# Language **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [April 18, 2002, 10:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/language/104289 "2002-04-18T10:57:31Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Segev](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6f9a4e/32.png) [@Segev](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Segev)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2002, 10:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/language/104289/1 "2002-04-18T10:57:31Z")
Why are “blue movies” called blue in English and “Yellow” in Chinese?😕 ---
**Author:** ![Bromley](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4da419/32.png) [@Bromley](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bromley)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2002, 11:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/language/104289/2 "2002-04-18T11:39:32Z")
Is that a translation, or is it just a way for English speakers to describe Oriental porn? ---
**Author:** ![Segev](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6f9a4e/32.png) [@Segev](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Segev)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2002, 1:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/language/104289/3 "2002-04-18T13:11:28Z")
What we call blue movies, are called “yellow movies” in Mandarin Chinese, in Beijing. I am wondering why we call these movies blue and why the Chinese call them yellow. ---
**Author:** ![Bromley](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4da419/32.png) [@Bromley](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bromley)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2002, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/language/104289/4 "2002-04-18T16:43:17Z")
The [Word Detective](http://www.word-detective.com/121597.html) ays that blue spotlights were used in stripteases, but isn’t certain that this is the correct etymology. Yellow movies are tougher. As I refuse to learn Mandarin, I suspect I’ll never know. All I could find was that yellow is associated with the Earth/China/middle (unlikely), virgin brides (possible, but unlikely), marrage matchmakers (possible) and luck (possible). ---
**Author:** ![Jim\_B](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jim_b/32/4338_2.png) [@Jim\_B](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jim_B)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2002, 9:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/language/104289/5 "2002-04-18T21:01:52Z")
Did you ever try buying a dictionary on _slang_? You can usually get them cheap–in paperback form–in any book store. They have a wealth of information in them–on all colloquial expressions, including slang. I got two of them. BTW, have you considered all the various _symbolic_ applications of the color yellow? My slang dictionary lists _deceitfulness, treachery, degradation_ and _“the light of hell”_ (whatever that may mean). 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Bromley](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4da419/32.png) [@Bromley](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bromley)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2002, 9:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/language/104289/6 "2002-04-18T21:51:51Z")
Yeah, but I think that those are European symbols, not Chinese (although that is based on a mere 10 mins searching). Don’t suppose your dictionary has the answer to either questions? ---
**Author:** ![Segev](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6f9a4e/32.png) [@Segev](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Segev)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2002, 10:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/language/104289/7 "2002-04-19T10:20:47Z")
sdaqd ---
**Author:** ![Segev](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6f9a4e/32.png) [@Segev](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Segev)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2002, 10:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/language/104289/8 "2002-04-19T10:25:00Z")
Bromley, thank you for your reply. For "blue’ I found the censorship of scripts etc. was carried out with a blue pencil and that cheap ‘back yard’ processing of black and white film was blue and white. Possible? I am living in Beijing and learning Chinese but haven’t found anyone who knows the answer for ‘yellow’ . BTW ‘yellow’ is also associated with the emperor… Jim, I think a dictionary of slang would perhaps give me the answer for ‘blue’ but not for yellow as this is used only in Chinese. The associations you mention are definitely western.