Descripción
In China, accepting a compliment directly is the fastest way to lose the room. Josh Weinstein, Princeton-educated Mandarin speaker and tech entrepreneur, learned this when ShaoLan called his Chinese 厲害 (lì hài) and his instinct was to say thank you. The correct response is 哪裡哪裡 (nǎ lǐ nǎ lǐ): literally "where, where," a humble deflection that says you see the praise and you are still not satisfied with where you are. 厲害 is built from 厲, which carries severity and power, and 害, which means damage: something so formidable it leaves a mark. Josh also reveals that during his Princeton Beijing immersion programme, no English was allowed under any circumstances, a pledge students signed on arrival, and by the sixth week he was speaking Chinese in his sleep.
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*⏰ TIMESTAMPS:*
0:00 - Introducing Josh Weinstein and the word 厲害
1:00 - 厲害 (lì hài): severe damage and why it means formidable
2:00 - The wrong response: saying thank you when someone calls you 厲害
2:45 - 哪裡哪裡 (nǎ lǐ nǎ lǐ): the humble deflection and why it matters
3:30 - 好厲害 (hǎo lì hài): really formidable and how 好 intensifies
4:15 - 開玩笑 (kāi wán xiào): you must be kidding and when to use it
5:15 - Josh on Princeton Beijing: no English, a signed pledge, dreaming in Chinese
In Chinese culture, the most impressive response to praise is to deflect it. 哪裡哪裡 is not false modesty. It is the social grace that says: I am listening, I am grateful, and I am not done yet.
*📖 KEY VOCABULARY:*
Formidable: 厲害 / 厉害 (lì hài)
It's nothing: 哪裡哪裡 / 哪里哪里 (nǎ lǐ nǎ lǐ)
Really formidable: 好厲害 / 好厉害 (hǎo lì hài)
You must be kidding: 開玩笑 / 开玩笑 (kāi wán xiào)
Joke: 玩笑 (wán xiào)
To open: 開 (kāi)
*👤 ABOUT THE GUEST:*
Josh Weinstein is a tech entrepreneur and venture capitalist who graduated from Princeton with a degree in East Asian Studies. A former US High School speed chess champion and student body president, he has spent 15 years building and advising venture-backed startups across the globe.
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Talk Chineasy is a daily podcast hosted by ShaoLan, creator of the award-winning Chineasy method featured on TED. In each 7-minute episode, ShaoLan and a guest explore Chinese characters, culture, and language through stories that make Mandarin unforgettable. 300+ episodes available.
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