Thursday, 19 February 2026

Strange logic: 01 (我先走了)

 


A common expression in Mandarin Chinese (and in some dialects as well) said when one's leaving a place is:  


我先走了

wǒ xiān zǒu le

"I first leave change-of-state-marker"


    The English equivalent would be, "I'm off now."


    It means "I’m leaving first", i.e., before the listener.


    To me, the logic is fine if the listener is leaving as well, just a bit later (e.g., staying on a bit longer at the office to do overtime), so the speaker is leaving first, to be followed by the listener at some later point.


    It is, however, very strange logic to me when it's said by a departing guest to the host who is remaining behind (maybe not leaving until the next day to go to work).


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