Informant: Wilson Zhen, 22, M
Date Collected: 5/18/14
Genre: Proverb
Informant Data: Wilson was born and raised in Chicago, Illinois to immigrant Chinese parents. Though he speaks English at home, Wilson is fluent in basic conversational Chinese. Wilson learned Chinese on weekends at Chinese school, which was put on by a local church group of Chinese immigrants. Wilson first heard the proverb from his parents when they were discussing his dating history. This proverb was collected in an interview on Dartmouth campus.
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Context: This proverb is usually used in romantic situations, especially when a break-up is imminent. However, the proverb can also be used in any case where the user accepts that the past happened, but feels s/he has free will in determining the future.
Meaning/Interpretation: The proverb highlights two different notions of fate and destiny; fate is pre-scripted and pre-ordained whereas destiny is subject to our free will. Thus, lovers in breaking up might be tempted to justify the past (what’s already happened) with a positive outlook (“we were fated to meet”), but also justify that with destiny (“but we are not destined to stay together”). This proverb combines Chinese cultural belief in karma with a common important life theme—love and heartbreak.
Date Collected: 5/18/14
Genre: Proverb
Informant Data: Wilson was born and raised in Chicago, Illinois to immigrant Chinese parents. Though he speaks English at home, Wilson is fluent in basic conversational Chinese. Wilson learned Chinese on weekends at Chinese school, which was put on by a local church group of Chinese immigrants. Wilson first heard the proverb from his parents when they were discussing his dating history. This proverb was collected in an interview on Dartmouth campus.
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Chinese: 有緣無份 (yǒu yuán wú fèn)
Literal Translation: Have fate and then no fate
Literal Translation: Have fate and then no fate
Free Translation: Fated to meet, but not destined to end up together (OR) It
is fate that we met, but it is destiny that we do not end up together
Meaning/Interpretation: The proverb highlights two different notions of fate and destiny; fate is pre-scripted and pre-ordained whereas destiny is subject to our free will. Thus, lovers in breaking up might be tempted to justify the past (what’s already happened) with a positive outlook (“we were fated to meet”), but also justify that with destiny (“but we are not destined to stay together”). This proverb combines Chinese cultural belief in karma with a common important life theme—love and heartbreak.
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