Stop Getting Annoyed! When Foreigners Shout 'Nǐ Hǎo' at You, This Is the Ultimate High-EQ Comeback
You're strolling down a foreign street, enjoying the exotic atmosphere, when suddenly, from behind you, you hear a strangely pronounced "Nee-how~".
You turn around and see a few foreigners smiling at you.
At that moment, what's going through your mind? At first, you might find it novel, but after it happens too often, a mix of complex emotions wells up. Are they being friendly or mocking? Curious or a little bit prejudiced?
That "Nǐ hǎo" is like a tiny prickle, itching at your mind, making you feel a bit uncomfortable, but you can't quite put your finger on why.
Why Does 'Nǐ Hǎo' Make One Feel So Uneasy?
We're not being overly sensitive. This discomfort actually stems from three levels:
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Being treated like an 'exotic animal': That feeling is like walking down the street, only to suddenly be gawked at like a monkey in a zoo. The other person isn't trying to get to know 'you' as a person; they just find an 'Asian face' novel and want to 'poke' it to see a reaction. You're reduced to a label, not a living, breathing human being.
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The offence of being disturbed: Nobody likes being randomly accosted by strangers on the street, especially when such an approach comes with a voyeuristic and scrutinising gaze. For women, this feeling is even worse, compounded by the double vulnerability of race and gender, leading to discomfort or even harassment.
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Complex identity: When you respond to that "Nǐ hǎo", in their eyes, you've practically admitted you're "Chinese". For many Taiwanese people, the emotions and identity politics behind this are far too complex to be explained clearly in three seconds on a street corner.
Faced with this situation, we usually have two choices: either pretend not to hear, walk away quietly, seething with internal frustration; or get angry and retort, but this not only makes you seem ill-mannered but could also provoke unnecessary conflict.
Isn't there a better way?
Turning the 'Label' Others Give You into a 'Calling Card' You Present
Next time, try this method.
Instead of passively accepting the vague 'Asian' label that's slapped on you, why not proactively turn it into a unique 'calling card' that introduces yourself?
This is what I later learned to call 'linguistic counter-attack'.
When another foreigner says "Nǐ hǎo" to me, provided the environment is safe, I'll stop, smile, look at them, and then, like a street magician, begin my impromptu language lesson.
I'll tell them: "Hey! I'm from Taiwan. In our language, we say 'Lí-hó' (哩厚)!"
Typically, their eyes widen in surprise, as if they've discovered a new continent. They never knew that besides "Nǐ hǎo", there was such a cool way to say hello.
Then, I'll give them two more bonus phrases:
- Thank you, called 'To-siā' (多蝦)
- Goodbye, called 'Tsài-huē' (再會)
See, the whole situation instantly turns around.
What could have been an awkward or unpleasant encounter transforms into an interesting, positive cultural exchange. You're no longer the passive 'observed', but the active 'sharer'. You haven't got angry, but you've earned respect in a far more powerful and engaging way.
This isn't just about teaching them a phrase; you're sending a message: Asia isn't just one thing; we have rich and diverse cultures. Don't think you can simply define us with one "Nǐ hǎo".
Your Mother Tongue Is Your Coolest Superpower
I teach Taiwanese, because that's my most familiar mother tongue. If you're Hakka, you can teach them Hakka; if you're indigenous, you can teach them your tribal language.
This isn't about right or wrong; it's about pride.
What we're doing is breaking the stereotype of 'Asian = Chinese, Japanese, Korean', using our own language and culture to paint a clear and unique 'Taiwanese' outline on the world stage.
Imagine if every Taiwanese person did this: that foreigner learns 'Lí-hó' in Taiwanese today, then tomorrow meets a Hakka friend and learns 'Ngin-ho', and the day after meets an Amis friend. They might be confused, but at the same time, a rich, multifaceted, and diverse image of Taiwan will be built in their mind.
Together, we can break free from the mire of "Nǐ hǎo".
Of course, impromptu street lessons are just a fleeting glimpse. To have deeper, more genuine conversations with people worldwide and break down language barriers, you need more professional tools.
That's where an AI real-time translation chat app like Intent comes in handy. It allows you to easily make friends, discuss collaborations, and chat about life with anyone in any corner of the world, all in your own mother tongue, building truly meaningful connections.
Next time, after you've surprised someone with 'Lí-hó', perhaps you can open Intent and start an even more exciting cross-cultural conversation.
Remember, your language and culture aren't burdens to hide, but your most shining calling card. Hand it out proudly!