chinese - chinee

[joko]

my dad sometimes refers to a chinese person as a chinee. (he is 78)

Does this mean anything? is it offensive? is it just an old fashioned term, like coloured?

[Quizmonster]

'Chinee' was an uneducated 19th century version representing the singular, as it were, of 'Chinese' which sounds like Chinees, the supposedly plural version. It's so rarely used nowadays that I doubt whether anyone would consider it offensive.

[joko]

Thanks QM. good answer, never thought of that.

i remember hearing a girl of about 25 say it once - i was surprised but it shows how things get passed down, and taken on as fact ot normal, without any real thought.

[jno]

yes, in John Buchan books (written 80-odd years ago) you sometimes see people talking about a 'Portugoose' - same idea, sounds like the singular of 'Portugeese' (!). I'm not sure it was ever intended to be offensive, it sounds more comical to me.

[Peter Pedant]

No chinee is not good - they also dont like Chinaman.

There is no reason for this - a postman may be a postie, a workman a workie, but a fella from Pakistan has to be a Pakistani.

If he's 88 I dont think it matters - I dont think he will meet many....

[joko]

PP - Firstly he's 78 not 88, and how would you know who he will meet? And what has age got to do with it?

Not sure what nonsense your trying to say but try to keep the question and keep your 'opinions' to yourself.

[jno]

hey, c'mon joko, you asked if it was offensive and PP said that Chinese people found it so; isn't that answering your question?

[joko]

jno - read my response again

it is about the other comments made, not the answers given to the question which were fine and were a good point.

i thought it was a very strange comment which makes no sense

[jno]

yes, but instead of saying thanks for a helpful answer, or giving PP some stars, you just complained about the bit of his answer you didn't like. If people go to some trouble to answer your question, it's only fair to acknowledge this before ripping into them for their opinions, isn't it?

[joko]

His answer was fairly obvious. Simply saying 'no' is not exactly helpful and the other stuff about posties was mildly interesting but again nothing new, so why would I give him stars?

I am grateful people taking the time to answer, but the question had already been answered far more eloquently by two other people.

His smartarse comment that my dad was old so wouldn't ever meet any chinese people irritated me because firstly he knows nothing about me or my dad and the sort of people we meet, and implying he will die before he gets chance to meet any is pointless and rude and I don't want to hear it.

why is this so hard for you to understand jno? what do you care what i say to PP?

perhaps I should make random irrelevent comments about your elderly and unwell parents being 10 years older than they are and that they will undoubtedly be dying soon anyway, so who cares what they think and say? Would you give me stars?

[jno]

the reason I answered was just general interest in keeping this a civil website. In fact, although the answers given in earlier posts may have been more eloquent, they actually differed from what PP said: he said Chinese did find it offensive, the others (including me) doubted it. In the past, I've found PP's answers to be knowledgeable and helpful; so I'm inclined to think he may be right and I was wrong. If so, then 'Chinee' is a term to be used only with great caution, which means I've learnt something and maybe you have too (I say if because I don't know for sure, of course).

You and he are free to say what you like about my parents; it's a website, and I'm perfectly well aware that neither of you knows me, or them, so I'll know the comments aren't directed at real people and I won't be offended. I award stars to people who have taken the trouble to answer my questions regardless of what they think of my family; though there is no obligation to do so.

[joko]

jno - read the posts properly and try to understand. You are completely missing the point.

For some reason you are misunderstanding these posts entirely, I don't know why, but I am not going to keep explaining to you and repeating what I have already said just because you haven't comprehended the first time.

I don't care if he gave the most fabulous answer in the history of AB - he was rude about my father and I am certainly not going to reward him for it. As I said, I didn't think his answer was that great anyway - simply saying 'no' is not helpful or informative, and the fact that you shouldn't say it was made perfectly obvious from QM's illuminating answer.

I have no intention of ever mentioning your parents - I never said I would - I was making a point.