What literary device would we associate with the aforementioned Chinese old fashioned way of greeting? ( (Chī le ma) ? )

Question

Credit Reference: http://blog.tutorming.com/mandarin-chinese-learning-tips/why-do-chinese-people-ask-have-you-eaten

"吃了吗 (Chī le ma)?" (also "吃饭了吗 (chī fàn le ma)"

Many Westerners who study Chinese recognize "吃了吗?" as the textbook standard in Chinese greetings.

"吃了吗?" is still commonly used among the older generation in Northern China, especially in Beijing. Please note that you need to have a certain degree of familiarity to use "吃了吗?", as it is most often used between old friends and neighbors.

What literary device would we associate with the aforementioned Chinese old fashioned way of greeting?

Answer 1

Is a greeting a literary device in your opinion?

wotcha is a common greeting in England.

wotcha: is a contraction of the greeting 'what cheer?' (York Mysteries, c.1440), meaning 'How are you?'

moin is a contraction of 'mooie dag' = 'good day', and a common greeting in Low German.

"吃了吗?" is definitely not passé, I hear this all the time, from old and young.

Literary device: 礼貌的问候

Answer 2

The old idiom below tells a lot of what is deemed the most important thing in a (Chinese) person's life:

民以食為天 - The importance of eating is as large as the sky.

Also, there is an old teaching that says "食色性也" - Eat and sex is human natures.

Then, a popular piece of advice from the older women to the younger (in waiting or just getting married) is: "要想抓住男人的心, 先要學會抓住男人的胃" - If you want to capture your man's heart, you must first learn how to satisfy his appetite for food. :)

Answer 3

Considering its usage I would probably file it as an:

Interjection

Answer 4

Literary devices are specific techniques that allow a writer to convey a deeper meaning that goes beyond what's on the page. Examples are literary techniques like allegory, irony, humor, metaphor, imagery, and so on.

With this definition in mind, perhaps OP is wondering whether "吃了吗?", as a peculiarly Chinese informal social greeting, conveys a "deeper meaning" that goes beyond the mundanely obvious, namely, a general social concern for the well being of others?

If so, then as others have said, being having had a meal is above all else the super-conscious concerns of the Chinese people in days long gone by. It is today a matter of cultural politeness and social habit.

So, to answer OP's question -- "What literary device would we associate with the aforementioned Chinese old fashioned way of greeting?"

Well, perhaps "humor" as young Chinese people would LOL if greeted like such.

Other literary devices like allegory, irony, metaphor, imagery, Mmmmmmm...., I don't know as I am not a writer of satire.

Answer 5

"吃了吗?" functions the same as 'how are you" (greeting). It doesn't directly inquire about the well being of the other but deducts an answer based on whether someone has eaten or not

In ancient times, having enough to eat was considered a good living for most people. We just keep using it today. If you are not familiar with someone, you wouldn't bother to ask if he's living well or not. In other words, you don't ask strangers this question as a greeting

As for what literary device we associate with it, I would say 邏輯引伸 (logical extension). When asking whether someone has eaten or not, we are actually inquiring about that person's well-being and readiness to engage or not.

If the answer is "have eaten", it suggests he is free to engage because the most important task of the day has been dealt with; If the answer is "haven't eaten", it suggests he is busy or he is not doing well, in either case, he is not ready to engage you. Typically, people answering "haven't eaten" would add "I am going to now (not ready to engage)" or "I am going to later (willing to engage for a short time). If you want a longer interaction, you should invite that person to have a meal with you