Chinese Reacts to House MD Mandarin Clip

How's Dr.House's Mandarin? Watch this video to find out.

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[HarukaLPs]

Hugh Laurie, a british actor, speaking in an american accent, talking in mandarin. What a fricken talented actor

[Knuckles]

The most useful skills in any language:
1. how to count
2. how to ask where is bathroom
3. how to say that you will be a grandmother soon

[ytan]

The detail in this scene always impressed me. The mom uses "correct", informal (if dated) language, the girl can speak pretty well but is clearly translating from her native tongue (English) because she's born in the US, and House's Mandarin is good but very formal... as if he's learnt it primarily to be able to understand Chinese medical books/lectures.

[PerfectAlibi]

I just love how Dr House was cool with her deceiving her mom.
But had enough when she tried to put the blame on him. 😆

[glamourchick]

There’s a really funny blooper from this scene where the actress playing the mom just says, “Excuse me, I speak English!”

[derekmills]

I am pleased to hear that Hugh Laurie's Mandarin was at least passable, although I would not have expected any less from such a great actor.

[Skellitor_VA]

The fact a show got this kind of detail not only right, but also paid enough attention to detail to have enough of a difference in dialect from a native speaker to a second hand native speaker (not born in the country but uses the language at home) is an amazing detail that I am shocked to see from House. Good on the show writers for that one.

[roberttaylor]

The reason the girl was "mistranslating" in the first scene is because she was there to get birth control pills for herself.

[ShiroKage]

I think the direct translation of the girl's line when she lies by saying he gave her the wrong meds is a brilliant detail. She appears to be US-born, and therefore much less proficient. Much of her sentences might naturally end up being direct translations if she learned the language more through studying rather than daily exposure.

[TheAmateurEditor]

The mother using older/archaic phrases is a nice little detail. Immigrants who have lived abroad for decades don't have the exposure to the natural cultural evolution of their native language and so end up sounding like they are from a different era.

I grew up in Greece and met many Greek Americans an Greek Australians in my day. They often use *really* old words/phrases when speaking in Greek because that's what their parents would say, whereas for me, I have only heard them form either my grandparents generation, or in black/white films from the 60s.

[stevenv]

As a language enthusiast, I really appreciated the detail in this scene. I constantly see shows and movies mess up things so terribly. In some cases, I think man if you got someone that even just knew the language a little it would be way better

[brenscott]

Im stunned at how accurate everyone is in those two scenes, you always expect it to just be gibberish that sounds close enough but the directors behind house really went thr extra mile

[icollectstories]

Dr. House's maxim is that everyone lies; he's more interested in why people do what they do rather than what they say. It would have actually made more sense if he had no idea what the woman was saying.
House was played by comedian/actor/musician Hugh Laurie affecting an American accent. He's very entertaining!

[noxteryn]

By the way, there is another episode of House MD where House speaks Mandarin. The episode is called "Risky Business" (Season 08, Episode 04), and it's about a CEO who does business in China. They also briefly talk about perceptions of mental illness in China, and I'd like to hear your take on it.

[wakcedout]

House always knew more than he let on, especially in this scene. Outside of context clues he already knew what the mother actually said.

[theatog]

re "This is pretty good" 5:43
House is known for being sacarstic. The prior two lines are not meant to be taken literally. He speaks "fluent" Mandarin, at least according to the show. He was fully conversing with another Chinese lady in the espisode where he cooks. That scene was super funny too.

[clashj]

There is actually a funny blooper that occurred during this scene and can be found on YouTube (Season 1 bloopers House). It's hard to tell what happened, but it looks like Hugh Laurie (House) did not realize that the Chinese actress playing the Mother actually could speak English. In the blooper, the actress chimes in with - Excuse me. I speak English. Hugh Laurie and the "daughter" both laugh

[hueypautonoman]

I think she’s blushing from embarrassment, not because she’s lying.

[vasilisakrasa]

You are a legend. I'm not even studying Chinese, I'm just enjoying your videos because you make everything so clear and interesting. And you make me appreciate Chinese languages.

[aposslex]

This is the best analysis ever. You take in to consideration other factors like she’s older generation and has a cold, give great examples, still react to the clip when it’s funny. Visuals for pronunciation and literal vs real translation. You really nailed this, hope you’re others are like this, think I might be about to binge watch!