When translations have gone wrong - 140 shocking examples
As professional Chinese translators, we managed to collected a great many examples (140 photos) about what could happen when the translations were handled in wrong hands (or even by machines, in many cases). These funny translations were categorized into 10 different groups, corresponding to the various scenarios you may find yourself in when travelling in China. Check them out below and enjoy some good laugh:
- Let's Try Some Exotic Food (19 pics)
- Excellent Services at the Banks (7 pics)
- Sick in Hospitals (10 pics)
- Nice Hotels to Spend my Nights (10 pics)
- Shopping in Markets (14 pics)
- Another Day in the Park (22 pics)
- Lost between the Road Signs (22 pics)
- Places to Pee & Poo (13 pics)
- Travelling Around (8 pics)
- Other Funny Stuff (15 pics)
The Male Sex Toilet
The original Chinese text actually meant: For Gentlemen
WOMEN KINGDOM
That's correct, this is a women kingdom!
The original Chinese text actually meant: For Ladies
BAKE THE MOBILE PHONE
The original Chinese text actually meant: Hand Drier
FOR WEAK ONLY
The original Chinese text actually meant: Toilet bowel. Not the squatting pan
Civilization go the toilet thanks to everyone
Right, everyone is liable for having made our world wicked...
The original Chinese text actually meant: It's Everyone's Responsibility to Help Keep the Toilet Clean
You are always the best.
Does this have any relation with that previous harrassment?
The original Chinese text actually meant: Please do your part to keep this place clean & tidy.
Go Straight on Public
Wait, let me see if any local guy really does that...
The original Chinese text actually meant: Public Toliet on Opposite Side
CUM BATHHOUSE
The original Chinese text actually meant: With a Bathroom Attached
Between Public Health
The original Chinese text actually meant: Public Toilet
RESTROOMS-MSN
Do they get SKYPE?
The original Chinese text actually meant: Restroom - Men
Please Aim Carefully
Not too wrong. You do need to "aim" carefully...
The original Chinese text actually meant: Please Stand Closer to the Urinary
FINGER ROOM
You are not supposed to do that in a public place...
The original Chinese text actually meant: Restroom
Public Toilet Tourism
Do I need to join a tour for that?
The original Chinese text actually meant: Public Toilet for Tourists
TEN COMPILED LISTS OF FUNNY TRANSLATIONS TO MAKE YOUR DAY:
Yes, among many other stuff, China was the world's top exporter of hysterically amazing translations. These epic fails speak the universal language of laughter to all of us. Apparently some people were using Google Translate to handle their Chinese>English translation when they themselves don't possess adequate English language skills / knowledge and wouldn't bother to engage a linguistic professional to do that for them. If you're also thinking about turn to Google Translation sometime soon for something in your hand, you may want to seriously think twice, and the reason had been shown clear above.
In China, "Chinglish" is a common term used to indicate this type of bad Chinese to English translations. These are the photos from China demonstrating the hilarious results when the translations are made in Chinglish. Now the Chinese government has declared a war on the 'Chinglish,' and is rolling out a campaign to wipe out these extremely funny bad English translations that could be seen in many places across the country. Hopefully, you won't see these types of hilarious language issues again in the near future. But before that, you can still bookmark this web page and share your laughter with some friends. :-)
Be assured that those epic fails would never happen if they had engaged ACE CHINESE TRANSLATION team to handle their language translation works. As a China-based translation/localization team with a 21st century global vision, A.C.T. is built up by a group of highly skilled and dedicated professional Mandarin translators devoting ourselves to the efficient cultural and business communications between the east and the west. We put quality as our top priority over any other things.
So, speak to us if you have translation needs between Chinese and English before you are turning to any automatic translation software programs, so that we won't see more of these types of hilarious translations coming out again. :-)
Meanwhile, enjoy your day!