Getting ready for the Olympics
With Beijing getting ready for all the Olympiphiles, misuse of English is bound to be on a rise. But in my opinion, it’s the tourists’ responsibility to understand their hosts.
Here, then, are a few choice examples of how the language barrier can be breached - and in the Chinese style, using much more force than necessary:
…but taste like Cat
Here, crippie, take my seat. You look a little gravid.
Dericious with flied lice.
The entrance to my Crib, Yo!
To be honest, sounds better than canned water, doesn’t it?
Go over there to die please. Thank you!
Good to know…
How rude… some of my best friends are liquor heads!
I’d think twice about entering…
Much tastier than the grown up variety!
But it’s nothing compared to how the Robster feels.
"…I love starbutts and I cannot lie…"
I wouldn’t tickle this one.
Weird, because horsebeans sound delicious.
AKA ‘Dress Barn’
No no no no no no…..
This one is just too easy
Now that’s what I call "Full Service"!
See you after the flight, Mom!
Should be in front of half the hotels…
The Dork is delicious, but I’m not sure about the Barboos.
“Gravid” means pregnant in several languages. Why they haven’t written it in english is an interesting question.
Comment by Anders — July 30, 2008 @ 11:15 am
The lobster one is Korean, and the Rocking Elmo one is Japanese. Not Chinese!
Comment by Jānis — July 30, 2008 @ 11:28 am
yeah, it may be “getting ready for the olympics” if there weren’t 2 photos from south korea and one from japan on that page.
first - photo #3 “robster” is written in korean.
second - “starbutts” is a bar near hooker hill in itaewon, seoul, korea. it’s right across from my favorite bookshop.
third, the “tickle me elmo”, while likely made in china, had japanese all over the packaging.
Comment by sean o'leary — July 30, 2008 @ 11:47 am
yeah, it may be “getting ready for the olympics” if there weren’t 2 photos from south korea and one from japan on that page.
first - photo #3 “robster” is written in korean.
second - “starbutts” is a bar near hooker hill in itaewon, seoul, korea. it’s right across from my favorite bookshop.
third, the “tickle me elmo”, while likely made in china, had japanese all over the packaging.
Comment by sean — July 30, 2008 @ 11:53 am
yeah, it may be “getting ready for the olympics” if there weren’t 2 photos from south korea and one from japan on that page.
first - photo #3 “robster” is written in korean.
second - “starbutts” is a bar near hooker hill in itaewon, seoul, korea. it’s right across from my favorite bookshop.
third, the “tickle me elmo”, while likely made in china, had japanese all over the packaging.
Comment by sean — July 30, 2008 @ 11:56 am
Very funny, I can´t stop laughing!
Comment by Win Jackpot — July 30, 2008 @ 3:34 pm
Some of those are Japanese, not Chinese, which doesn’t really fit in with your article title.
Comment by booboo — July 31, 2008 @ 12:22 am