posted by murrayjames on June 17, 2012 | 7 comments
In Beijing and 东北, do boyfriends hold their girlfriend's purses in public? I know it's common in Shanghai. It also happens here in Sichuan, though not usually with masculine-looking guys.

One Chinese custom I like is the husband putting choice food in his wife's bowl at dinner. I do this with my wife. I won't hold her purse :-D
signin to comment
murrayjames on June 17, 2012 | reply
(Bump.)

Hmm, this is the second time a thread I started got bumped from the main page. What gives?

EDIT: It's back again. I think posting this very comment brought it back.
Xiao Hu on June 17, 2012 | reply
@Murrayjames,

这不就是耙耳朵的表现嘛?
murrayjames on June 17, 2012 | reply
Yeah, that's a Sichuanese expression I hear a lot here. It's used jokingly (and slightly derisively) to describe a man who defers to his wife.

On the other hand, a lot of Sichuan girls say they prefer 耙耳朵. They complain that men in northern China (specifically 东北) are too 大男子主义. I'm sure our Popup Chinese friends in the North will have some thoughts on this :-D

I don't know if I'm 耙耳朵 or not. Despite years of helpful liberal arts education, I still feel emasculated holding a pink ladies handbag...
华金 on June 18, 2012 | reply
@murrayjames,

I live in a small city in Guizhou, and I see that all the time. I guess it's just a cultural habit, but I have to say I think it looks a bit silly! Especially because the guys who do it usually walk with a swagger, as though to say "Check me out, I'm the man!", just because they have a girlfriend.

As a foreigner dating a Chinese girl, I think it's important to compromise and adopt parts of your partner's culture, but I draw the line there!
Echo on June 17, 2012 | reply
@murrayjames,

In Beijing, yes. I don't know about 东北.

--Echo

echo@popupchinese.com
华金 on June 18, 2012 | reply
@Echo,

What do you make of that? Would you want your significant other to carry around your handbag? :)
Echo on June 18, 2012 | reply
@华金,

Hahaha, no I wouldn't unless it gets really heavy occasionally :)

--Echo

echo@popupchinese.com