It is easy to have a little fun
with funny English translations in China. The so-called Chinglish is a source of amusement for many, including a couple of
websites. But one does have to admit that if it was Americans translating
English into Chinese, the results would be horrendous. Nevertheless, some
translations are minor simple minor mistakes, perhaps even typographical
errors. For example, on a tourist map of Beijing near Tian’anmen Square that told
the observer: “You Are Her.”
Some translations made me
scratch my head in confusion. My favorite was at the Quanfu Temple, which is
constructed of wood and has incense regularly burning. A sign reminds the
visitor: “Careless is a big fear to fire protection.” Fair enough.
On the highway to Huangzhou, the
toll plazas are manned by young people. I read the sign below and then noticed
that the attendant was looking slightly upward, off into space, with his hand
raised in a wave at a 90-degree angle, with a bizarre (and somewhat creepy)
smile. The sign over the tollbooth read: “The Youth Civilization Serve You With
Smiling.”
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