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Like it or not, there are stereotypes and bantering between men and women of all cultures. Sometimes it can be quite entertaining, like in some of the sentences that my tutor taught me recently as sort of a twist to Valentine’s Day.
First, some vocabulary:
心情 xīn qíng (mood)
季節 jì jié (season)
四季 sì jì (4 seasons)
季節性 jì jié xìng (seasonal)
暴風雨 bào fēng yǔ (storm)
怎麼樣 zěn me. yàng (how is it, what is it like)
至少 zhì shǎo (at least, to say the least)
多雲 dūo yún (cloudy)
天堂 tīan táng (heaven, paradise)
地獄 dì yù (hell, underworld)
看起來 kàn qǐ lái (looks as if, appears to be)
偶 ǒu (accidental, once in a while, by chance)
偶然 ǒu rán (unexpectedly)
偶而 ǒu’ ěr (occasionally)
或許 huò xǔ (perhaps)
預期 yù qī (to expect, to anticipate)
預報 yù bào (forecast)
變化 biàn huà (to transform, to change)
好像 hǎo xìang (as if, to seem like)
心事 xīn shì (something weighing on the mind, worry or care)
麻木 má mù (numb)
實在 shí zài (really, truly, certainly, in fact)
好得不得了 hǎo de. bu dé liǎo (wonderfully good)
壞得不得了 huài de. bù dé liǎo (horribly bad)
天氣 tīan qì (weather)
生氣 shēng qì (angry)
高興 gāo xìng (happy)
特別地 tè biě de. (especially, unusually)
選擇 xuǎn zé (to select, to pick)
一般[來説] yī bān [lái shuō] (generally [speaking] )
情緒 qíng xù (frame of mind, sentiments, mood, emotion)
發洩 fā xiè ( to vent)
極端 jí duān (extremes)
最終 zuì zhōng (final, ultimate)
左右 zuǒ yòu (left and right, [but as verb it means to master, to control])
控制 kòng zhì (to exercise control over)
Getting to the mood of the matter…
It can be risky to ask someone,
你今天的心情怎麼樣？
(你)(今天)(的)(心情)(怎麼樣)
(ㄋㄧˇ) (ㄐㄧㄣ ㄊㄧㄢ) (ㄉㄜ˙) (ㄒㄧㄣ ㄑㄧㄥˊ) (ㄗㄣˇ ㄇㄜ˙ ㄧㄤˋ)
(nǐ)(jīn tiān)(de.)(xīn qíng)(zěn me. yàng)
(you)(today)(adjective marker)❶(mood)(is like what)
What is your mood today?
It seems that across many cultures, women are known for their volatile moods, hence:
男人說女人的心情像天氣。
(男人)(說)(女人)(的)(心情)(像)(天氣)
(ㄋㄢˊ ㄖㄣˊ) (ㄕㄨㄛ) (ㄋㄩˇ ㄖㄣˊ) (ㄉㄜ˙) (ㄒㄧㄣ ㄑㄧㄥˊ) (ㄒㄧㄤˋ) (ㄊㄧㄢ ㄑㄧˋ)
(nán rén)(shuō)(nǚ rén)(de.)(xīn qíng)(xiàng)(tiān qì)
(men)(to say)(women)(adjective marker)(mood)(be like)(weather)
Men say women’s moods are like the weather.
一分鐘以前她可能說感覺好得不得了，
(一)(分鐘)(以前)(她)(可能)(說)(感覺)(好得不得了)❷
(ㄧ) (ㄈㄣ ㄓㄨㄥ) (ㄧˇ ㄑㄧㄢˊ) (ㄊㄚ) (ㄎㄜˇ ㄋㄥˊ) (ㄕㄨㄛ) (ㄍㄢˇ ㄐㄩㄝˊ) (ㄏㄠˇ ㄉㄜ˙ ㄅㄨˋ ㄉㄜˊ ㄌㄧㄠˇ)
(yī)(fēn zhōng)(yǐ qiǎn)(tā)(kě néng)(shuō)(gǎn jué)(hǎo de. bù dé liǎo)
(one)(minute)(before)(she)(can,able)(to say)(to feel)(wonderful)
One minute she can say she feels wonderful,
不過下一分鐘她可能覺得壞得不得了！
(不過)(下)(一)(分鐘)(她)(可能)(覺得)(壞得不得了)
(ㄅㄨˊ ㄍㄨㄛˋ) (ㄒㄧㄚˋ) (ㄧ) (ㄈㄣ ㄓㄨㄥ) (ㄊㄚ) (ㄎㄜˇ ㄋㄥˊ) (ㄐㄩㄝˊ ㄉㄜ˙) (ㄏㄨㄞˋ ㄉㄜ˙ ㄅㄨˋ ㄉㄜˊ ㄌㄧㄠˇ)
(bú guò)(xià)(yī)(fēn zhōng)(tā)(kě néng)(jué de.)(huài de. bù dé liǎo)
(however)(next)(one)(minute)(she)(can)(feel)(worse than ever)
however, in the next minute she can feel worse than ever.
