😕 Awkward elevator rides in China

I’ve been into reading Chinese memes recently. I think they are great for bite-sized learning while being entertaining and memorable.

I came across another funny one recently about awkward elevator rides 😂.

Can you figure out what it says?

Translation & Pinyin

当我和四个陌生人一起坐电梯

當我和四個陌生人一起坐電梯

Dāng wǒ hé sì gè mòshēngrén yīqǐ zuò diàntī

When I and four strangers take the elevator together

Vocabulary

1. 当 (dāng) - When

2. 我 (wǒ) - I, me

3. 和 (hé) - And

4. 四 (sì) - Four

5. 个 (gè) - A measure word for people or things

6. 陌生人 (mòshēngrén) - Stranger

7. 一起 (yīqǐ) - Together

8. 坐 (zuò) - To sit, to take

9. 电梯 (diàntī) - Elevator

Cultural context

This meme depicts five people with awkward expressions, trying to ignore each other.

What is shown in the meme humorously portrays the behavior of people, especially introverts when sharing an elevator with strangers, and many of my introverted friends can relate to the meme.

It captures the essence of a common social scenario in urban settings where people are forced to share a confined space, like an elevator, with strangers. The phrase has become a meme and is used in various ways to express the discomfort and tension associated with such situations.

In Chinese society, personal space and privacy are highly valued, and people often prefer not to interact with strangers in public places. Elevators, being enclosed spaces, are notorious for making people feel self-conscious or uneasy when sharing them with others they don't know.

This is where the humor in the phrase comes from – it highlights the awkwardness of coexisting in a confined space with unfamiliar individuals.

Can you feel the awkwardness? 😅

Vocabulary Breakdown

1. 当 (dāng): This character means "when" or "while." It is often used to indicate a specific point in time or a situation.

   当我下雨时，我会带伞。 (Dāng wǒ xiàyǔ shí, wǒ huì dài sǎn.) When it rains, I will bring an umbrella.

2. 我 (wǒ): This character means "I" or "me." It is the first-person singular pronoun. You can use it in various contexts to refer to yourself, such as "我是学生" (wǒ shì xuéshēng) which means "I am a student."

   我喜欢学中文。 (Wǒ xǐhuān xué zhōngwén.) I like to learn Chinese.