Burmese names of Chinese dialects

xiaojian · Post by **xiaojian** » Wed Mar 09, 2005 2:49 am

Burmese has strange names for the Chinese dialects of Burma (Hokkien, Hakka, Cantonese). Hokkien is [ein ji shei da you], which means long shirts Chinese, Cantonese is [ein ji dou da you], which means short shirts Chinese, and the two main subdialects of Hakka (Guangdong Hakka and Longdi Hakka) are called [ein ji dou sa ka da you], which means Short skirt Chinese) and [ein ji shei sa ka da you], which means Long skirt Chinese. And, Chinese, called [da you] is only a couple of tones off of "one face" in Burmese. Is this supposed to refer to the myth that all Chinese look a like? Can anybody explain the peculiar names of Chinese dialects in Burmese?

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Mon Mar 21, 2005 10:54 pm

....Very interesting.
Any experts on Burmese care to illuminate us..?...

andalas · Post by **andalas** » Wed Apr 06, 2005 9:49 am

Do "da" and "you" have meanings or not in Burmese? (With the same tone as "da you" 'Chinese' of course)?

Einji Shei Dayou: long shirt Chinese
Einji Dou Dayou: short shirt Chinese
Einji shei saka dayou: long skirt chinese
Einji dou saka dayou: short skirt chinese

Does Burmese have Modified-Modifier system so adjectives are put after the 'einji'?

Does Chinese there wear different clothes from each other?