3...2...1....Eggplant!!

The Chinese love to take pictures. They especially(almost exclusively) take pictures that include themselves, with the ubiquitous peace sign. As I have seen countless groups of Chinese posing for pictures, I have observed an interesting countdown that the photographer gives. He or she will countdown in Chinese, "San, er, yi...qiezi!" I have asked my Chinese friends about this word, qiezi. Apparently, over the years, the Chinese have seen Westerners take enough pictures, and have heard the familar, "Cheese!" Either they thought the Westerners were saying "qiezi"(Chee-ed-za), which sounds alot like cheese, or they more likely just substituted their own similar sounding word. Either way, Chinese everywhere finish a photographic countdown with a word that means "eggplant." Which is more likely to elicit a smile, a vegetable or a dairy product? The debate rages on...