9 Hilarious Chinglish Examples: When Literal Translations Go Wrong
Chinglish – a mix of Chinese and English – often results from literal translations and can be really confusing, and super hilarious! In the following we will look at some most common and funny examples that you may come across in your everyday life. No matter if you speak Chinese or not, these are definitely worth a read! Yet again we are seeing the importance for adequate effort in the work of translation, not a philological (literal) approach…
9 Hilarious Chinglish
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“Slip Carefully”
– Intended Meaning: “Caution: Wet Floor”
– Chinese: 小心地滑 (xiǎo xīn dì huá)
– Explanation: This sign, commonly seen in places like bathrooms or wet surfaces, intends to warn people about the slippery floor. Instead of a literal translation, a more accurate sign would read “Caution: Wet Floor.”
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“Carefully falling”
– Intended Meaning: “Watch Your Step”
– Chinese: 当心坠落 (dāng xīn zhuì luò)
– Explanation: Found near stairs or uneven surfaces, this warning is meant to alert people to potential tripping hazards.
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“Disabled People Toilet”
– Intended Meaning: “Accessible Restroom”
– Chinese: 残疾人厕所 (cán jí rén cè suǒ)
– Explanation: A better translation in English would be “Accessible Restroom.”
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“Please Bump Your Head Carefully”
– Intended Meaning: “Mind Your Head”
– Chinese: 请小心碰头 (qǐng xiǎo xīn pèng tóu)
– Explanation: This sign, found in areas with low ceilings, advises caution. The correct phrase should be “Mind Your Head.”
5. “Don’t Disturb, Tiny Grass is Dreaming”
6.”No Opening Flame”
– Intended Meaning: “No Smoking”
– Chinese: 禁止明火 (jìn zhǐ mínghuǒ)
– Explanation: Found in no-smoking areas, this sign should indicate that smoking is prohibited. A better translation would be “No Smoking.”
7. “People Mountain People Sea” (人山人海)
8. “Flavor of the Wind” (风味)
9. “Execution in Progress” 施工进行中
• Explanation:
The Chinglish translation “Execution in progress” for 正在施工/施工进行中 likely occurs because: 施 (shī) can mean “to execute” or “to do” in some contexts. In reality, this phrase simply means “Construction in progress” or “Work in progress”.
