<p>At least this kind of phrases not usually happened in Taiwan. I feel that it is redundant, strange and not natural. I think 我今年八歲 is ok to reply.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-03-09T04:29:34.383Z
2020-03-09T04:29:34.383Z
000
<p>Putting 回 in front of answering phrases may be outdated in most part of Chinese conversation nowadays. I believe that even seniors will find it strange when answered in this way.</p>

<p>It is only mainly heard in TV drama nowadays. Usually when it's the servant replying to the King or Queen after given permission to speak.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-03-09T12:22:25.817Z
2020-03-09T12:22:25.817Z
Mark Ko
<p>starting a reply with 回 is too subservient in modern Chinese conversation.</p>
<p>You only hear people use &quot;回 + title&quot; in period drama nowadays</p>
<p>In olden times, people would use  &quot;回 + title&quot; to reply to authority</p>
<p>e.g.  回皇上, 回大人</p>
<p>They didn't even normally talk like that to their father or teacher (they are in higher status and position, but they are also close to you, therefore, no need for subservient phrase like that)</p>
<p>回先生的話, 學生今年八歲 imply the student himself acknowledges he is not allowed to speak in front of the authority (in this case, the teacher) unless spoken to or with permission to speak. It is not the society generally think in modern time.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-03-09T03:17:57.033Z
Yes, there is a difference between "politeness" and "feudal subservience", the latter only seen or heard in royal courts, even today in some "modern" monarchies. But no matter how modern or "westernized" are in today's Chinese societies, whether in mainland China or elsewhere, you never ever hear Chinese children call their parents by their, the parent's, personal name. It is the height of filial impiety or at least rudeness. In a Chinese extended family, every rung and every member of each rung and cross rungs, on the father and mother side, have very specific formal forms of address.
Wayne Cheah
CC BY-SA 4.0
2024-02-11T03:48:39.927Z
the only modern thing I can genuinely think of seeing this frequently to a teacher is 武俠 novels, which is exactly as you said, a very rigorous fuedal teacher student "family structure"-- way more strict than modern day. A student really wouldn't speak unless spoken to , especially if they are the lowest level student.  Just adding as a reference for your good answer.
zagrycha
CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-03-08T23:38:48.893Z
2024-02-10T05:35:14.167Z
2024-02-10T05:35:14.167Z
Tang Ho
<p>For example:</p>

<p>老師: 你多大了?</p>

<p>學生: 回先生的話, 學生今年八歲。</p>

<p>Or 
學生: 回老師的話, 學生今年八歲。</p>

<p>It sounds very polite to me but I do not hear it often, even in the Chinese culture, where teachers are generally respected.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-03-09T07:10:01.050Z
Are you watching historical drama recently?
Agrit
<politeness>
Is it polite to answer a question asked by a senior by starting with "回...的話"?
# Is it polite to answer a question asked by a senior by starting with "回...的話"?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2020-03-08)

For example:

老師: 你多大了?

學生: 回先生的話, 學生今年八歲。

Or
學生: 回老師的話, 學生今年八歲。

It sounds very polite to me but I do not hear it often, even in the Chinese culture, where teachers are generally respected.

**Tags:** politeness

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: Are you watching historical drama recently?  

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## 3 answers

### Answer by username_4 on 2020-03-08. Score: 10 | Accepted answer

starting a reply with 回 is too subservient in modern Chinese conversation.

You only hear people use "回 + title" in period drama nowadays

In olden times, people would use "回 + title" to reply to authority

e.g. 回皇上, 回大人

They didn't even normally talk like that to their father or teacher (they are in higher status and position, but they are also close to you, therefore, no need for subservient phrase like that)

回先生的話, 學生今年八歲 imply the student himself acknowledges he is not allowed to speak in front of the authority (in this case, the teacher) unless spoken to or with permission to speak. It is not the society generally think in modern time.

> **Comments:**
> **username_5**: Yes, there is a difference between "politeness" and "feudal subservience", the latter only seen or heard in royal courts, even today in some "modern" monarchies. But no matter how modern or "westernized" are in today's Chinese societies, whether in mainland China or elsewhere, you never ever hear Chinese children call their parents by their, the parent's, personal name. It is the height of filial impiety or at least rudeness. In a Chinese extended family, every rung and every member of each rung and cross rungs, on the father and mother side, have very specific formal forms of address.  
> **username_6**: the only modern thing I can genuinely think of seeing this frequently to a teacher is 武俠 novels, which is exactly as you said, a very rigorous fuedal teacher student "family structure"-- way more strict than modern day. A student really wouldn't speak unless spoken to , especially if they are the lowest level student.  Just adding as a reference for your good answer.  

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### Answer by username_2 on 2020-03-09. Score: 2

At least this kind of phrases not usually happened in Taiwan. I feel that it is redundant, strange and not natural. I think 我今年八歲 is ok to reply.


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### Answer by username_3 on 2020-03-09. Score: 1

Putting 回 in front of answering phrases may be outdated in most part of Chinese conversation nowadays. I believe that even seniors will find it strange when answered in this way.

It is only mainly heard in TV drama nowadays. Usually when it's the servant replying to the King or Queen after given permission to speak.


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