Showing posts with label Comics. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Comics. Show all posts

Tuesday, October 9, 2012

Language Difference - Chinglish


Recently I happen to see a funny picture on  Reader's Digest. It is a sign which informs the tourist of the wet floor. The sign reads "CAREFULLY SLIP AND FALL DOWN". Below are the original sign and my comic version.

I guess most of the tourists will laugh at the first sight of the sign. It seems that they care how you hurt yourself. For Chinese who know a little bit about English, they know how it happens - It is the language difference! The first two Chinese characters in PIC#1 means caution or Be careful! While the last two Chinese characters in PIC#1 means that (it is possible to) slip and fall down. Together, the sign means, be careful, or you may slip and fall down! The translator does not have a good command of English as well as Chinese, thus they pay less attention to the connotative meaning of Chinese character.

Interested by such subject, I searched some typical Chinglish quotes, can you figure out the exact meaning? Proper wording is in the bracket.
  • Please do not forget yours everything! (Do not lost your stuff!)
  • Less use paper (Non't wast paper!)
  • Locked room (Dressing room)
  • Foot care (Watch your step)
  • Please do non't pick fruits (Please don't pluck fruits)
OK, that's all for the example. If you are about to go sighting in China, you have to study these signs. I am just kidding, there can be such funny signs in small towns or cities. But in mega cities, for instance Shanghai and Beijing, you will never see such ridiculous signs.
Love my blog? Please Follow my blog with Bloglovin.