by joscurtin
That's why I asked if she said "fuminante" or "fulminant", for
"match".
It's fuminante in much of the Veneto, and fulminant in Friuli.

There you are! I didn't get it, because "match" is "furminant", with
"r". "Fulminant" is an adjective for fulminating or withering, that's
why I linked it up to pneumonia :-) Anyway, if you think that
"fulminant" would be more appropriate for "match", I must agree!

"Mandi" comes from the Latin "mane Die" which means "stay with God", it
is understood "until we meet again".

You made me think that our local language doesn't have any word to wish
a "final goodbye", I had never realized we were so optimistic!
Here's one of the advantages in learning a foreign language: it makes
you think a lot about your mothertongue :-)

By the way, what about English? "Farewell" sounds not only literary, but
old-fashioned too, and it's not something you would say to somebody
who's leaving, is it? Maybe the modern fast connection systems are
outdating words such as "addio"!


Tabhall

[joscurtin]

Post by tabhall

Post by joscurtin
That's why I asked if she said "fuminante" or "fulminant", for
"match".
It's fuminante in much of the Veneto, and fulminant in Friuli.

There you are! I didn't get it, because "match" is "furminant", with
"r". "Fulminant" is an adjective for fulminating or withering,

that's

Post by tabhall
why I linked it up to pneumonia :-) Anyway, if you think that
"fulminant" would be more appropriate for "match", I must agree!

And all this time I thought it was the longobardi who said
"furminant"!
Forse è "furminant" nell'ovest e "fulminant" nell'est?
Once in Vicenza I asked an Italian soldier who was not from the
Veneto, "geto un fuminante?" ("do you have a match", in dialect),
while holding a cigarette between my fingers, änd he answered, "Cosa
dici, che son fulminante?" I assumed he knew the most common phrases
in the local dialect, but he knew less than I did (which was very
little).

Post by tabhall
"Mandi" comes from the Latin "mane Die" which means "stay with God", it
is understood "until we meet again".

Goodbye means "God be with you", so it is similar.

Post by tabhall
You made me think that our local language doesn't have any word to wish
a "final goodbye", I had never realized we were so optimistic!
Here's one of the advantages in learning a foreign language: it makes
you think a lot about your mothertongue :-)
By the way, what about English? "Farewell" sounds not only literary, but
old-fashioned too, and it's not something you would say to

somebody

Post by tabhall
who's leaving, is it? Maybe the modern fast connection systems are
outdating words such as "addio"!

I don't think I ever heard anyone say farewell except ironically,
although it is used in writing.
The expression "without so much as a fare-thee-well" also appears in
written English, but it is not common in the US in the spoken
language.

I see that Trieste and Gorizia are considered the two most "liveable"
cities in Italy, according to "Il Sole 24 Ore".
My poor friends the "magnagati" are relegated to 25th place.
Now we know why James Joyce chose to live in Trieste.
Is the dialect of Trieste much different from the dialect of Gorizia?
It would seem to me that there is a much more Venetian influence in
Trieste, from what I have seen on line.

Joe from Massachusetts

[tabhall]

Post by joscurtin
Forse è "furminant" nell'ovest e "fulminant" nell'est?
Once in Vicenza I asked an Italian soldier who was not from the
Veneto, "geto un fuminante?"

I'm afraid I can't help you; in fact, living near the Austrian border,
I'm more familiar with German than with Venetian.
"Geto un fulminante" sounds Arabic to me.

Post by joscurtin
I see that Trieste and Gorizia are considered the two most "liveable"
cities in Italy, according to "Il Sole 24 Ore".
My poor friends the "magnagati" are relegated to 25th place.
Now we know why James Joyce chose to live in Trieste.

Gorizia is very nice, quite small, quiet and well organized. Trieste is
a beautiful city, unless you need to park your car :-)

Post by joscurtin
Is the dialect of Trieste much different from the dialect of Gorizia?

It is.

Post by joscurtin
It would seem to me that there is a much more Venetian influence in
Trieste, from what I have seen on line.

No, per nulla! Trieste è ancora un posto a forte influenza austriaca,
non solo per gli enti e le associazioni che vi operano - il Goethe
Institut, ad esempio, è molto attivo - ma anche nei comportamenti
"nordici" della gente: i triestini in uffici e negozi fanno
diligentemente la fila e se qualcuno si azzarda a fare il furbo viene
immediatamente redarguito. Nonostante l'Austria abbia governato col
pugno di ferro, molti triestini ne ricordano piacevolmente
l'amministrazuione, improntata ad onestà e rigore.
Poco lontano, nel paesino di Giassico, si rievoca ancora, ogni anno in
agosto, il compleanno dell'imperatore Francesco Giuseppe ( 18 agosto
1830); menù a base di wuerstel, krauti e fiumi di birra!

Sorry for answering so late, I got lost in Christmas commitments and a
lot of skiing :-)

Tabhall

[joscurtin]

Post by tabhall

Post by joscurtin
Forse è "furminant" nell'ovest e "fulminant" nell'est?
Once in Vicenza I asked an Italian soldier who was not from the
Veneto, "geto un fuminante?"

I'm afraid I can't help you; in fact, living near the Austrian

border,

Post by tabhall
I'm more familiar with German than with Venetian.
"Geto un fulminante" sounds Arabic to me.

Please, no "l".
How about "ti te ga un fuminante"? :>)

Post by tabhall

Post by joscurtin
I see that Trieste and Gorizia are considered the two most

"liveable"

Post by tabhall

Post by joscurtin
cities in Italy, according to "Il Sole 24 Ore".
My poor friends the "magnagati" are relegated to 25th place.
Now we know why James Joyce chose to live in Trieste.

