How offensive is the expression 他妈的? What is an English expression with a similar degree of offensiveness? In what situations is this expression appropriate / not appropriate?
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It is very common and, in my personal experience, has similar offensiveness as the f word in English. It can be offensive and quite rude: e.g. in a business negotiation, when the deal is finally broken and one side says:
It may be used in irony among close friends which is not offensive then: E.g. when two close friends meet after a long time, one may say:
Hope this help to get the points. |
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There is a restaurant in the Ximending district of Taipei, Taiwan, with a giant banner exclaiming;
I equate it to the British "bloody". "That's bloody tasty". Offensive in a formal context, but a commonly accepted expletive. |
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In every formal environment, is not appropriate like fxxking & shxt in english. Unofficially, in oral, people also use 他妈的 equivalent to VERY. Examples:
when used isolated, just means damn it and the same degree of offensiveness. |
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I believe that 他妈的 would be a general curse like "f--k!" (or "damn"), but not an insult , whereas 你妈的 would be a personal insult like "f--k you" or "you mother(truck)er." Think of 他, in this context, as a generic form of "you", much like "on" in French. In other words, "one's mother" or "someone's mother" (although could also specifically be "his mother" - depends on context). Correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe the particular insult is an euphemistic omission of the female genital organ after "的"... |
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It is a highly offensive expression comparable in meaning and offensiveness to "sob" in English. It refers to coming out of one's mother (one's birth), and not for the better. |
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