有時候男人說：女人會有季節性暴風雨。
(有時候)(男人)(說)：(女人)(會)(有)(季節性暴風雨)
(ㄧㄡˇ ㄕˊ ㄏㄡˋ) (ㄋㄢˊ ㄖㄣˊ) (ㄕㄨㄛ): (ㄋㄩˇ ㄖㄣˊ) (ㄏㄨㄟˋ) (ㄧㄡˇ) (ㄐㄧˊ ㄐㄧㄝˋ ㄒㄧㄥˋ ㄅㄠˋ ㄈㄥ ㄩˇ)
(yǒu shí hòu)(nán rén)(shuō): (nǚ rén)(huì)(yǒu)(jì jié xìng bào fēng yǔ)
(sometimes)(men)(to say): (women)(will)(to have)(seasonal storms)
Sometimes men say: Women will have “seasonal storms.”
至少男人總是預期到女人的心情是多變化的，像天氣預報：「晴時多雲偶陣雨。」
(至少)(男人)(總是)(預期)(到)(女人)(的)…
(ㄓˋ ㄕㄠˇ) (ㄋㄢˊ ㄖㄣˊ) (ㄗㄨㄥˇ ㄕˋ) (ㄩˋ ㄑㄧ) (ㄉㄠˋ) (ㄋㄩˇ ㄖㄣˊ) (ㄉㄜ˙)
(zhì shǎo)(nán rén)(zǒng shì)(yù qī)(dào)(nǚ rén)(de.)…
(to say the least)(men)(always)(to expect)(denotes result of action)(women)(-‘s, adjective marker)…
…..(心情)(是)(多)(變化)(的)，(像)(天氣)(預報)：…
……(ㄒㄧㄣ ㄑㄧㄥˊ) (ㄕˋ) (ㄉㄨㄛ) (ㄅㄧㄢˋ ㄏㄨㄚˋ) (ㄉㄜ˙): …
……(xīn qíng)(shì)(duō)(biàn huà)(de.), (xiàng)(tiān qì)(yù bào): …
……(mood)(is, to be)(much)(transform)(-ed, adjective marker), (like, as)(weather)(forecast): …
……….「(晴)(時)(多雲)(偶)(陣雨)。」❸
………… [(ㄑㄧㄥˊ) (ㄕˊ) (ㄉㄨㄛ ㄩㄣˊ) (ㄡˇ) (ㄓㄣˋ ㄩˇ).]
………… [(qíng)(shí)(duō yún)(ǒu)(zhèn yǔ).]
………… [(sunny)(while)(cloudy)(occasional)(showers)]
Men at least expect that women’s moods will be like the weather forecast, with many transformations: “sunny, with some clouds and occasional showers.”
But let’s hear from the other side –
或許一般男人比較少發洩情緒，可是他們也有他們的極端。
(或許)(一般)(男人)(比較)(少)(發洩)(情緒)，…
(ㄏㄨㄛˋ ㄒㄩˇ) (ㄧ ㄅㄢ) (ㄋㄢˊ ㄖㄣˊ) (ㄅㄧˇ ㄐㄧㄠˋ) (ㄕㄠˇ) (ㄈㄚ ㄒㄧㄝˋ) …
(huò xǔ)(yī bān)(nán rén)(bǐ jiào)(shǎo)(fā xiè)(qíng xù), …
(perhaps)(generally)(men)(comparatively)(less)(to vent, to let out)(frame of mind, mood) …
…..(可是)(他們)(也)(有)(他們的)(極端)
……(ㄎㄜˇ ㄕˋ) (ㄊㄚ ㄇㄣ˙) (ㄧㄝˇ) (ㄧㄡˇ) (ㄊㄚ ㄇㄣ˙ ㄉㄜ˙) (ㄐㄧˊ ㄉㄨㄢ)
……((kě shì)(tā men.)(yě)(yǒu)(tā men. de.)(jí duān)
……(but)(they)(also)(to have)(their)(extremes)
Perhaps men exhibit comparatively fewer moods, but they still have their extremes.
