Hello everyone and sorry for such a topic but I just have to ask you about this expression: "cào nǐ māde". I know what it means literally, but I’d like to know whether it’s personal or not.
My situation: I teach literature at the university and I was talking to a student who got angry because I gave her a lot of (in her opinion) homework. She said: “cào nǐ māde”, not being aware that I do understand some Chinese expressions. Is it an offensive expression or I should consider it an interjection like “Oh, fuck!” in English?..
Again, I’m sorry for these words, but I’m asking not just because of my curiosity.
Thanks,
Phil

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 06/01/2009 09:49PM by Olive.

since she is a girl, so you maybe can take it as oh fuck in english.
emmm,you can get "cao ni ma taibei" at the the very beginning in a hot movie Cape no.7
but atcually yeah,it's bad words~~if she just said the sentence only, it's offensive. but just my feeling~~
in china girls don't say bad words often.the fact is some girls just never say bad words, some say it only when she is in GREAT GREAT GREAT angry,but less some say it often.
my friends call me pi3zi when i say bad words and i say it often,haha, but i know they are joking just like they know i just wanna express my dislike,angry or something bad，never wanna offense anyone,but i am sure if i really hate someone,i will say ni3 ta1 ma1 de qu4 si3 ba~~
and my friends my teachers and my parents all say that it's not good for a graceful lady to say bad words

Cao ni ma de in that case would be like saying "oh fuck off..." as an expression of anger. It is personal but she probably didn't mean it in that way. A good reply would be "Cao NI ma de!" Also rude but at least then she'll know you understand what it means and aren't afraid of using it back haha

肏你妈 -----也许只是她心头上不愉快作为口头禅而说出来的并不一定对个人。。而是对某件事不“爽”而引用 用于表达自己内心不满的词。。。。

It is a slang -- looks offensive but very informal. Probably this just shows anger or dissatisfaction about something. This informality makes any language quite expressive and accurate, but definitely not a descent way of addressing someone.

take it as 'Damn'

I am chinese .you should consider it an interjection like “Oh, shit!” in English.

cao ni ma = fuck your mother...if she said that it is very offensive and completely unacceptable for a student to say to a teacher

ta ma de = 'his mother's...' - this is still considered bad, but it is much milder - if she said this it was not directed at you (as you say it's like 'oh fuck', or shit!) - still inappropriate in front of a teacher, but not so offensive.

hope that helps you and your ma!

Hehe, next time you hear it, just drop a "Ni bu renshi wo mama. 你不认识我妈妈。" She'll sh*t in her pants, then everyone can have a good laugh.

I do find it surprising that she said, "Cao ni ma de," instead of, "Cao ta ma de." It does make it a little more aggressive to insult your mom rather than some random person's mom!

dude thats way too rude...you should have said...yeah i fucked your mom last night..

LZSB.

a bad student

作为一个中国人，我感到压力很大……
As a Chinese guy,I feel a lot of pressure...

1.if she is saying :"cao ni ma de" loudly. she abuse you
2.if not loudly,it's similar "Oh shit".