Gorizia is very nice, quite small, quiet and well organized. Trieste is
a beautiful city, unless you need to park your car :-)

Post by joscurtin
Is the dialect of Trieste much different from the dialect of

Gorizia?

Post by tabhall
It is.

Post by joscurtin
It would seem to me that there is a much more Venetian influence in
Trieste, from what I have seen on line.

No, per nulla! Trieste è ancora un posto a forte influenza

austriaca,

Post by tabhall
non solo per gli enti e le associazioni che vi operano - il Goethe
Institut, ad esempio, è molto attivo - ma anche nei comportamenti

Goethe amava Vicenza e l'architettura palladiana ("Vor einigen Stunden
bin ich hier angekommen, habe schon die Stadt durchlaufen, das
Olympische Theater und die Gebäude des Palladio gesehen..... Wenn man
nun diese Werke gegenwärtig sieht, so erkennt man erst den großen Wert
derselben").
Come Goethe ha fatto un Viaggio in Italia, io ho fatto un Viaggio in
Germania, dove ho visto il "Goethehaus" a Frankfurt-am-Main. Ma questa
è un'altra storia.

Post by tabhall
"nordici" della gente: i triestini in uffici e negozi fanno
diligentemente la fila e se qualcuno si azzarda a fare il furbo viene
immediatamente redarguito. Nonostante l'Austria abbia governato col
pugno di ferro, molti triestini ne ricordano piacevolmente
l'amministrazuione, improntata ad onestà e rigore.
Poco lontano, nel paesino di Giassico, si rievoca ancora, ogni anno in
agosto, il compleanno dell'imperatore Francesco Giuseppe ( 18

agosto

Post by tabhall
1830); menù a base di wuerstel, krauti e fiumi di birra!

By Venetian influence I meant that the Triestino dialect seems to have
much in common with the Veneto dialect. I would guess that there is a
strong Slovenian influence in the dialect of Gorizia.
Once when my mother was in the hospital and I visited her, her
roommate
was from Friuli, and she spoke Italian to me, but spoke Slovenian to
her
children.
Speaking of the Austrian influence, I just started watching "Le Cinque
Giornate di Milano" on Raiclick Web. It looks interesting so far.
I hope they don't change the schedule before I finish it.
Maybe I'll just tape it for later viewing.

Joe from Massachusetts

[Father McKenzie]

tabhall, para que tú me oigas, mis palabras se adelgazan a veces como las
huellas de las gaviotas en las playas

Post by tabhall
Maybe it's quite common in the western area. I live in the north-east
and I've never heard it.

Non credo sia un problema di regioni, quanto di fasce d'età. Ribadisco che
ho sentito quest'espressione al nord quanto al sud, ma solo da gente avanti
con gli anni.

[FB]

Post by Father McKenzie
tabhall, para que tú me oigas, mis palabras se adelgazan a veces como las
huellas de las gaviotas en las playas

Post by tabhall
Maybe it's quite common in the western area. I live in the north-east
and I've never heard it.

Non credo sia un problema di regioni, quanto di fasce d'età. Ribadisco che
ho sentito quest'espressione al nord quanto al sud, ma solo da gente avanti
con gli anni.

Io sono nei miei venti, ma in questi casi influisce assai il lessico
famigliare: parole comunissime in famiglia e magari rare al di fuori di
essa.


Ciao, FB

[FB]

Post by joscurtin
I have a vague idea of the meaning of this phrase.

"Puoi piangere in cinese, ma non avrai quel giocattolo!".

"To cry as much as one can", "to cry very much".

Post by joscurtin
Is it common in all of Italy, or just in the North?

I live in Lombardy. I cannnot say.

Post by joscurtin
Can someone give me an idea of the origin of the phrase?

My guess is that Chinese is a difficult language, so crying in Chinese
would be much harder than crying in one's mother tongue (as if one could
cry in different languages, that is).


Bye, FB

[Catslight]

Post by FB
My guess is that Chinese is a difficult language, so crying in Chinese
would be much harder than crying in one's mother tongue (as if one could
cry in different languages, that is).

I think FB is right.
I've also heard of "non ci credo nemmeno se me lo giuri in cinese
(arabo, aramaico, serbo etc..)"

[Father McKenzie]

joscurtin, para que tú me oigas, mis palabras se adelgazan a veces como las
huellas de las gaviotas en las playas

Post by joscurtin
I have a vague idea of the meaning of this phrase.
Is it common in all of Italy, or just in the North?

I heard it sometimes, both in northern and southern Italy. But it's a very
old-fashioned idom (more often: piangere "in" cinese).

[Sebapop]

Post by joscurtin
I have a vague idea of the meaning of this phrase.
Is it common in all of Italy, or just in the North?
Can someone give me an idea of the origin of the phrase?

Mai sentita.

Sebastiano

[Lorents]

Post by joscurtin
I have a vague idea of the meaning of this phrase.
Is it common in all of Italy, or just in the North?
Can someone give me an idea of the origin of the phrase?

giusto per aumentare le statistiche: io sono di Milano e per me "piangere in
cinese" e' un'espressione nota, magari non usatissima ma normale.

Lorenzo

[zwak]

Post by joscurtin
I have a vague idea of the meaning of this phrase.
Is it common in all of Italy, or just in the North?
[...]

I'm 30 y.o. living in Catania, and never heard it :p
(omfg, I'm 31... i keep forgetting it :p)

cheers up