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A British blogger, known as "Wang Dehua of Great Britain" on the Chinese social media platform Xiaohongshu, has become the center of online discussion after describing his first week in China as “头七” (touqi), which in Chinese refers to the seventh day after someone’s death. His playful language mix-up, paired with humorous and heartfelt anecdotes, quickly went viral, gaining over 8.4 million likes and sparking more than 8,000 comments.
In one of his most popular posts titled “My First Seven Days in China: Feeling Warm Inside”, the blogger shared his experience on a Suzhou subway. He described offering a warm smile to an elderly Chinese woman, saying, “Good morning.” The woman, touched by his kindness, held his hand and insisted he take her seat. “It made me feel so warm,” he wrote. “Everyone here is so friendly.”
However, the use of “头七” unintentionally led to hilarious misunderstandings among Chinese netizens. In Chinese tradition, “头七” refers to rituals held seven days after someone’s death, and the phrase is rarely used casually. One commenter quipped, “We Chinese don’t usually participate in our own ‘touqi.’” Another joked, “If you feel warm during your ‘touqi,’ something might be off - it could be decomposition!”
Despite the confusion, many netizens applauded the blogger’s creativity and willingness to embrace cultural and linguistic differences. “This is the essence of learning a language,” one user said. “Dare to make mistakes and boldly use what you’ve learned!”
The blogger, who left a high-paying job in London to live in China for love, has used his account to document his life as a foreigner in China. His posts, which cover topics like learning Chinese, local customs, and his relationships with Chinese people, resonate with a wide audience. Titles like “China’s Kitchens Taught Me Kung Fu” and “How I Smoothly Communicate with My Chinese Father-in-Law” have earned him 43,000 followers and counting.
The blogger’s humorous approach to cultural differences has garnered both laughter and respect. One netizen remarked, “Before you mastered Chinese, you already mastered how to attract followers!” Another noted, “Your posts are a perfect mix of cultural curiosity and comedic timing. Keep it up!”
Some, however, have urged caution. “It’s great to see foreigners embracing our culture,” one comment read. “But be careful with words that might have deeper meanings!”
In response to the overwhelming reactions, the blogger expressed gratitude. “Thank you all for the love and laughter,” he wrote. “Mistakes are just part of learning. I’m enjoying every moment in China!”
