June 11, 2008 - Crazy English
This post is an extravaganza of wild and crazy English!
Yeah, it's blurry. I was running to snap a shot of the side of the bus.
To say "get off the bus" in Chinese, you say literally "down bus." Thus this crazy English at the back door.
Anyone you know suffering from trauma? No problem. Let me ship you some spray to take care of it.
What a waste. This picture would've been the perfect complement to the Icky Mouse cup. At any rate, here it is now. It is the year of the rat, after all!
I sure hope that the T.P. Cafe doesn't serve T.P.
Care for a cup of tea, dear? I guess it's similar to drinking prune juice.
Above a toilet. A toilet. Not a sink. I have no idea.
Another one that leaves you shaking your head in utter confusion.
This picture is a double whammy. Not only do you get to enjoy the special English, you also get a peek at the common "airing stomach" that men do constantly in the summer. Look to the right. Yes, it's culturally appropriate to do this in public. No one stares (well, except us) and thinks, "What a redneck!" People would just think, "Oh, he's hot and wants to cool off." I would prefer he fan himself, but I don't make the customs, folks.
I am a stranger in a strange land. I'm working on a whole blog entry on this most intriguing of topics.
At a museum in China -- an exhibit about dino footprints.
The English phrase -- Caution; floor slippery when wet -- just doesn't seem to translate well into Chinese.
Maybe it's just my quirky sense of humor. But when I saw this, I pictured myself as a crazed villain seeking to rule the world! Ultimate power is now mine! I have the key card!!
So which one is your favorite? Which one made you laugh the most?
Comments
June 12, 2008 - they're all funny!
Posted by JamieLee
I think I like "slip carefully" with the smiley face!
Jamie
www.jamiescottage.blogspot.com
June 12, 2008 - Untitled Comment
Posted by madiantin.blogspot.com
I loved the "Happy Rat", and the "Insert to gain power"....hahaha, that's what I thought of as well...COOL! If I insert a card I get to take over the world? =D
I think I've figured out the dress monopolized thing.
The first sentence is talking about a shop that sells only sports clothing?
The second one is.....ok, I have no idea.
The third one is unique food and beverages?
Brilliant signs. =D =D
June 12, 2008 - Untitled Comment
Posted by kellieann
I liked the Happy Rat shoes and the Slip Carefully sign...too funny!
June 12, 2008 - Favorite Crazy English Photo
Posted by Anonymous
Oh my!
The cooling off of the belly.
June 12, 2008 - My favorite was...
Posted by Anonymous
Slip carefully. Love that!!
Stacy :-)
http://paintingbridges.wordpress.com
June 13, 2008 - Untitled Comment
Posted by kimalita
Oh my, a different culture indeed! What in the world?!
I have to say my favorites are the 'gain power,' slip carefully, and the 'trauma' one.
The weirdest, that goes to the guy showing his mid-driff...that is just wrong. I will be eagerly awaiting your post about that one!
June 13, 2008 - Untitled Comment
Posted by Anonymous
So SO funny! I liked the airing stomach guy! But - all of them were so funny! Oh my! What entertainment you have!!!!!
Langhaven
June 13, 2008 - Bwuhahahahahaha!
Posted by EEEEDaddy
These are hysterical! Thanks so much for sharing!
I think I'd have to vote for the "Bulging Outlet," mostly because I enjoy absurd humor (and all of your subtitles cracked me up too).
June 13, 2008 - Untitled Comment
Posted by amtell
The bulging outlet cracked me up. Is that a bidet possibly?
I mean I guess I understand why they would have to use a hand to illustrate that. But still . . . reminds me of Madagascar where the giraffe is drinking from the "fountain" in the train station. Look, they even give you a free mint!
The happy rat shoes are great too.
I didn't find the belly thing too shocking. Around here you tend to see other parts of the anatomy being aired much too often.
June 14, 2008 - Untitled Comment
Posted by Sheri
The "Insert to gain power", because I can already imagine the jokes we would make upon seeing that (and inserting the key card!)
June 14, 2008 - so many good ones...
