Chinese people are not one-size-fits-all.  Depending on the region of China one is from originally, there are cultural differences.  This variation shows up in food, dialect, personality.

For example, those from Shanghai are known for financial acumen (I’m ¼ through dad); Hakka for fighting / leadership (¼, dad), and Hokkien for business savvy (½, mom).

And swearing.  

Probably the most colorful of the Chinese dialects, I didn’t realize this until my late 30s.  There are websites dedicated to this phenomenon, including a Wikipedia page.  It is profane.  Not sure whether to be appalled, amused, or proud.

I recognize so many of these phrases uttered by family members and others growing up in Malaysia.  I’ve also drawn to swearing, quite good at it actually.  Can hold my own with the best of any ethnicity.  Got talked to several times at church about this.

Swearing, however, is not only tolerated in police work, but understood as a necessary component of maintaining order.  Even in the NYPD’s Patrol Guide, this is memorialized.  I also think this is applicable to other avenues of life.

And hey, blame the culture right?   I just blame the Hokkien in me.