La pian jia: What do you call this behavior in English?

Forums: English, Esl, Grammar, La Pian Jia
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The Chinese la pian jia refers to the behavior in which you are pretending to stop the fighting between Jack and John, yet you only prevent the attack from John. The result is that Jack can catch the oppotunity to beat John harder and John is unable to beat back.

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Type: Question • Score: 6 • Views: 1,445 • Replies: 15

View best answer, chosen by oristarA

@oristarA,

Holding someone back, or being held back.

Question though, what do you mean by pretending? Did you mean preventing? If you mean preventing,"your intentions are to" is a better description.

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@oristarA,

I can't find a Chinese translation so it could mean defenseless or "cheap shot" also. Depending on what the Chinese terminology actually means.

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@oristarA,

I don't think there is one word or even a common phrase to describe such a behavior in english.

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@Hulk,

Yes, we call it "un-English" behaviour, or "not cricket."

Smile

1 Reply

@oristarA,

I think Hulk's probably right, there is no one word to describe such activity, but the following might help.

He was engaging in subterfuge, he acted like an honest broker, but it was just a ruse, a piece of cheap chicanery to weaken John, and embolden Jack.

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@McTag,

McTag wrote:

Yes, we call it "un-English" behaviour, or "not cricket."

Cool.

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Thank you guys.
It seems that there is no such word or phrase in English.
The thread is closed.

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Two-faced, back-stabbing, underhanded, scheming traitor.

1 Reply

@Ceili,

Assuming you are in cahoots with both Jack and John. You could just be loan shark with customer Jack who owes you less money than customer John.

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@oristarA,

favoritism

Is this behavior solely limited to that fight situation, Ori(qm)

1 Reply

@JTT,

JTT wrote:

favoritism

Is this behavior solely limited to that fight situation, Ori(qm)

Originally it is, but it can also be used in online debate in which you assume the role of an independent yet you act to favor one side.

1 Reply

@oristarA,

How can anyone be acting in favoritism, if neither parties know each other, or have never discussed any topic before that moment? The only favoritism that possibly occurred where the people that knew each other, and were agreeing with each other for personal reasons that had nothing to do with the original question.

1 Reply

@XXSpadeMasterXX,

Not true, XX. Complete strangers could immediately favor the better looking or the lighter or darker skinned or ... .

1 Reply

@JTT,

JTT wrote:

Not true, XX. Complete strangers could immediately favor the better looking or the lighter or darker skinned or ... .

Or the girl with the biggest tits.

1 Reply

@izzythepush,

Quote:

Or the girl with the biggest tits.

Those too.

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La pian jia: What do you call this behavior in English?

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