Chinese water torture. In Chinese.
December 4, 2013 3:41 PM   Subscribe

Looking for terms or phrases that refer to or describe a repetitive, monotonous action that leads to frustration, boredom...and that particularly suggests annoyance from the one observing said action towards the offending person / act. Humorous, biting, slightly offensive...all accepted. Specific language requested: Chinese.

Basically, I'm looking to say, "Your snoring [or finger tappping or whatever] is annoying and I've had enoug so stop PLEASE" except in a nicer, and perhaps wittier and more humorous way. In Chinese too. Something short and sweet yet to the point will work great. Any ideas?
posted by ditto75 to Writing & Language (7 answers total) 2 users marked this as a favorite
 
How about:

我讨厌了...
我厌烦了...
我受够了...
我听够了...

Some differing meanings here, so not all are appropriate in all circumstances. What is your level of Chinese?
posted by Tanizaki at 3:57 PM on December 4, 2013


烦死了 or 很烦
posted by Dansaman at 4:49 PM on December 4, 2013


Response by poster: Tanizaki, I am aware of all these expressions....I am looking for (clever and witty, hopefully) ways of referring to annoying, repetitive habits etc. These are more for reacting to such habits.
posted by ditto75 at 6:16 PM on December 4, 2013


If you can write in chinese, you might have better luck asking on the Chinese internet: 百度知道

Also I am not sure exactly what you are asking for how to say; you write, " Basically, I'm looking to say, "Your snoring [or finger tappping or whatever] is annoying and I've had enoug so stop PLEASE" except in a nicer, and perhaps wittier and more humorous way.", but that seams like a lot of meaning to condense into one sentence or word; how would you express it in English?
posted by bearette at 7:02 PM on December 4, 2013


I'm looking to say, "Your snoring [or finger tappping or whatever] is annoying and I've had enoug so stop PLEASE"

Since you wrote that, I give expressions that are variations of "I've had enough of" or "I'm fed up with". What would be the English equivalent of what you want to say - "your snoring sounds like a chainsaw" or "your tapping fingers sound like a sprayed cockroach on a tin roof"?
posted by Tanizaki at 7:09 PM on December 4, 2013


Response by poster: Sorry-- Perhaps my question is needlessly wordy and obtuse.

I've heard (and used) expressions like "your [whatever habit] is so annoying it's like Chinese water torture to me" and was wondering if there was a Chinese equivalent...bonus points if it's humorous, witty, snarky etc.

I've tried baidu and couldn't find anything.
posted by ditto75 at 7:36 PM on December 4, 2013


There might be some four character way of saying it, but nothing is coming to my mind right now. Is that what you mean?

As someone who speaks Chinese, I would use one of Tanizaki's translations, rather than a fancy 4-character saying. That would be too high brown and tedious and sound like I'm trying too hard. But if you mean to use it in a different way (time, situation, personality), some such may exist.
posted by ethidda at 8:51 PM on December 4, 2013


« Older How can I make spices the most packable?   |   How to make the first "in-law" get-together as... Newer »
This thread is closed to new comments.