2009 (364)
2010 (272)
2011 (195)
2012 (205)
2013 (210)
2014 (155)
2015 (172)
2017 (152)
2018 (173)
2020 (549)
2021 (413)
2022 (545)
2023 (331)
Accurately translating text from Chinese to English can be a hard job. The two languages are so different, both grammatically and phonetically. And Chinese small businesses often don’t have enough money to employ a proper translator and can only rely on machine translation (like google translator) instead. So the translations are sometimes odd and nonsensical, and even hilarious.
Check out the top 15 Chinese to English translation failures below and see which one you think is the funniest, and most important of all, avoid making these kinds of grammatical mistakes!
What they meant to say: Cup.
What they meant to say: Dried Vegetables
What they meant to say: Adult Shop.
What they meant to say: Please keep quiet when chanting
What they meant to say: Caution, Wet Floor
What they meant to say: Bicycle Parking Lot
What they meant to say: Exit
What they meant to say: Pork Lungs in Chili Sauce
What they meant to say: Registration
What they meant to say: No Crossing, Danger Deep Water
What they meant to say: Hand Dryer
What they meant to say: Office
What they meant to say: Dried Orange Peel,Dried Ginger, Milkwort Root
What they meant to say: Hot Dog Doughnuts
What they meant to say: Please wait behind the one meter line
Link:http://www.chinawhisper.com/top-15-chinese-to-english-translation-failures/
10 Hilarious Chinese to English Translations in Signs
If a foreigner travels to China, he might have some difficulties finding their way around the country due to poor English knowledge and clumsy translation. Here is my collection of hilarious translation fails in China.
1. You know, one of those time sex things…
What they meant to say: Disposable items.
2. The train is really made of iron.
What they meant to say: High-speed train entry
3. The funny thing is that I can hardly find grass there.
What they meant to say: Do not step on the living grass.
4. You can not just rely on Google translator!
What they meant to say: Hot water room.
5. Very very dangerous!
What they meant to say: Slippery floor!
6. Then how to save China?
What they meant to say: Enjoying food is a fine thing, thrift is a virtue.
7. Yes, you shouldnot bring it back!
What they meant to say: Non-recyclables.
8. How about A?
What they meant to say: B-mode ultrasonic examination.
9. Gays will love this school.
What they meant to say: Happy to go to school!
10. Do you want to have a try?
What they meant to say: Café Latté
In China tens of millions of middle & high-income classes desperately learn English everyday, because good English skills can help them get promoted or earn a higher salary, now nearly one-quarter of Chinese people are learning English or prepare to learn English. Meanwhile, Chinese style English or “Chinglish” is becoming an interesting cultural phenomenon. Chinglish, sometimes refers to translating Chinese sentences to English on a word-by-word basis, instead of conveying the intended meaning. These mistranslations provide us with a lot of material for unintentional humor.. . . . . .
What they meant to say: Public Phone Booth
What they meant to say: Emergency Exit
What they meant to say: Public Toilet
What they meant to say: Toliet for Disabled Only
What they meant to say: Wash Out Before You Leave
What they meant to say: Thank You for Your Coming
What they meant to say: Danger, Deep Water
What they meant to say: No Romping
What they meant to say: Hand Dryer
What they meant to say: Cashier
What they meant to say: Nuts Area
What they meant to say: Snacks
What they meant to say: Hot Pot Series