New Members youra6 Posted August 4, 2013 at 04:57 AM New Members Report Share Posted August 4, 2013 at 04:57 AM I've been watching some Chinese dubbed anime to learn Chinese, and I've been cross checking with my parents for contextual help on some terms. I have a question on two terms: 本人- My dad said that this term is usually used to address oneself in a deratory or negative sense. Like a Triad member, or villian. My dad is a native Chinese speaker, but has lived in the states for 20 years now. Usage changes over time, so I am wondering if the meaning has changed over time. 指示- This term was used in the anime Slam Dunk, in the sense that a coach "instructs" a player. My dad said that while the term means to instruct, it isn't commonly used in this kind of relationship. He says its used more in the past, such as when a person of higher rank (government official) would instruct a commoner. Again, I'm not so sure since I clearly saw this term being used in a coach-player relationship. What are your thoughts? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OneEye Posted August 5, 2013 at 02:47 PM Report Share Posted August 5, 2013 at 02:47 PM 本人 is commonly used, at least in Taiwan, to refer to oneself humbly. It doesn't have a negative connotation, but a polite one. I use it in letters to professors. I can't help with the other though. I'm not at all familiar with sports terminology in Chinese. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Glenn Posted August 6, 2013 at 12:12 AM Report Share Posted August 6, 2013 at 12:12 AM 笨人, on the other hand, would be derogatory. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PengHaoShi Posted August 6, 2013 at 03:25 AM Report Share Posted August 6, 2013 at 03:25 AM 本 is widely used in such kind of context, but more in formal or written Chinese. You can see it for example in every taxi, this car's number ...: 本车, announcements on the airplane, our plane will....: 本飞机，in an advertisement letter, our company can....:本公司。So it's a formal and polite way to address oneself / itself. 指示 can hardly be translated with a single word, take the words: instruct, advise and indicate, shake it and every now and then strengthen it with a little bit of command or soften it with a little bit of suggestion, and voila, here you have it. Example: 下达指示, to give instructions, this is more of a command; 指示方向, to instruct about the direction, it's a bit softer, but you would assume, that the instruction is to be followed. So your dad is right. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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