How can I skip characters I can't read when reading aloud?

Question

As an example, I was at the cinema and I wanted to buy tickets for a film named

北京遇上西雅图

However, I can't read all of the characters.

In English I'd say;

Can I get a ticket for that film "北京*something*上西*something**something*", please?

Is there an equivalent way to do this in Chinese?

obviously this doesn't happen in the same way in English, but if a name is very long, it's not uncommon to forget some of it "lemony snickets: a series of something something" — Matthew Rudy 马泰, Commented Mar 25, 2013 at 16:59

孤影萍踪 · Accepted Answer · 2013-03-25 19:13:48Z

14

I would use 什么, or 什么什么 as the placeholder for the characters I can't read.

In your exmaple, I would say: 北京什么西什么, or 北京 什么什么 西 什么什么, or 北京什么西 什么什么, or 北京 什么什么 西什么.

什么 or 什么什么 can substitute any numbers of characters.

I am from Northern China, and I am not sure what words people in other regions in China would use for this purpose.

answered Mar 25, 2013 at 17:02

孤影萍踪

4,07916 silver badges17 bronze badges

if there were two characters, would you repeat the "什么"?
– Matthew Rudy 马泰
Commented Mar 25, 2013 at 17:03
@MatthewRudy马泰 As he says, "什么 or 什么什么 can substitute any numbers of characters".
– Stumpy Joe Pete
Commented Mar 25, 2013 at 18:40
@MatthewRudy马泰: I revised my answer after seeing your comment.
– 孤影萍踪
Commented Mar 25, 2013 at 19:15
@孤影萍踪 yeah. I wrote my comment, then saw your update. Thanks.
– Matthew Rudy 马泰
Commented Mar 26, 2013 at 5:43

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user2642 · Accepted Answer · 2013-03-26 06:17:03Z

2

many people read:北京X（音：叉cha）上西XX

answered Mar 26, 2013 at 6:17

user2642

211 bronze badge

that's an interesting suggestion, thanks.
– Matthew Rudy 马泰
Commented Mar 26, 2013 at 7:44
I don't get it... :P
– Alenanno
Commented Mar 26, 2013 at 16:19
2

Probably more appropriate in writing. In speech, chā has other... more sexual connotations and should be discouraged in this context.
– deutschZuid
Commented Mar 27, 2013 at 4:48

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2 Answers 2