Chinese, I have no idea, but English? It's plain rude in the context of the chapter.
Of course, you can say "you're mistaken" to your own mother if she says something that is wrong, however, it is incredibly rude, as there are far milder and correct ways of saying the same thing.
Here's a lengthy explanation for your enjoyment:
When people use absolute terms such as “no one says that” in discussions about sensitive or relational dynamics—particularly involving elders, authority figures, or loved ones—they are not making a literal claim about statistical frequency. Instead, they are appealing to a shared cultural or emotional sensibility. These expressions function as rhetorical shorthand to emphasize the normative weight of social etiquette: the implicit, often unspoken rules that govern respectful interaction.
Take, for example, the phrase “no one says ‘you’re mistaken’ to their parents.” It is not an empirical assertion that no human has ever said those words. Rather, it highlights that—within the context of a loving, respectful relationship—such phrasing is jarringly direct, and by many cultural standards, needlessly confrontational. The speaker is invoking a sense of moral or emotional decorum, suggesting that there are gentler, more tactful alternatives available, such as “I see it a little differently” or “I might have understood it another way.” These alternatives preserve both clarity and kindness.
In this way, the use of absolute language serves a prescriptive rather than descriptive function. It draws attention to social ideals: how we ought to communicate in emotionally intelligent, considerate ways—especially with people we care about or are indebted to. It also signals that the breach of such norms is not just unusual, but out of alignment with respect, empathy, or common decency.
Thus, “no one says X” becomes less about fact, and more about cultural conscience—a call to recognize the unspoken values that shape gracious human interaction.
Take, for example, the phrase “no one says ‘you’re mistaken’ to their parents.” It is not an empirical assertion that no human has ever said those words. Rather, it highlights that—within the context of a loving, respectful relationship—such phrasing is jarringly direct, and by many cultural standards, needlessly confrontational. The speaker is invoking a sense of moral or emotional decorum, suggesting that there are gentler, more tactful alternatives available, such as “I see it a little differently” or “I might have understood it another way.” These alternatives preserve both clarity and kindness.
In this way, the use of absolute language serves a prescriptive rather than descriptive function. It draws attention to social ideals: how we ought to communicate in emotionally intelligent, considerate ways—especially with people we care about or are indebted to. It also signals that the breach of such norms is not just unusual, but out of alignment with respect, empathy, or common decency.
Thus, “no one says X” becomes less about fact, and more about cultural conscience—a call to recognize the unspoken values that shape gracious human interaction.
