English：
A classic Chinese English joke playing on the phrase "how are you" and "how old are you." The literal Chinese interpretation turns "how are you?" into "why is it you?" and "how old are you?" into "why is it always you?" A beloved pun in Chinese English learner circles.
中文：
经典中式英语笑话，利用"how are you"和"how old are you"的谐音双关。把"how are you"听成"怎么是你"，"how old are you"听成"怎么老是你"。中国英语学习者圈中的经典梗。
This joke has been circulating among Chinese students for decades. It plays on the fact that Chinese learners memorize "how are you?" as a fixed phrase but find creative reinterpretations. Some teachers even use it as a fun example in class to explain the importance of pronunciation.
📌 Example 1
Student opens textbook and sees:
"How are you?"
"How are you?"
Student: "怎么是你？"
学生翻开课本看到：
学生："怎么是你？"
📌 Example 2
Teacher asks: "How old are you?"
Student: "怎么老是你？"
老师问："How old are you?"
学生："怎么老是你？"
📌 Example 3
Friend shares the joke:
"Have you heard the how are you joke? It never gets old!"
"Literally — how OLD are you? 😂"
朋友分享笑话：
"你听过how are you的笑话吗？永远不过时！"
"字面意思——怎么老是你？！😂"
📌 Example 4
Classroom meme:
"Every Chinese student knows this joke. It is the law."
"Confucius say: how are you = 怎么是你"
课堂梗：
"每个中国学生都知道这个笑话，这是规定。"
"孔子说：how are you = 怎么是你"
📌 Example 5
English corner:
"Let me tell you the most famous Chinese English joke!"
"Is it the how are you one?"
"Of course it is."
英语角：
"我来讲个最著名的中式英语笑话！"
"是那个how are you的吧？"
"当然是。"
📌 Example 6
Telling a foreign friend:
"In China, when someone says how are you, we think it means why is it you!"
"That is amazing. I love Chinglish."
告诉外国朋友：
"在中国，当有人说how are you，我们以为是什么意思是你！"
"太棒了，我爱中式英语。"
Hot dry noodles
热干面
A classic Wuhan breakfast 🍝, alkaline noodles mixed with sesame paste, soy sauce...
Go where play
去哪里玩
A literal Chinglish phrase for asking about the destination of entertainment or ...
Don't love, no hurt
不爱，就不会受伤
A concise Chinglish life philosophy: "if you don't love, there is no hurt." The ...
Beef offal soup
牛杂汤
A classic Chinese beef soup 🥣, beef offal boiled with spices, fresh and fragrant...
Clay pot rice
煲仔饭
A Cantonese classic rice dish 🍚, rice cooked in a clay pot with ingredients like...
💬 Leave a Comment
Share your thoughts on this phrase. No account needed — just your email.