There’s a deep irony in the double standard that plays out when it comes to language and belonging. In America, a Chinese person speaking imperfect English is often met with impatience, mockery, or even hostility—as if fluency is a requirement for legitimacy, and any accent or mistake is a failure to assimilate. But flip the scenario: an American in China struggling through broken Mandarin is usually met with encouragement, even admiration. Locals will smile, compliment the effort, and often go out of their way to help. It’s a stark contrast that reveals how language is often weaponized in the U.S. as a gatekeeping tool, while in many other places, it’s seen as a bridge—something to be celebrated, not judged. That double standard isn’t just about language—it’s about power, perception, and who gets to feel like they belong. . #language #languagelearning #learnalanguage #chinese #mandarin #learnchinese #learnmandarin #learnenglish #languages #linguistics