Chinglish facts for kids
Chinglish is a fun word for English that has been influenced by the Chinese language. It often happens when Chinese words or grammar are directly translated into English. For example, the common phrase "long time no see" comes from the Chinese phrase "hǎojiǔbùjiàn," which means "we haven't met for a long time."
The word "Chinglish" itself is a mix of "Chinese" and "English."
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What is Chinglish?
Chinglish happens when someone translates Chinese directly into English, but the meaning doesn't quite make sense in English. It's not usually a mistake, but more like a different way of saying things. It can be found on signs, menus, or even in conversations.
Why Does Chinglish Happen?
Chinglish often happens because of a direct word-for-word translation. Chinese grammar and ways of expressing ideas are different from English. When you translate word by word, the sentence structure or word choice can sound unusual to an English speaker.
Examples of Chinglish
You might see Chinglish on public signs or product labels. For instance, a sign that says "One car come, one car go, two car pengpeng, one car die" is an example. This means: "One car drove towards another; both cars crashed, and one of them was destroyed." It's a very direct translation that sounds a bit funny in English.
Another common example is "No smoking on the bus, please." This might become "No smoking in the car, please." It's understandable, but not the usual way an English speaker would say it.
Is Chinglish a Problem?
Chinglish usually isn't a big problem. Most of the time, you can still understand what someone means. It can even be quite interesting and show how different languages work! It also highlights the challenges of translation and how important it is to understand the culture and common phrases of a language, not just individual words.
Images for kids
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A sign on the wall surrounding the Tiger Hill Pagoda warning tourists not to climb up it demonstrates the complexity of translation.
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A sign from Beijing's Silk Street, giving translations of common English phrases vendors may use when serving English speaking customers, as well as phrases advised against.
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A lady's changing room, or "Wom's Bathing Box" in Chinglish.
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A sign in Shenzhen.
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A sign in Fujian.
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A trash bin for non-recyclable waste at the Xi'an Xianyang International Airport.
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A sign in Namtso.
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A multilingual sign on a door in Taipei uses the unusual Scottish English word steek ("shut") instead of close.
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A sign at the bus station in Shaowu, Fujian.
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The ubiquitous "Mind the gap" in Chinglish on a Shanghai Ferry dock.
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From a pair of shorts purchased in Huwei, Taiwan.