女人常常說：男人不是在天堂就是在地獄！
(女人)(常常)(說)：…
(ㄋㄩˇ ㄖㄣˊ) (ㄔㄤˊ ㄔㄤˊ) (ㄕㄨㄛ): …
(nǚ rén)(cháng cháng)(shuō): …
(women)(often)(t0 say): …
…..(男人)(不)(是)(在)(天堂)(就)(是)(在)(地獄)
……(ㄋㄢˊ ㄖㄣˊ) (ㄅㄨˊ) (ㄕˋ) (ㄗㄞˋ) (ㄊㄧㄢ ㄊㄤˊ) (ㄐㄧㄡˋ) (ㄕˋ) (ㄗㄞˋ) (ㄉㄧˋ ㄩˋ)
……(nán rén)(bú)(shì)(zài)(tiān táng)(jiù)(shì)(zài)(dì yù)
……(men)(not)(to be/are)(at)(heaven)(then)(to be)(at)(hell)
Women often say, “If men are not in heaven, they are in hell.”
There are other more moderate answers to the question:
妳今天的心情怎麼樣？
(你)(今天)(的)(心情)(怎麼樣)
(ㄋㄧˇ) (ㄐㄧㄣ ㄊㄧㄢ) (ㄉㄜ˙) (ㄒㄧㄣ ㄑㄧㄥˊ) (ㄗㄣˇ ㄇㄜ˙ ㄧㄤˋ)
(nǐ)(jīn tiān)(de.)(xīn qíng)(zěn me. yàng)
(you)(today)(adjective marker)(mood)(is like what)
What is your mood today?
某人可能說：「不好也不壞。」
(某人)(可能)(說)：「(不)(好)(也)(不)(壞)。」
(ㄇㄡˇ ㄖㄣˊ) (ㄎㄜˇ ㄋㄥˊ) (ㄕㄨㄛ): [(ㄅㄨˋ) (ㄏㄠˇ) (ㄧㄝˇ) (ㄅㄨˊ) (ㄏㄨㄞˋ)]
(mǒu rén)(kě néng)(shuō): [(bù)(hǎo)(yě)(bú)(huài)]
(a certain person, someone)(might)(to say): [(not)(good)(also)(not)(bad)]
Someone might say, “Not good, but not bad.”
也有人或許會說： 「不怎麼好。」
(也)(有)(人)(或許)(會)(說)： 「(不)(怎麼好)。」
(ㄧㄝˇ) (ㄧㄡˇ) (ㄖㄣˊ) ( ㄏㄨㄛˋ ㄒㄩˇ) (ㄏㄨㄟˋ) (ㄕㄨㄛ): [(ㄅㄨˋ) (ㄗㄣˇ ㄇㄜ˙ ㄏㄠˇ)]
(yě)(yǒu)(rén)(huò xǔ)(huì)(shuō): [(bù)(zěn me. hǎo)]
Perhaps you will also have people who say, “Not so good.”
And other ways to show interest in how someone is doing:
你看起來好像有心事。
(你)(看起來)(好像)(有)(心事)。
(ㄋㄧˇ) (ㄎㄢˋ ㄑㄧˇ ㄌㄞˊ) (ㄏㄠˇ ㄒㄧㄤˋ) (ㄧㄡˇ) (ㄒㄧㄣ ㄕˋ)
(nǐ)(kàn qǐ lái)(hǎo xiàng)(yǒu)(xīn shì)
(you)(look as if)(to seem like)(to have)(worries on your mind)
You look like something of concern is on your mind.
可能他會回答妳說：我只是頭腦麻木了，因為我實在太累了！
(可能)(他)(會)(回答)(妳)(說)：…
(ㄎㄜˇ ㄋㄥˊ) (ㄊㄚ) (ㄏㄨㄟˋ) (ㄏㄨㄟˊ ㄉㄚ) (ㄋㄧˇ) (ㄕㄨㄛ): …
(kě néng)(tā)(huì)(huí dā)(nǐ)(shuō): …
(possibly)(he)(will)(answer)(you)(to say): …
…..(我)(只是)(頭腦)(麻木)❹(了)，…
……(ㄨㄛˇ) (ㄓˇ ㄕˋ) (ㄊㄡˊ ㄋㄠˇ) (ㄇㄚˊ ㄇㄩˋ) (ㄌㄜ˙)
……(wǒ)(zhǐ shì)(tóu nǎo)(má mù)(le.) …
……(I)(merely, only)(brain/head)(numb)(sense of completion) …
……….(因為)(我)(實在)(太)(累)(了)
…………(ㄧㄣ ㄨㄟ˙) (ㄨㄛˇ) (ㄕˊ ㄗㄞˋ) (ㄊㄞˋ) (ㄌㄟˋ) (ㄌㄜ˙)
…………(yīn wei.)(wǒ)(shí zài)(tài)(lèi)(le.)
