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Bertrand
Joined: 02 Feb 2003 Posts: 293
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Posted: Wed Jul 16, 2003 6:53 am Post subject: Funny translations |
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I recently saw this sign here in HK:
"Women can have a fit upstairs."
I tittered. I know exactly what they mean and I can interpret it as meaning that, but it is still, nevertheless, funny. |
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dyak

Joined: 25 Jun 2003 Posts: 630
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Posted: Wed Jul 16, 2003 7:29 am Post subject: |
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And from a recent writing assignment:
'We build statues so that we can memorize the people who died...' |
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khmerhit
Joined: 31 May 2003 Posts: 1874 Location: Reverse Culture Shock Unit
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Posted: Wed Jul 16, 2003 9:13 am Post subject: |
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Phnom Penh funeral parlour sign:
"Having All Coffins" |
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Roger
Joined: 19 Jan 2003 Posts: 9138
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Posted: Wed Jul 16, 2003 9:36 am Post subject: |
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English sign on a CHinese garment delivery van: "SWEAR"
(probably 'men's wear').
Sings on most city buses in China:
Front door: "Up"
Back door: "Down".
(You enter through the front door, you alight through the back door).
Clause in my last contract;
"For the pizza, please use your own money!" (i could eat at their canteen for free, but if I wanted to order a meal in a nearby restaurant it would not be refunded).
Tape-recorded telephone message:
"The subscriber's number you dialled is power off!" |
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MartinK
Joined: 01 Mar 2003 Posts: 344
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Posted: Wed Jul 16, 2003 1:16 pm Post subject: ... |
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...
Last edited by MartinK on Tue Nov 18, 2003 5:04 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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Bertrand
Joined: 02 Feb 2003 Posts: 293
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Posted: Thu Jul 17, 2003 2:10 am Post subject: |
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MartinK wrote: |
Walking along the Great Wall of the South in Linhai, Zhejiang I saw this sign:
No tossing!
No doubt that spoilt many a plan for a relaxing afternoon. |
On a mountain top in Fuzhou I saw a very similar sign:
"Loose studs must not be randomly tossed." |
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Celeste
Joined: 17 Jan 2003 Posts: 814 Location: Fukuoka City, Japan
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Posted: Thu Jul 17, 2003 10:02 am Post subject: |
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For my allergies, I was prescribed a nasal spray. The pharmacist was kind enough to write out the instructions for me in English. "Please spray both noses." |
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Echo
Joined: 23 Mar 2003 Posts: 38
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Posted: Thu Jul 17, 2003 1:17 pm Post subject: |
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Sign for an advertising company in Shanghai:
"You only have one chance to make a fist impression"
From my old company's medical insurance handbook:
"Medicines which are at your own expense should be paid for at your own expense"
Sign in an office:
"Please close the light when you leaving" |
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Echo
Joined: 23 Mar 2003 Posts: 38
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Posted: Thu Jul 17, 2003 1:21 pm Post subject: |
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Oh and nearly forgot my favourite:
From the instructions leaflet with little jars of Tiger Balm:
"External use only...effective for the following conditions...rash, insect bite, flatulence...apply directly to the effected part."
(paraphrasing, sorry for any errors) |
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Shaman

Joined: 06 Apr 2003 Posts: 446 Location: Hammertown
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Posted: Thu Jul 17, 2003 8:33 pm Post subject: |
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My favourite was a sign in Nagoya - "Heartful Dentist". I couldn't help but wonder if they meant "Hurtful".
Shaman |
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Wolf

Joined: 10 May 2003 Posts: 1245 Location: Middle Earth
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Posted: Fri Jul 18, 2003 9:10 am Post subject: |
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My favorite from Nagoya:
The store known as "Hard Off." |
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khmerhit
Joined: 31 May 2003 Posts: 1874 Location: Reverse Culture Shock Unit
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Posted: Sat Jul 19, 2003 7:07 pm Post subject: |
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Was that the Hard Off Cafe?
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some waygug-in
Joined: 07 Feb 2003 Posts: 339
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Posted: Sun Jul 20, 2003 2:21 am Post subject: |
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I can't remember some of the really funny ones I've seen, but this one comes to mind.
On a local neighborhood pub: Best Feel nightclub
cheers |
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Snoopy
Joined: 13 Jul 2003 Posts: 185
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Posted: Tue Aug 12, 2003 12:41 am Post subject: ouch! |
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Written by a dental nurse in Riyadh: take one pill every three hours until pain increases. |
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Snoopy
Joined: 13 Jul 2003 Posts: 185
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Posted: Tue Aug 12, 2003 12:54 am Post subject: Aye, chuck |
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Who needs to go abroad? A roadworks sign near Manchester: wait here while the light is green. |
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