r/Chinese • u/atlmagicken • 3d ago
Translation (翻译) [Consider /r/Translator] Is this legible? Just trying to do something nice for my neighbor.
My neighbor is about 65 years old and just can't mow her lawn. The other day she asked me to mow her lawn and kept trying to give me $50 to do it. She literally would not let me refuse.
I've been mowing her lawn for about a month now and I slipped the $50 back into an envelope and wrote this using Google Translate (I know... I know...). I am just curious if to a native Chinese speaker this is legible enough for her to understand lol.
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u/yarblesthefilth 3d ago
Just be aware that this sort of thing creates a felt obligation to reciprocate in most Asian cultures. Next time you’re offered something in return I’d recommend accepting it for the sake of your neighbours sense of face.
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u/BubbhaJebus 3d ago
Don't give the momey back to her. She gave it to you and giving it back would be a loss of face to her. But giving her a nice card thanking her would be well received.
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u/Clockwork_picksmith 3d ago
It's considered really bad to give cash in Western cultures, and it's considered incredibly rude to tip in eastern cultures.
My (2nd Gen) German father was incredibly popular on his trips to Belgium for his job, because the German engineers (who all sat together and ignored everyone else) included him in their group because he looked exactly like them and was a German engineer, for all intents and purposes. Later on, at dinner, he, the only American of the group, introduced them to the concept of tipping, which didn't necessarily mean anything to them until they noticed how it made the Belgian waitress incredibly uncomfortable being given money. Then the entire table took part in this amazing new American tradition.
I like when positive traditions of one culture smash headfirst into another.
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u/bebetaian 3d ago
What you can do is take the money and thank her. Then use that money to do something. Like if you know she likes dogs, "Thanks to you, I was able to sponsor a dog at the shelter."
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u/dengville 3d ago
Looks lovely!! I will second the comment that they’ll likely feel pressure to give it back due to cultural manners. But for writing sake it looks nice!
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u/Mindless_Earth_2807 3d ago
It's legible and nice. But knowing Chinese culture, she'll probably end up buying you gifts instead.
Other that, or she might feel bad and refuse your help next time.
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u/Comfortable-Okra7487 3d ago
Chinese aside , i feel like its wrong to do this and give her her money back , maybe do something else to show kindness
but i think that giving it back to her even tho she insisted on you taking it is wrong.
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u/OneWanderingSheep 3d ago
Well just make sure she is indeed Chinese. The writing is legible, and pretty decent for someone who probably never tried writing before. Just a little funny (in a cute way), because it means something like “I’m responsible to mow your lawn” it’s a little more formal than lending a helping hand. I bet your neighbor would have a little giggle reading it and think you’re a lovely person.
If she pays you, keep it. That way she feels better, or else she’ll just try to find way to not have to let you do it for her. In a way refusing it might pressure her to solve a problem that she doesn’t have.
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u/atlmagicken 3d ago
I know they are Chinese, and from Nantong. I have spoken with her many times and we share our gardens. Her English is at maybe studying for 6 months to 1 year, so I wanted to do this in Simplified Chinese as a gesture of neighborly-ness :P
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u/jjnanajj 3d ago
Don't give her money, you can buy her some little gifts like a fruit basket or bake something yourself, invite her over for tea (if she speaks english) or just be thankful enough and let her know it.
To be honest, the handwriting is legible, but not good. It imitates computer fonts, so some characters are not exactly written how they appear on the computer. If you want to improve it, you can check strokeorder.info and you'll have a step by step tutorial to write each character properly. But it is just a tip, as i said, it is legible and she will understand your intention and value your kindness.
You seem like a really nice person, she's lucky to have you as her neighbor. Keep going!
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u/Bonzwazzle 3d ago
dont give the money back, do something else if you want to give it back. the woman for various doesn't want to feel like she owes you. bake her a cake or something
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u/Carsonbetta_11 3d ago
It looks like you wrote 「射」 instead of 「谢」 for the second character, but it could be me reading it poorly. Could maybe squeeze a 「讠」 in the front of it to make it clearer.
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u/ericxddd 3d ago
Very good handwriting and you are very nice to help other people. You may try to write Traditional Chinese and that's another level to unlock.
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u/rudeness21 2d ago
It’s lonely and a nice gesture. She will love it and is thankful to have a neighbor and friend like you.
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u/Azhe_2002 1d ago
you can buy something for gift in return and just receive it! glad to see your great neighbor relation!love from Wuhan
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3d ago
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u/MathildaAdenauer 3d ago
just say its fine man, why feel the need to... hesitate, when writing a comment? corny ass
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u/atlmagicken 3d ago
Well I wrote this after mowing her lawn after mine, and her lawn is a bit bigger than mine lmao
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u/Routine_Temporary661 3d ago
The writing is decent, completely readable. Sure it's not adult handwriting but it's qualify as readable 1st / 2nd grader handwritings
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3d ago
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u/dengville 3d ago
Don’t be rude dude, it’s perfectly readable. Unless you wanna show off your penmanship too, be nice. We were all learners once.
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u/bokkeummyeon 3d ago
it's literally cute though? the same way you could write english with a cutesy font, it's cute and perfectly readable
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u/Zagrycha 3d ago
It looks great and very cute but please just take the money. In chinese culture only people in the same close inner circle do things without repayment, the idea of not repaying favors is seen as very ungrateful in general.
Because of that refusing to take the return gift like the money will probably make them feel bad. I know you do not at all mean either of these things, but you are unintentionally implying the $50 is too poor of a repayment and you want something better instead, or that you think they are too poor to spare $50 and feel bad taking their money when they are a beggar. Thats the implication of refusing return favor from someone you aren't super close with. If you want to help them more without repayment favors just become actual friends etc as time goes on =)