We were discussing Beethoven in class, when somehow the feudal system came up.
"... 你们英国人.... 女王有封吗？" Teacher Wang asked, referring to the position of nobility under Queen Elizabeth.
My mind, which had up til then been humming a jaunty tune and wandering around watching butterflies dance and skimming stones on Lake Ennui, snapped back to reality. Lips moved and brain cells melted as they wrestled with the question.
女王有疯? Is the Queen mad? Well I suppose she probably is, what with all the in-breeding... and yet, how DARE he!
"发疯的疯 (do you mean 'feng' from 'going crazy')?" I asked aloud. Titters all around, then a heavy disappointed sigh from Teacher Wang, before he turned around and rewrote the question on the board. A light flicks on and I went "OOhhhhhhh 封建的封 ('feng' from 'feudal')"
I haven't been that embarassed since I mixed up the tones on "你想我吗？" (You miss me?) for "你像我妈" (You're just like my mum). Stupid tonal language!
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