家庭文化 Family, Culture and Stigma

By the end of this module you can…

• Ask how the patient sees the problem: its name, cause, effects and what they fear most.
• Hear idioms like 心里堵 and 神经衰弱 with curiosity, not correction.
• Talk about face, stigma and faith with respect, in words that don’t label.
• Involve family only with consent, and handle questions from relatives honestly.
• Insist on a professional interpreter, and offer another when the community is small.

Key vocabulary

Sixteen words from this module. Tap the speaker to hear each one.

Culture and beliefs

• 面子miàn ziFace, reputation
• 丢人diū rénEmbarrassing, shameful
• 病耻感bìng chǐ gǎnStigma (of illness)
• 偏见piān jiànPrejudice
• 观念guān niànBeliefs, outlook
• 信仰xìn yǎngFaith, religious belief
• 神经衰弱shén jīng shuāi ruòNeurasthenia (“weak nerves”)
• 上火shàng huǒ“Internal heat”

Family

• 家人jiā rénFamily
• 父母fù mǔParents
• 孝顺xiào shùnDevoted to one’s parents, filial
• 期望qī wàngExpectations
• 沟通gōu tōngCommunicate
• 支持zhī chíSupport
• 隔阂gé héA distance, a rift
• 移民yí mínImmigrate, immigrant

Ten core phrases

The lines from this module’s take-home phrase sheet. In the course you can print them on one page for your pocket.

1. 这个问题，您自己管它叫什么？Zhè ge wèn tí, nín zì jǐ guǎn tā jiào shén me?What do you call this problem yourself?
2. 您觉得是什么原因引起的？Nín jué de shì shén me yuán yīn yǐn qǐ de?What do you think caused it?
3. 关于这个问题，您最担心的是什么？Guān yú zhè ge wèn tí, nín zuì dān xīn de shì shén me?What worries you most about it?
4. 您说心里堵，能形容一下是什么感觉吗？Nín shuō xīn li dǔ, néng xíng róng yí xià shì shén me gǎn jué ma?You feel blocked inside: what is it like?
5. 在您家里，心情不好可以说出来吗？Zài nín jiā lǐ, xīn qíng bù hǎo kě yǐ shuō chu lai ma?In your family, can you say when you feel low?
6. 您希望家里人参与您的治疗吗？Nín xī wàng jiā lǐ rén cān yù nín de zhì liáo ma?Would you like your family involved?
7. 没有您的同意，我不会把您的情况告诉家里人。Méi yǒu nín de tóng yì, wǒ bú huì bǎ nín de qíng kuàng gào su jiā lǐ rén.Without your consent, I won’t tell your family.
8. 心理健康跟身体健康一样，每个人都需要照顾。Xīn lǐ jiàn kāng gēn shēn tǐ jiàn kāng yí yàng, měi ge rén dōu xū yào zhào gù.Mental health needs care, like physical health.
9. 您有没有什么信仰？对您有帮助吗？Nín yǒu méi yǒu shén me xìn yǎng? Duì nín yǒu bāng zhù ma?Do you have a faith? Does it help?
10. 如果您认识这个翻译，可以告诉我，我们换一个。Rú guǒ nín rèn shi zhè ge fān yì, kě yǐ gào su wǒ, wǒ men huàn yí ge.If you know this interpreter, we’ll change.

What’s in Module 8

1. Part 1 · Warm-UpWarm-Up: Family and Face
2. Part 2 · The Words for CultureReading the Pinyin · Saying 丢面子 vs. Charting 病耻感 · Vocabulary · Flash Cards · How Do You See It?
3. Part 3 · Beliefs and WordsThe Culture Script · Asking Without Judging · Key Patterns · Idioms of Distress · Talking About Stigma · Faith, Fate and Other Healers
4. Part 4 · FamilyInvolving Family, With Consent · Between Generations · Migration and Belonging
5. Part 5 · Concerns & Next StepsWhat Patients Say · Interpreters, Not Family · Putting It Together
6. Part 6 · Role-PlayRound 1 · Guided Conversation · Round 2 · Controlled Practice · Rounds 3, 4 & 5 · Independent
7. Part 7 · Knowledge CheckModule 8 Knowledge Check
8. Part 8 · Wrap-UpModule 8 Homework · Take-Home Phrase Sheet · Module 8 Wrap-Up · 下次见