Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member Latest Breaking News Editorials & Other Articles General Discussion The DU Lounge All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

The DU Lounge

pinboy3niner

(53,339 posts)

5. One expression I have always marveled at was taught to me by a South Vietnamese Army officer

Reply to Aristus (Reply #4)

Sun Aug 24, 2014, 11:23 AM

Aug 2014

He was my friend and roommate in an Army training course at Ft. Knox long ago.

I still remember the phonetic Vietnamese pronunciation of the phrase he taught me, though I can't find that phrase anywhere else.

According to my friend, the Vietnamese way of saying "I know what you're thinking" translates to "I walk in your stomach with my wooden shoes."

Edit history

Please sign in to view edit histories.

Recommendations

0 members have recommended this reply (displayed in chronological order):

13 replies

= new reply since forum marked as read

Highlight:

Saturday, August 23rd. The Weekend Edition of William Shakespeare's Thought For The Day. [View all] Aristus Aug 2014 OP

I think some people just have a secret fantasy of killing someone. Tobin S. Aug 2014 #1

What a great line, my dear Aristus! CaliforniaPeggy Aug 2014 #2

The Vietnamese have an expression pinboy3niner Aug 2014 #3

A culture that is 3,000 years old will almost always have a great way Aristus Aug 2014 #4

One expression I have always marveled at was taught to me by a South Vietnamese Army officer pinboy3niner Aug 2014 #5

Yet another reason why one does not want to fuck with the Vietnamese. Aristus Aug 2014 #6

Bah. Amateurs. malthaussen Aug 2014 #8

The punji stakes and wooden shoes expression are not really good examples pinboy3niner Aug 2014 #9

I find Vietnamese culture very complex and interesting. Aristus Aug 2014 #10

Your classmate sounds like a friend of mine pinboy3niner Aug 2014 #11

I've wanted to visit Vietnam for years. Aristus Aug 2014 #12

I've seen net posts advising people to visit VN soon, while it's still an 'adventure destination' pinboy3niner Aug 2014 #13

My hovercraft is full of eels. antiquie Aug 2014 #7