Why-le?

Chinese vocabulary word of the month:

Huaile:

• Pronunciation: rhymes with Why-le
• Definition: bad / evil / rotten / spoiled
• Personal Interpretation: Piece of crap
• Linguistic Note: Often but not always followed by xinde, particularly when used by handyman

Xinde:

• Pronunciation: Shin-duh!
• Definition: [buy a] new [one]

EXAMPLES from September 2011:

1. The kitchen bar has lost its “leg.”

Handyman’s response: Huaile.

Clearly, this is huaile.

2. The switch that turns the lights on in the back garden no longer works despite massive jiggling (which worked last year).

Handyman’s response: Huaile.

3. The handle has broken off the front gate.

Handyman's response: Huaile. Xinde.

[Piece of Crap! Buy a new one!]

4. (Unrelated to the above problem…) The same gate no longer closes.

Handyman’s response: Huaile.

5. The light fixture has fallen off the patio wall.

Huaile. Xinde.

6. The doorbell has stopping dinging.

Huaile. Xinde.

7. The 2 light bulbs that are burned-out cannot be replaced. They will not “unscrew” from the sockets.

Handyman’s response: Huaile. Xinde.

(Xinde light fixtures, not xinde light bulbs!)

8. The door handle has broken off the door to our patio; as a result, said door no longer opens or closes.

Handyman’s response: Huaile. Xinde.

(Xinde door, not xinde handle!)

9. Chinese panty-shield glue is so mighty, it rips out crotch of underwear.

Handyman’s response: Huaile. Xinde.

Oh, no! That was not the handyman! That was me!

My response: WHY-le? WHY-le? WHY-le?

Yes, the entire Chinese house is huaile, but the Chinese panty liner is mightier than the American panty!*

With love, laughter, frustration, and bewilderment,

Kimbeijingerly

* For those of you who think this is perhaps a one-time deal, I assure you that it happened TWICE last month!