Smallwhite needs help with English expressions

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Re: Smallwhite needs help with English expressions

Postby Xmmm » Sun Nov 12, 2017 10:55 pm

smallwhite wrote:How do you shout for help in these situations?

Eg. There's a fire. - "Fire!"

1. Someone forced you to give them your money and is now running away with it.
2. Someone snatched your handbag and is now running away with it.
3. A man exposes himself.
4. A man touches your bum on purpose on the train.

In Cantonese in Hong Kong, you shout:
0. 火燭呀!
1. 打劫呀!
2. 搶o野呀! maybe 打劫呀! as well, I'm not sure.
3. No idea, maybe 變態佬呀!
4. 非禮呀!

Thanks :)


Your Cantonese #0 doesn't seem to correspond to any English equivalent (there is no English #0). Is this something people just shout in general when nothing is going on? :)
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Re: Smallwhite needs help with English expressions

Postby smallwhite » Mon Nov 13, 2017 1:38 am

Thank you for your responses!
Adrianslont wrote:I hope you are only asking these questions theoretically, smallwhite! Or maybe as research for some fiction you are writing!

I'm asking in case I need them.
Xmmm wrote:Your Cantonese #0 doesn't seem to correspond to any English equivalent (there is no English #0). Is this something people just shout in general when nothing is going on? :)

The "0." corresponds to:
Eg. There's a fire. - "Fire!"
Numbering it with "Eg." didn't look right so I numbered it with "0."
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Re: Smallwhite needs help with English expressions

Postby Axon » Mon Nov 13, 2017 7:24 am

Adding my own interpretations, from California:

0: Help! Fire! / Help! There's a fire (in the building)!
1: Stop! Help! That guy took my wallet! / Hey! Help! That guy's got my wallet!
2: That guy just took my purse! [you would yell this while pointing at the retreating figure]
3: Oh god, what the hell? F--- off! What's your problem?!
4: What the hell! Get away from me! This guy just touched my butt!

I feel like "What the hell" when said loudly is a great catch-all when you're disgusted by the behavior of someone else. "What's your problem" is meant to make them ashamed while also making others turn and look, while f--- off is a perfect and concise way to say they're not wanted. I'd never say "Stop, thief" but instead shout at other people that that guy just did such-and-such a crime. I'm not sure I've ever actually said the word "thief."

Bonus: for describing situation #1, I'd say I got mugged or jumped. Getting jumped to me implies an amount of surprise and probably moderate injury via beating or something.
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Re: Smallwhite needs help with English expressions

Postby Ani » Mon Nov 13, 2017 8:53 am

Axon wrote:Bonus: for describing situation #1, I'd say I got mugged or jumped. Getting jumped to me implies an amount of surprise and probably moderate injury via beating or something.


That's a good point that should have been mentioned. Agreed about "jumped"probably including violence or beating because another use of the word "jumped" is the case of being jumped into a gang where there is no robbery but the initiate is beaten by all the members of the gang and then, if they live, accepted as a member. In describing the situation to the police or anyone, I'd say "I just got mugged". And of course there's the urbanite classic "Sorry I'm late, I got mugged on my way here". (Yes I've legitimately heard this phase a number of times in my life)
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Re: Smallwhite needs help with English expressions

Postby smallwhite » Mon Nov 13, 2017 2:19 pm

My thoughts:

In Cantonese, in an emergency, you just shout the word for the emergency: "Fire!" "Mugging!" "Sexual harrassment!"

In English, in an emergency, you have to stay calm and use complete sentences, get your SVO order right, swap accordingly should an imperative be desired, conjugate the verb in the appropriate person, number, tense and mood, and know the 101st definition of "jumped".

I hope Sydney's safe.
Last edited by smallwhite on Tue Dec 26, 2017 1:31 am, edited 2 times in total.
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Re: Smallwhite needs help with English expressions

Postby MamaPata » Mon Nov 13, 2017 3:04 pm

smallwhite wrote:My thoughts:

In Cantonese, in an emergency, you just shout the word for the emergency: "Fire!" "Mugging!" "Sexual harrassment!"

In English, in an emergency, you have to stay calm and use complete sentences, get your SVO order right, swap accordingly shall an imperative be desired, conjugate the verb to the appropriate person, number, tense and mood, and know the 101st definition of "jumped".

I hope Sydney's safe.


To be fair, there's always swearing.
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Re: Smallwhite needs help with English expressions

Postby smallwhite » Tue Dec 26, 2017 1:33 am

Question: Do kids still say this? It's a sound you make when you see another kid do something he's not allowed to do.

"Ummmmmmm! I'm gonna tell mummy!"

Thanks!
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Re: Smallwhite needs help with English expressions

Postby CarlyD » Tue Dec 26, 2017 5:37 am

California responses (with a native Californian attitude)

1. I would (and have) just said NO! so he wouldn't have my money.
2. "Thief!"--but no one would actually pay attention.
3. Look down with a sympathetic look--"Oh, I'm sorry, has it always looked like that?"
4. "Did you plan on taking that hand home with you?"

I haven't seen mentioned--in general, when there's a true emergency, particularly with a woman alone, you're supposed to shout "9-1-1" as loud as possible. That's what we're always taught in women's self defense classes.
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Re: Smallwhite needs help with English expressions

Postby reineke » Tue Dec 26, 2017 5:58 am

1,2,3,4.... SOB.
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Re: Smallwhite needs help with English expressions

Postby smallwhite » Tue Dec 26, 2017 7:06 am

We're all very eager to let the SOB know what we think of him :lol:

The original question was:

smallwhite wrote:
How do you shout for help in these situations?
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