…………(because)(I)(really, in fact)(too)(tired)(sense of completion)
Possibly he will answer you to say, “I merely have a numb brain, because I am extremely tired.”
or
你看起來好像很高興！
(你)(看起來)(好像)(很)(高興)
(ㄋㄧˇ) (ㄎㄢˋ ㄑㄧˇ ㄌㄞˊ) (ㄏㄠˇ ㄒㄧㄤˋ) (ㄏㄣˇ) (ㄍㄠ ㄒㄧㄥˋ)
(nǐ)(kàn qǐ lái)(hǎo xiàng)(hěn)(gāo xìng)
(you)(look as if)(to seem like)(very)(happy)
You seem to be very happy!
你希望他會這麼說：「今天我心情特別地好！」
(你)(希望)(他)(會)(這麼)(說)：…
(ㄋㄧˇ) (ㄒㄧ ㄨㄤˋ) (ㄊㄚ) (ㄏㄨㄟˋ) (ㄓㄜˋ ㄇㄜ˙) (ㄕㄨㄛ): …
(nǐ)(xī wàng)(tā)(huì)(zhè me.)(shuō): …
…..「(今天)(我)(心情)(特別地)(好)！」
…… [(ㄐㄧㄣ ㄊㄧㄢ) (ㄨㄛˇ) (ㄒㄧㄣ ㄑㄧㄥˊ) (ㄊㄜˋ ㄅㄧㄝˊ ㄉㄜ˙) (ㄏㄠˇ)]
…… [(jīn tiān)(wǒ)(xīn qíng)(tè bié de.)(hǎo)]
You hope he will say this: “Today I feel especially good!”
It can be both good and bad that moods are able to change.
重要的是：最終 你還是有左右你自己的心情的能力。
(重要)(的)(是)：…
(ㄓㄨㄥˋ ㄧㄠˋ) (ㄉㄜ˙) (ㄕˋ): …
(zhòng yào)(de.)(shì): …
(important)(adjective marker)(is, to be): …
…..(最終)(你)(還是)(有)(左右) …
……(ㄗㄨㄟˋ ㄏㄡˋ) (ㄋㄧˇ) (ㄏㄞˊ ㄕˋ) (ㄧㄡˇ) (ㄗㄨㄛˇ ㄧㄡˋ) …
……(zuì hòu)(nǐ)(hái shì)(yǒu)(zuǒ yòu) …
……(ultimately)(you)(still, nevertheless) …
……….(你)(自己)(的)(心情)(的)(能力) …
…………(ㄋㄧˇ) (ㄗˋ ㄐㄧˇ) (ㄉㄜ˙) (ㄒㄧㄣ ㄑㄧㄥˊ) (ㄉㄜ˙) (ㄋㄥˊ ㄌㄧˋ)
…………(nǐ)(zì jǐ)(de.)(xīn qíng)(de.)(néng lì)
…………(you)(oneself)(adjective marker)
This is important: Ultimately, you nevertheless have power to control your own mood.
Notes:
❶ Keep in mind that the adjective marker 的 ㄉㄜ˙ (de.) can translate into anything in English that makes the word describe a noun. For instance, in this sentence it becomes an *’s* in English because “today’s” describes the mood in question. Other places it might be translated into a pronoun that is possessive (his, my), or an *-ed* on the end of a word, such as “braided hair.” In some instances, there is no specific ending to the English word, but the adjective marker is still added in the Chinese, like in 藍色魚 ㄌㄢˊ ㄙㄜˋ ㄩˊ (lán sè yú) “blue fish.”
❷ 不得了ㄅㄨˋ ㄉㄜˊ ㄌㄧㄠˇ (bù dé liǎo) is common in conversation and adds a superlative, or extreme, sense to the adjective it is describing after the initial 得 ㄉㄜ˙ (de.), which is the grammatical indicator that an adverbial description is to follow.
❸ When learning the Chinese language, you simply have to accept the fact that common sayings like this are often abbreviated in a way that can sound truncated and ungrammatical when we try to translate it into English.
❹ Although 麻木 ㄇㄚˊ ㄇㄨˋ (má mù) “numb” is an okay way to express this, my tutor thinks the more common way to say it is 空空的 ㄎㄨㄥ ㄎㄨㄥ ㄉㄜ˙ (kōng kōng de.) “empty, or feeling of emptiness.” This is not necessarily referring to a lack of meaning in life, unless that is specified, but rather a blankness of thought. Using the word for “numb” could be taken to imply insensitivity, as in not caring for others.
Another colloquial way to express this state of mind is 發呆 ㄈㄚ ㄉㄞ (fā dāi), meaning “spaced out.” And I leave you with this sentence to translate: 我不知道我想做什麼，所以我坐著發呆。Like my FB page and look for the translation to be featured!
