Nishant Shah [29/08/08 14:26 +0530]:
I am not very sure about the Chinese greeting. But only speaking from my
experience in Taiwan, where I was for ten months. I did not find random
people walking up to me and asking me if I have had my food. The standard
greeting was 'ni hao' and the question about food only came up in close knit
ni hao is the equivalent of "hi".
The food greeting comes up with people you know closer than "just met this
bloke". Would you invite j.random bloke to dinner? That's not just "are
you well / have you eaten" - its also an immediate offer to get you some
food if you're hungry. Which is why you ALWAYS answer "yes you have eaten",
unless you know the person really well and he HAS actually invited you to
dinner.
Nobody asks you "oota madithi?" when they meet you the first time.
Chennagitheera (are you fine / well), or namaskara (like the thai sawatdee
kha, with the wai <- thai equiv of the namaskar).
suresh
