Lost in Translation: China

We have a fascination with signs.

Particularly the ones that seem somehow to have been “lost in translation” between languages. So we hope you enjoy our special series of silly signs from around the world and get as much of a laugh as we do!

Here is our first instalment from China:

I did my best to follow the recommendation of this sign over the escalator at Wu-Mart: “Mind your hair”

This sign made me feel melancholic about my childhood… how come no one ever taught me how to play Tino the Autowalk?

This is my favorite sign from China advising us on how to be excellent tourists: “May we remind you: please be self-restraint and be a good tourist to mold a well-mannered imagination”

A sign on the subway train: “Wheel chair fixer”

I have never referred to an elderly/senior person the same way since this sign.

Subway train sign: “Door is open when yellow light lighting. Door is at fault when red light lighting.”

“Perilous hills, no climbing please”

A sign at the Great Wall: “Risk, please pay attention to safety.”

I love roast dunck, damplings and potaboes. Especially potaboes.

I wasn’t sure how to take this. Do you think I should be careful of the stairs (“Please watch out for the stairs”) or is it that the stairs are being kind (“Please watch out. Love, the stairs”)?

I love dipping my card into ATMs.

A government form at the Beijing airport to deal with us “aliens”

That’s a very specific and unbeatable discount.

The signs below are all from the night market talked about in a previous post describing the various food items for purchase:

“Dog meat pot”. I’m not sure what food a “mealie” is?

These are very interesting foods… “officer wealth board”, “mirror cake” or “explosion cone”.

“Sheep penis” or “baby shark”

“Cake with Pig inside”