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The phrase 他妈的 has been explained in this question. Since I'm a no-expletives guy, I don't feel comfortable so close to the f-word. :) I was wondering what would be the correct way to use some of the milder curse words I use daily like "damn", "bloody hell", "sh*t", "arse" etc.

I'm guessing most of these cannot be translated directly, so I guess what I'm asking is: What would be more-or-less socially acceptable way of cursing in Chinese when you stub your toe?

blackgreen
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dr Hannibal Lecter
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4 Answers4

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May I suggest checking out the ChinaSmack glossary? They have a huge array of colorful language, and there is sure to be something that meets your needs in terms of a curse word there.

Just to add, I always hear Chinese girls saying 讨厌 (taoyan) when they are annoyed or frustrated, but it's not exactly the most masculine of statements. 烦 (fan) also seems to be a common expression amongst both genders, although not exactly the meaning you are looking for.

Hope that helps.

Ciaocibai
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  • Or if stubbing your toe, 哎呀，好疼! might be pretty acceptable. 哎呀is one of my personal favorite words, and probably lines up with what you are trying to express pretty well. – Ciaocibai Dec 14 '11 at 20:46
  • However, both 讨厌 and 烦 will almost never be used for cursing situations. :P "讨厌" is like "leave me alone" in girly form. – Flake Dec 14 '11 at 20:48
  • Yes, 哎呀 or simply "啊(ah..)". ;) But, seems not too many people really say "好疼". It is like written words in novels. – Flake Dec 14 '11 at 20:50
  • You definitely may suggest! :) It's amazing how some of these expressions on ChinaSmack are exactly the same as those used in my country. I haven't seen this in any other language (English, German, Italian...) – dr Hannibal Lecter Dec 14 '11 at 20:58
  • Maybe it's the people I hang out with; I have to say, I've heard people say 哎呀 more in the South of China than the North. – Ciaocibai Dec 14 '11 at 21:20
  • Oh, and glad you like ChinaSmack - the glossary is pretty amazing. There are actually a couple of books on Amazon you may be interested in all about slang and cursing in Chinese - for example http://www.amazon.com/Dirty-Chinese-Everyday-Slang-Whats/dp/1569757275 – Ciaocibai Dec 14 '11 at 21:21
  • @Ciaocibai It may be true, as I come from northern part. 哎呀 seems a little bit girly to me. ;) – Flake Dec 14 '11 at 21:29
  • I kind of like 哎呀, it seems quite universal, can be applied in any situation! – dr Hannibal Lecter Dec 14 '11 at 21:39
  • @Flake I just knew you were going to be a Northerner! – Ciaocibai Dec 14 '11 at 22:06
  • @Ciaocibai ha! Yes I am. Never knew that "哎呀" is commonly used in the South. ;) – Flake Dec 14 '11 at 22:20
  • "討厭" is mostly spoken by women. Perhaps "該死" is better. – Mike Manilone Jan 28 '13 at 13:30
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For cursing:

  • "操" is pretty similar to "damn" or "sh*t" in such situation of cursing. Also similar as they should not be used in very formal situations. However, the meaning of "操" is same as the f word in its verb form.
  • "操" should be quite acceptable (or at least ok) in informal scenarios.
  • "靠" has very very close meaning as "操" in this situation. Actually, it is some thing more dirty in origin.

Just express it hurts e.g. when get a toe stubbed:

