Question
Updated on
29 Jun 2022
- Simplified Chinese (China)
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English (UK)
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English (US)
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French (France)
Question about English (UK)
So I've heard to it's rude to use "hey" to a stranger. How bad is it to you😅
So I've heard to it's rude to use "hey" to a stranger. How bad is it to you😅
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- English (UK)
when you say "hey" to a stranger to get their attention it might sound aggressive and mean. If you want to get someone's attention then "excuse me" is the polite way to do it.😊
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- Simplified Chinese (China)
@ekimberley102 ohhhh thank you! I meant, like in a plain tone, just like hi, so as to have a conversation.
- English (UK)
ah, ok. so in that case you would be using it like this: "hey, how's it going?". However, that is only if you have met the person before. when you are talking to a stranger it's best not to use "hey". If you are introducing your self to someone then you can say "hey, my name is ......" but that might only be something that kiwis do in New Zealand 😅
I'm not sure if it is the same in other countries 😊
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- Simplified Chinese (China)
- English (UK)
@Pumpk-a-boo it's not rude but it's just really friendly and I don't know if would be uncomfortable to say to someone that you haven't met properly 😊
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- Simplified Chinese (China)
@ekimberley102 ahhhh I see, thank you! I thought it's friendly too😅and I'd like to be friendly to strangers soo…
Not that I'm not friendly with others
Not that I'm not friendly with others
- English (UK)
@Pumpk-a-boo If you're in say a classroom and want to strike up a conversation with someone new then "excuse me" would sound too detached to me. I think "hey" in a relatively calm tone would be a perfectly natural way to obtain someone's attention to begin talking with them.
A: Hey, how did you fare with this week's homework?
B: Oh. It was a bit tricky. How about you?
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- Simplified Chinese (China)
@peterforeman Thank you! I just wanted to sound generally friendly. But probably "hey" with strangers on the streets then?
- English (UK)
@Pumpk-a-boo With strangers on the street if you say "hey" they won't know you're referring to them so usually you need to be more direct to get their attention. I don't think it really matters what you first say to interject. The first thing you say in an interaction is usually a question anyway. The following video may help. This guy is not interacting completely as standard but it gives you an idea that strangers don't really mind how you introduce yourself. It kind of depends on who they are though.
https://youtu.be/HBOpO7RgS64
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- Simplified Chinese (China)
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