[HSK 5] 称呼的时代变迁史 - The Changing History of Forms of Address

This explores the social and cultural changes behind Chinese forms of address, from “comrade” and “master” to “handsome guy” and “pretty girl.”

Download the app here:

• Chinese Short Dialogue | App Store
• Chinese Short Dialogue | Google Play

Available in 8 languages on the app:

Chinese Listening | 중국어 리스닝 | 中国語リスニング | Аудирование по китайскому языку | Nghe tiếng Trung | Mendengarkan bahasa Mandarin | Escucha en chino | การฟังภาษาจีน | Chinesisches Hören | Écoute du chinois | Ascolto cinese | Audição em chinês | चीनी सुनना | الاستماع إلى اللغة الصينية

《English Translation》

小潘: Teacher Liu, when I was living in Beijing, I noticed that people of different ages address strangers very differently. Young people say ‘handsome guy’ or ‘pretty girl’, while middle-aged people say ‘master’. Why is that?
刘娜: This reflects the changes in forms of address over time. In the past, people commonly used ‘comrade’, which meant people with the same ideals. Later, ‘master’ became popular, showing respect for people with skills. Now ‘handsome guy’ and ‘pretty girl’ are the most common, focusing more on praising appearance.
小潘: That’s interesting! Then why do people rarely say ‘comrade’ nowadays?
刘娜: ‘Comrade’ used to be a very formal form of address, but now it’s basically not used in daily life, only occasionally in formal settings. Also, the word has taken on a new meaning and now refers to the LGBTQ+ community.
小潘: I’ve also noticed terms like ‘dear’ and ‘big sister’ online. Where do these come from?
刘娜: ‘Dear’ comes from online shopping platforms. It’s a shortened form of ‘dear’ that makes buyers and sellers feel closer. ‘Big sister’ is a cute way to address young women, sounding more friendly than ‘pretty girl’. Internet culture has created many new forms of address.
小潘: It seems that forms of address are really like a mirror, reflecting changes in society.
刘娜: Exactly! Changes in forms of address reflect shifts in social psychology—from the revolutionary era, to a commercial society, and then to the internet age. Learning to use appropriate forms of address helps you better fit into different social environments.