<p>many people read:北京X（音：叉cha）上西XX</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-03-26T07:44:58.383Z
that's an interesting suggestion, thanks.
Matthew Rudy 马泰
CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-03-26T16:19:39.727Z
I don't get it... :P
Alenanno
CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-03-27T04:48:44.657Z
Probably more appropriate in writing. In speech, chā has other... more sexual connotations and should be discouraged in this context.
deutschZuid
CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-03-26T06:17:03.673Z
2013-03-26T06:17:03.673Z
user2642
<p>I would use 什么, or 什么什么 as the placeholder for the characters I can't read. </p>

<p>In your exmaple, I would say: 北京 <strong>什么</strong> 西 <strong>什么</strong>, or 北京 <strong>什么什么</strong> 西 <strong>什么什么</strong>, or 北京 <strong>什么</strong> 西 <strong>什么什么</strong>, or 北京 <strong>什么什么</strong> 西 <strong>什么</strong>.</p>

<p>什么 or 什么什么 can substitute any numbers of characters.</p>

<p>I am from Northern China, and I am not sure what words people in other regions in China would use for this purpose.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-03-25T17:03:56.807Z
if there were two characters, would you repeat the "什么"?
Matthew Rudy 马泰
CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-03-25T18:40:21.853Z
@MatthewRudy马泰 As he says, "什么 or 什么什么 can substitute any numbers of characters".
Stumpy Joe Pete
CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-03-25T19:15:23.777Z
@MatthewRudy马泰: I revised my answer after seeing your comment.
孤影萍踪
CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-03-26T05:43:54.147Z
@孤影萍踪 yeah. I wrote my comment, then saw your update. Thanks.
Matthew Rudy 马泰
CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-03-25T17:02:50.333Z
2013-03-25T19:13:48.163Z
2013-03-25T19:13:48.163Z
孤影萍踪
<p>As an example, I was at the cinema and I wanted to buy tickets for a film named</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>北京遇上西雅图</p>
</blockquote>

<p>However, I can't read all of the characters.</p>

<p>In English I'd say;</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>Can I get a ticket for that film "北京*something*上西*something**something*", please?</p>
</blockquote>

<p>Is there an equivalent way to do this in Chinese?</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-03-25T16:59:45.167Z
obviously this doesn't happen in the same way in English, but if a name is very long, it's not uncommon to forget some of it "lemony snickets: a series of *something* *something*"
Matthew Rudy 马泰
<spoken>
How can I skip characters I can't read when reading aloud?
# How can I skip characters I can't read when reading aloud?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2013-03-25)

As an example, I was at the cinema and I wanted to buy tickets for a film named

> 北京遇上西雅图

However, I can't read all of the characters.

In English I'd say;

> Can I get a ticket for that film "北京\*something\*上西\*something\*\*something\*", please?

Is there an equivalent way to do this in Chinese?

**Tags:** spoken
> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: obviously this doesn't happen in the same way in English, but if a name is very long, it's not uncommon to forget some of it "lemony snickets: a series of *something* *something*"  

---

## 2 answers

### Answer by username_4 on 2013-03-25. Score: 14 | Accepted answer

I would use 什么, or 什么什么 as the placeholder for the characters I can't read.

In your exmaple, I would say: 北京 **什么** 西 **什么**, or 北京 **什么什么** 西 **什么什么**, or 北京 **什么** 西 **什么什么**, or 北京 **什么什么** 西 **什么**.

什么 or 什么什么 can substitute any numbers of characters.

I am from Northern China, and I am not sure what words people in other regions in China would use for this purpose.

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: if there were two characters, would you repeat the "什么"?  
> **username_5**: @MatthewRudy马泰 As he says, "什么 or 什么什么 can substitute any numbers of characters".  
> **username_4**: @MatthewRudy马泰: I revised my answer after seeing your comment.  
> **username_0**: @孤影萍踪 yeah. I wrote my comment, then saw your update. Thanks.  

---

### Answer by username_1 on 2013-03-26. Score: 2

many people read:北京X（音：叉cha）上西XX

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: that's an interesting suggestion, thanks.  
> **username_2**: I don't get it... :P  
> **username_3**: Probably more appropriate in writing. In speech, chā has other... more sexual connotations and should be discouraged in this context.  

---

