Speaking of "哏儿" (génr) and "哏儿" (génr) City
话说“哏儿”与“哏儿都”
In Tianjin dialect, there's a typical term called "哏儿" (génr), which conveys a sense of humor and wit. Tianjin locals often speak with this distinctive humorous style. For instance, commonly heard expressions include "嘛" (mà) meaning "what", "打擦" (dǎ cā) referring to "joking", "山药豆子" (shān yào dòu zi) describing someone as stubborn or unreasonable, and "罗罗缸" (luó luó gāng) depicting a messy or complicated situation. These words and expressions characterize the unique humor and attitude of Tianjin people in their daily conversations.
"哏儿" is similar to the Beijing dialect's "逗" (dòu), used to describe something amusing or funny. For example, one might say, "真哏儿" (zhēn génr), "哏儿死我了" (génr sǐ wǒ le), or "太哏儿" (tài génr) to express amusement. To express agreement with something, one might say, "这(介)可哏儿到家了" (zhè (jiè) kě génr dào jiā le) or "满哏儿" (mǎn génr). Conversely, if one disagrees, they might say, "哏儿嘛 (dà sì shēng)" (génr mà) or "这(介)有嘛可哏儿的" (zhè (jiè) yǒu mà kě génr de). In Tianjin, there's also a playful saying: "哏儿他爸哭哏儿----哏儿死了" (génr tā bà kū génr----génr sǐ le), which roughly translates to "So funny it would make his father laugh until he cries - it's hilarious."
Each city possesses its own cultural DNA, and these unique cultural traits stem from different cultural influences. The imperial culture and elite culture are pivotal elements of Beijing's cultural identity, while Shanghai's culture bears the indelible marks of concession culture and commercial port culture. Conversely, Tianjin's cultural landscape is characterized by its dockside culture and folk customs, representing a rich and substantial foundation. Situated at the confluence of nine rivers, Tianjin serves as a vital transportation hub both by land and by water. Its diverse and bustling environment, influenced by its dockside heritage, fosters intense competition for survival. In the past, making a living here was far from easy. However, Tianjin natives possess a cheerful resignation to fate, finding joy in life's simple pleasures and navigating the challenges with ease. This attitude is reflected in the unique characteristics of Tianjin dialect: crisp, lively, and playful. It showcases the Tianjin people's openness, optimism, and a relaxed demeanor, exuding a sense of ease and comfort in their language.
"卫嘴子" is indeed a vivid term that perfectly captures the essence of Tianjin locals. It emphasizes their eloquence, wit, and remarkable linguistic prowess. Tianjin has produced numerous renowned figures in the field of xiangsheng (crosstalk), a traditional Chinese comedic performance art. These performers, such as Zhang Shouchen, Ma Sanli, Chang Baokun, Gao Yingpei, and Zhao Peiru from the older generation, and Feng Gong, Liu Wei, Niu Qun, and Guo Degang from the younger generation, are household names in China. Tianjin natives have a deep appreciation for xiangsheng, both as performers and audiences. They understand its nuances, love its humor, and effortlessly incorporate the essence of "génr" from Tianjin dialect into their everyday lives, enriching their existence.Growing up in the vibrant xiangsheng scene, Tianjin locals are known for their quick wit and penchant for banter. It seems as though they are naturally inclined towards comedic timing, earning Tianjin the reputation of being a city where humor thrives.
天津方话里有一个典型的方言词：“哏儿”，意思就是幽默诙谐，天津人说话带着“哏儿”劲儿，比如随处可闻的“嘛”(什么)、“打擦”(开玩笑)、“山药豆子”(性情乖张、不讲理的人)“罗罗缸”(纠缠不清的事儿)。
“哏儿”类似于北京话的“逗”，说某个好玩儿的事情就说，“真哏儿”、“哏儿死我了”、“太哏儿”;表达对某个事儿的认同就说，“这(介)可哏儿到家了”、“满哏儿”;表达不认同则会说，“哏儿嘛(第四声)”、“这(介)有嘛可哏儿的”;在天津还有一句俏皮话：”哏儿他爸哭哏儿----哏儿死了”。
每个城市有自己的文化基因，不同的文化基因造就不同的文化特质，皇城文化和精英文化是北京文化的重要因子，租界文化和商埠文化给上海文化打上深刻的烙印，而码头文化和民俗文化则是天津文化的厚重底色。天津地处九河下梢，是水陆交通枢纽，五方杂处之地，码头文化遗风，生存竞争激烈，旧时想养家活命并不是一件容易的事情。但是天津人乐天知命，愉快着生，找乐地活，化解生活的压力，生活俗事“哏儿”说，也就有了天津话独特之处：干净利落、活泼俏皮，展示了天津人的豁达和爽朗，包容和乐观，言语间满满的“松弛感”。
天津人不说不笑不热闹，说说笑笑度时光，“卫嘴子”就是对天津人最形象的称谓，说的是天津人能说会道，善于挖掘语言的魅力，表达能力超强。天津相声界名人辈出，以文哏贯口见长，凭俚俗幽默立身。老一辈张寿臣、马三立、常宝堃、高英培、赵佩茹等的相声耳熟能详，后起之秀冯巩、刘伟、牛群、郭德纲等更是家喻户晓。天津人喜欢相声、鉴赏相声，他们懂相声，爱相声，他们把天津话里的“哏儿”调和成生活的养料，滋润生活。在相声窝子里里长大的天津人贫嘴且爱打擦，似乎天生就会抖包袱，天津由此被称为“哏儿都”。
