Banter and friendly teasing
BAN-ter /ˈbæntə/
Informal Depends on context
What it really means
British friends and colleagues often show affection by gently making fun of each other — this is "banter". Being teased usually means you're accepted, not disliked. The polite response is to laugh and maybe tease back lightly. But real insults dressed as "just banter" do exist; if it feels targeted and repeated, it's okay to say you're not comfortable.
Chinese explanation
英国朋友和同事之间常通过善意的互相打趣表达亲近——这叫"banter"。被调侃通常说明你被接纳了，而不是被讨厌。得体的回应是笑一笑，也可以轻轻回敬。但也存在披着"玩笑"外衣的真恶意；如果针对性强且反复出现，明确说自己不舒服是可以的。
Example conversation
A: Nice of you to finally join us — did you walk here from China?
B: Ha, very funny. The bus was late, actually.
A: Sure it was. Kettle's just boiled, grab a cuppa.
A：你可算来了——是从中国走过来的吗？
B：哈，真好笑。其实是公交晚点了。
A：信你才怪。水刚烧开，倒杯茶吧。
What you could say back
No spoken reply needed for this one.
Related phrases
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· Last checked 24 July 2026 · Report a mistake