  • While in very formal situations, I would say "Ah!(啊!)" (same as "Ouch!") without cursing. Note: the ah sound is really short, something short than 1/2 second perhaps.
  • 哎呀 has the similar meaning while in my personal impression, 哎呀 is more used in situation of surprises than got hurt.
Flake
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  • Hm, are you sure about 操 being "damn" or "sht", my dictionary only says "_to fck (vulgar)_"? Doesn't seem like something I'd like to say when my program won't compile! – dr Hannibal Lecter Dec 14 '11 at 21:21
  • By "pretty similar to" I meant only its usage in the situation of cursing. It has real meaning of f word, but in Chinese, widely used for cursing. 靠 is almost the same too. Yes, you can curse using 操 when your program does not compile. But only when you are really annoyed, e.g. when you are close to a deadline or in bad mood. – Flake Dec 14 '11 at 21:26
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    A bit off-topic, but being Scottish, 哎呀 is great for me - if I stub my toe or whatever, I already automatically shout 'ai ya!' :) Well, that or something like 'ai ya f**cker!' :D – Cocowalla Dec 14 '11 at 21:29
  • I think I understand what you're saying, we have the same thing in Croatian. However, this is exactly the thing I wanted to avoid, I'd like to get a bit more euphemistic if possible. For example, I like using "blast!", "cor blimey!" and other, more "British" expressions so to speak. – dr Hannibal Lecter Dec 14 '11 at 21:31
  • @drHannibalLecter I've never actually heard anyone British say "cor blimey!" in real life, but I take your point :) – Cocowalla Dec 14 '11 at 21:34
  • @Cocowalla: I assumed as much, but still..mayhap I've watched too many Fawlty Towers or Jeeves and Wooster episodes...and other "nice" shows... :) – dr Hannibal Lecter Dec 14 '11 at 21:38
  • @drHannibalLecter That is really interesting to know. :D – Flake Dec 14 '11 at 21:38
  • @Flake I'm pretty sure 'kao4' (靠) is just a bowdlerization of 'cao4'. Do you have any evidence that it's "more dirty"? – Stumpy Joe Pete Jun 20 '12 at 17:49
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"靠" is more like it, in modern oral Chinese.

While "操" is literally the F-word since it's a homonym of "肏" which means the F-word.

If you are looking for a more speakable word, 倒霉, 该死 or 见鬼 would be more fit.

Kabie
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  • I did not put "靠" because it is actually "尻" which is even dirty as I presume. But anyway, they are almost the same to me. :P – Flake Dec 14 '11 at 20:53
  • No, it's not. It's a pure exclamation nowadays. – Kabie Dec 14 '11 at 21:16
  • As I understand, the relation between 靠 and 尻 and the one between 操 and 肏 are the same. They are all 通假字. Both 靠 and 操 are used as 通假 only after computer era. – Flake Dec 14 '11 at 21:28
  • @Flake: But one never says "我尻", instead one says "我靠" or "我操". That is said, 靠 is more like a neutral replacement for 操. It can be used both good or bad way. – Kabie Dec 14 '11 at 21:40
  • If I understood correctly, even though my dictionary says "to f*ck (vulgar)" for 靠, it's not actually a swear word but an exclamation? – dr Hannibal Lecter Dec 14 '11 at 21:42
  • @Flake: For the record, 靠 did used as a dirty-less replacement for 尻 first, but 尻 is clearly an uncivilized word for typing on the internet. – Kabie Dec 14 '11 at 21:51
  • @dr Hannibal Lecter: That still depends on the occasion as any word. I think it will be a very bad impression if a non-native speaker speaks that way. – Kabie Dec 14 '11 at 21:52
  • @Kabie: Hm, in that case I might stick with 糟糕! :) – dr Hannibal Lecter Dec 14 '11 at 21:59
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    @drHannibalLecter To me, "糟糕" seems only appear in novels and movies rather than in real life conversations. Meanwhile, the very similar things, "糟了" / "坏了", are used in the situations where one forgets something important or similar. E.g. when I forget my project report in a meeting to managers, I may say "糟了" or "坏了" or "靠" or "操" silently. – Flake Dec 14 '11 at 22:05
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    @dr Hannibal Lecter: Yes, 糟糕 is the word. However it usually is said softly and repeatedly, unlike a big, loud /dæm/ could frame the emotion. – Kabie Dec 14 '11 at 22:07
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I know some people might think 干 is not-so-mild, but I tend to hear it a lot in the sense of 

Damn, all the way over there? That's a long way to go
干！那么远的地方？走过去要很久

or

That chick is hot, damn!
那个正妹好辣，干！
Lars Andren
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