tā shì shéi? Titles in addressing others

1. tā shìshéi? Titles in addressing others 他是谁？

2. In addressing adults--formal 这位是 Zhèi wèi shì… This (person) is… What’s the difference between Miss and Ms.? Miss America 2009 Katie Stam

3. 同志 Culture Notes • In Taiwan and oversea Chinese communities, the titles Xīansheng, Tàtai, Xǐaojie and Nǚshì are more or less the equivalents of Mr., Mrs., Miss and Ms. • In China, since the early 19th century, they began the “equalitarian” movement and the word “Tóngzhì” is used. (Tongzhì meaning “Comrade”) • An exception was often made, however, in dealing with foreigners. • With the advent of liberalization and globalization in the PRC, Xīansheng, Tàitai, Xǐaojie, and Nǚshì are reappearing, more commonly in the large metropolises. Tóngzhì on the other hand, while used, is growing less popular.

4. In addressing adults--informal Russell 小罗 这位是 Zhèi wèi shì… This (person) is… Carl Fredricksen 卡爾費迪遜

5. Culture Notes • Lǎo and Xǐao are popular informal terms used between friends, Lǎo generally with older people and Xǐao with younger people. • Males are more likely than females to be called Lǎo. • In fact, never use Lǎo to describe a women. • Second fact, when a woman says she is “Lǎo”, you should automatically say “你不Lǎo!”

6. PinyinVocabularyIn addressing children Zhèi wèi shì… This (person) is…

7. Activity One: Zhè Shì Shéi? In teams. Each member in the team will take turn answering T. question. Correct response will win your team a point. Other teams need to pay attention, since if the spokesperson makes a mistake, whoever can correct it will earn their team a point. Winning team gets extra credit!

8. Example: Zhè shì shéi? Who is this? Zhè wèi shì Smithxīangshen. This is Mr. Smith. If you don’t know who that person is, ask your teammate for help!! 

9. Example: Zhè shì shéi? Who is this? Russell 小罗 Zhè wèi shì Xiǎo Rúo. This is young Russel. Carl Fredricksen 卡爾費迪遜 Zhè wèi shì Lǎo Fèi. This is old Fred.

10. Zhè shì shéi? Who is this? Zhè wèi shì Griffin Xīanshēng 先生. This is Mr. Griffin.

11. Zhè shì shéi? Who is this? Zhè wèi shì Simpson Xǐaojie 小姐. This is Miss Griffin.

12. Zhè shì shéi? Who is this? Zhè wèi shì GriffinTàitai/Nǚshì. This is Mrs. Griffin.

13. Zhè shì shéi? Who is this? Zhè wèi shì Lin Xīanshēng先生. This is Mr. Lin

14. Zhè shì shéi? Who is this? Zhè wèi shì Tebow Xīanshēng先生. This is Mr. Tebow

15. Zhè shì shéi? Who is this? Zhè wèi shì Messi Xīansheng 先生. This is Mr. Messi

16. Zhè shì shéi? Who is this? Zhè wèi shì Djokovic Xīansheng 先生. This is Mr. Djokovic

17. Zhè shì shéi? Who is this? Zhè wèi shì CK Xīanshēng 先生. This is Mr. CK

18. Zhè shì shéi? Who is this? Zhè wèi shì 这位是 Rubio Xīanshēng先生. This is Mr. Rubio

19. Zhè shì shéi? Who is this? Zhè wèi shì Buffett Xīanshēng先生. This is Mr. Buffett

20. Zhè shì shéi? Who is this? Zhè wèi shì Cook Xīanshēng 先生. This is Mr. Cook

21. Zhè shì shéi? Who is this? Zhè wèi shì Obama Xīanshēng先生/Zhǒngtǒng This is Mr. Obama / President Obana

22. Zhè shì shéi? Who is this? Zhè wèi shì Kim Xīanshēng先生 This is Mr. Kim

23. Zhè shì shéi? Who is this? Zhè wèi shì Xi Xīanshēng 先生/Zhǒngtǒng This is Mr. Xi

24. Zhè shì shéi? Who is this? Zhè wèi shì Pistorius Xīanshēng先生 This is Mr. Pistorius

25. Zhè shì shéi? Who is this? Zhè wèi shì Homer Xīanshēng先生 This is Mr. Homer

26. Zhè shì shéi? Who is this? Zhè wèi shì Newton Xīanshēng先生 This is Mr. Newton

27. Zhè shì shéi? Who is this? Zhè wèi shì Beethoven Xīanshēng先生 This is Mr. Beethoven

28. Zhè shì shéi? Who is this? Zhè wèi shì Shakespear Xīanshēng先生 This is Mr. Shakespear

29. Zhè shì shéi? Who is this? Zhè wèi shì Washington Xīanshēng先生 This is Mr. Washington

30. Zhè shì shéi? Who is this? Zhè wèi shì Lincoln Xīanshēng先生 This is Mr. Lincoln

31. Zhè shì shéi? Who is this? Zhè wèi shì Roosevelt Xīanshēng先生 This is Mr. Roosevelt

32. Zhè shì shéi? Who is this? Zhè wèi shì Huang Xīanshēng先生 This is Mr. Huang

33. Zhè shì shéi? Who is this? Zhè wèi shì Kong Xīanshēng先生 This is Mr. Kong

34. Zhè shì shéi? Who is this? Zhè wèi shì Zuckerberg Xīanshēng先生 This is Mr. Zuckerberg

35. Zhè shì shéi? Who is this? Zhè wèi shì Da Vinci Xīanshēng先生 This is Mr. Da Vinci

36. Zhè shì shéi? Who is this? Zhè wèi shì Darwin Xīanshēng先生 This is Mr. Darwin

37. Zhè shì shéi? Who is this? Zhè wèi shì Rihanna Xǐaojie 小姐. This is Miss Rihanna.

38. Zhè shì shéi? Who is this? Zhè wèi shì Adkins Xǐaojie小姐. This is Miss Adkins [Adele Laurie Blue Adkins].

39. Zhè shì shéi? Who is this? Zhè wèi shì TsengXǐaojie小姐. This is Miss Tseng.

40. Zhè shì shéi? Who is this? Zhè wèi shì WiigXǐaojie小姐. This is Miss Wiig.

41. Zhè shì shéi? Who is this? Zhè wèi shì Swinton Xǐaojie小姐. This is Miss Swinton.

42. Zhè shì shéi? Who is this? 她们shì Middleton Xǐaojie小姐们. This is Miss Middleton.

43. Zhè shì shéi? Who is this? Zhè wèi shì Chastain Xǐaojie小姐. This is Miss Chastain

44. Zhè shì shéi? Who is this? Zhè wèi shì Danes Xǐaojie小姐. This is Miss Chastain

45. Zhè shì shéi? Who is this? Zhè wèi shì ClintonTàitai/Nǚshì. This is Mrs. Clinton

46. Zhè shì shéi? Who is this? Credits: Most of this activity’s photos are from “ Time’s 100 Most Influential People” . Game Over!