Posted by jugglingpaynes
I think it's a toss up for me between the bulging outlet and the insert to gain power. Slip carefully was cute too. :o)
Peace and Laughter,
Cristina
June 15, 2008 - Untitled Comment
Posted by Mommy Reg
These are just too funny! Talk about lost in translation. I am scratching my head about the toilet hand washing one. That is just well um... confused. It reminds me of a toddler learning to piece phrases together. But insert for power is my favorite. I was thinking the same thing.
mommyhoodadventures.blogspot.com
June 15, 2008 - Untitled Comment
Posted by Dot
I thought the sign above the toliet was funny. Thanks for sharing these.
June 15, 2008 - my vote goes to...
Posted by amibrain
slip carefully
too funny! I was LOL at these! :)
June 15, 2008 - Untitled Comment
Posted by 4sweetums
The "slip carefully" sign and the "gain power card". It is so different and interesting how hard it is to translate the signs. That toliet sign was just scary!
Blessings,
Dawn
June 15, 2008 - Untitled Comment
Posted by Anonymous
I like "Slip Carefully." But it isn't the English so much as the accompanying smiley face. I see these plastered all over WalMart. Forget "Rollback Prices" or whatever their smiley says. Just "Slip Carefully."
Dana
http://principleddiscovery.com
June 16, 2008 - Untitled Comment
Posted by AmaniS
Slip carefully and Insert to Gain Power
When I slip, I always do it carefully.
I have the card,muhhhhh.
June 16, 2008 - Funny English
Posted by Lois O'Brien
The power card really makes me laugh! I was in China in September 2006 to adopt our daughter from Anhui Province, and they had one of these in our hotel room! No one had told me that you have to put your key in the wall to turn on the electricity, and ours didn't have any English translation at all! Fortunately, we did get it figured out--but it is kind of strange!
Lois O'Brien
http://www.colbylobrien.wordpress.com
June 17, 2008 - Untitled Comment
Posted by kimalita
Hi Jimmie! Many folks actually confuse the Parrot Flower for a type of orchid rather than an impatien. I can just imagine all the orchids in that part of the world --- it must be heavely to see them all in bloom around you. It's certianly not something we see here in Colorado --- too dry and of coruse cold. I would love to see them all around my husband's flower garden. I'd like to take a trip to Thailand just to see their Parrot Flowers........
Hope all is well.
June 17, 2008 - Untitled Comment
Posted by blessinghill
Those are all great! I do like the last one - a feeling of super human beings. You must be laughing and shaking your head all the time
June 17, 2008 - Power/Dress Monopolized Shop of Sports
Posted by gidget
My favorite was the "Insert to Gain Power" sign...but I also really liked the "Dress Monopolized Shop of Sports"...I'm still trying to figure that out...But the image in my mind is a football player trying on a formal gown...saying something like, "Are you sure that this is the new practice uniform? The coach never mentioned anything strapless." hee hee :-)
June 19, 2008 - Untitled Comment
Posted by molytail
hahahahah love 'em! My fave - toss up between the "Happy Rat" sneakers and the "Slip Carefully" ....I'd like to *have* that slip sign in my hallway LOL. :-)
June 19, 2008 - Untitled Comment
Posted by Dell
Those are so fun to read! The last two especially had me laughing aloud. The Smiley face on the "slip carefully" packed the extra punch! (And I too envisioned getting super-human power by inserting a card! Very cool!)
June 19, 2008 - Untitled Comment
Posted by noahsmom
the last 2 really had me going .. course they are all funny in their own way, thanks for sharing....looking forward to the "stranger in a strange land" posts
June 21, 2008 - Funny English
Posted by Anonymous
I lived in Beijing for ten years. I returned to the States in 1997. I loved China, but we can't go back in the foreseeable future as my Chinese husband would likely be arrested and sent to labor camp.
IAnyway, I can clear up a couple of mysteries. The dress monopolized shop of sports is a store specializing in athletic wear. I believe Carrefour is actually a French chain store, the Chinese name is Jia Le Fu or something like that. Characteristic food and beverage probably means they sell local delicacies.
June 25, 2008 - Untitled Comment
Posted by solidrock
I am ROFL! How utterly confusing.
July 3, 2008 - Untitled Comment
Posted by kinchina
I had forgotten about putting your key in the slot to get the power on in the hotel room! The signs sure bring back memories of our short time there. My favorite is the Happy Rat! They would go well with the tshirt my son has. "Winnie the Pooh- Toughest Bear in the Woods"
July 27, 2008 - Untitled Comment
Posted by Anonymous
keep up the good work mom!
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