Comments on: Speaking in numbers http://www.expatintaiwan.net/2009/07/29/speaking-in-numbers/ An American expatriate shares his thoughts on life, language, food, and culture in Taiwan. Mon, 02 Jan 2012 06:14:03 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: The Expatriate http://www.expatintaiwan.net/2009/07/29/speaking-in-numbers/comment-page-1/#comment-254 The Expatriate Thu, 01 Oct 2009 07:06:53 +0000 http://www.expatintaiwan.net/?p=362#comment-254 Technically, you are correct. It has nothing to do with women. The connection comes only from March 8 (3/8), which, as noted, is International Woman's Day. Apparently, whoever created it has an ironic sense of humor and turned it into a joke against women, although I'm sure it can be used for both men and women. Etymologically speaking, however, it appears to have originated as a saying intended to be used towards women. Technically, you are correct. It has nothing to do with women. The connection comes only from March 8 (3/8), which, as noted, is International Woman’s Day. Apparently, whoever created it has an ironic sense of humor and turned it into a joke against women, although I’m sure it can be used for both men and women. Etymologically speaking, however, it appears to have originated as a saying intended to be used towards women.

]]> By: Aoede http://www.expatintaiwan.net/2009/07/29/speaking-in-numbers/comment-page-1/#comment-241 Aoede Tue, 29 Sep 2009 20:13:11 +0000 http://www.expatintaiwan.net/?p=362#comment-241 Actually, sanba has nothing to do with women. I'm not sure where that came from o.O "Sanba" just means "silly" (as in "Ni zhenshi hen sanba"), regardless of sex. I have no idea if this is Taiwanese or Chinese, since I grew up in a Taiwanese household but moved to the US just in time not to get formal education in Mandarin. Actually, sanba has nothing to do with women. I’m not sure where that came from o.O “Sanba” just means “silly” (as in “Ni zhenshi hen sanba”), regardless of sex. I have no idea if this is Taiwanese or Chinese, since I grew up in a Taiwanese household but moved to the US just in time not to get formal education in Mandarin.

]]> By: @williambaobean http://www.expatintaiwan.net/2009/07/29/speaking-in-numbers/comment-page-1/#comment-114 @williambaobean Mon, 10 Aug 2009 15:56:58 +0000 http://www.expatintaiwan.net/?p=362#comment-114 I can remember the days when I couldnt live without my bbcall (pager) I can remember the days when I couldnt live without my bbcall (pager)

]]> By: Mom Expatriate http://www.expatintaiwan.net/2009/07/29/speaking-in-numbers/comment-page-1/#comment-105 Mom Expatriate Fri, 31 Jul 2009 05:36:19 +0000 http://www.expatintaiwan.net/?p=362#comment-105 keep up the webpage...very interesting! keep up the webpage…very interesting!

]]> By: The Expatriate http://www.expatintaiwan.net/2009/07/29/speaking-in-numbers/comment-page-1/#comment-104 The Expatriate Wed, 29 Jul 2009 12:43:58 +0000 http://www.expatintaiwan.net/?p=362#comment-104 Yes, that's basically how it would be used. A lot of these came about long ago when people still used pagers. It was easier to send someone the message 0987 on the pager than to type out the characters and send that to them. They've just hung around long enough that people use them when instant messaging as well. Yes, that’s basically how it would be used.
A lot of these came about long ago when people still used pagers. It was easier to send someone the message 0987 on the pager than to type out the characters and send that to them. They’ve just hung around long enough that people use them when instant messaging as well.

]]> By: Karyn http://www.expatintaiwan.net/2009/07/29/speaking-in-numbers/comment-page-1/#comment-103 Karyn Wed, 29 Jul 2009 11:54:57 +0000 http://www.expatintaiwan.net/?p=362#comment-103 Yes, at work we had assigned a Chinese school a code with 4s in it and they flipped until we changed it. So, in instant messaging, I would say something like "Expat, 0987!"? Yes, at work we had assigned a Chinese school a code with 4s in it and they flipped until we changed it.

So, in instant messaging, I would say something like “Expat, 0987!”?

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