Introducing … Funny Sign Friday!
Because funny signs are really funny, aren’t they? You see them and think, “Huh, that’s odd. How bizarre.” And then you think about the fact that the sign is there for the public. It’s there for a reason. And that means people pay attention to it. The gears start cranking a little-maybe they’re a little rusty-aaand … yes! That’s hilarious! Who knows how many people notice this sign, read it, and think exactly what you are thinking at that very moment? The fact that someone put up the sign in the first place without double checking (possibly not even occurring to them in the first place) how ridiculous it reads is just hilarious in and of itself. So without further ado, your first Funny Sign Friday … erm, funny sign.
A fantastically helpful sign at Leshan on the path up to see the largest Buddha in the world. Because if you’re going to slip, you should do it carefully.
China has no shortage of ridiculously mis-translated signs. I will be more than happy to post a new one from my own collection every Friday. However, if you would like to submit a photo for Funny Sign Friday, I highly encourage it and will be happy to feature it. Just email me the picture at grahamwoodring@gmail.com and I will see about getting it up here (with appropriate acknowledgment, of course).
Cheers!
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you get like, 5 thumbs up from the hippie house on this new addition.
and i only had one thumbs up in on it. AND im not a hippie.
At least they made an attempt at using English. Props for that.
It’s odd, I NEVER seem to have my blasted camera when I see one of these!
There was a little snippet a while back on 20/20 about mis- or half- translated signs. They are truly hilarious. Oh the questions… who translated this? Did they speak fluent English? Perhaps they did, but thought the literal translation was funnier? Or maybe they didn’t, and they can’t understand why everyone keeps laughing at their sign?
Glad to see someone is finding a little humor in their travels!
@Laura: I’m glad for the approval. I think I will be having a lot of fun with this, hopefully you all will too!
@Stevo: Yeah, technically it’s English. But I’m sure you know there are so many more signs that use English but are totally wrong in every way. I have a great one coming up, so look forward to that.
@EG: Maybe I just have a knack for finding funny signs? Too bad it’s not a talent I can exploit for monetary gains. Or can I….
@Linz: I’m trying my best to find the humor. There are so many things here in China that make me want to tear my hair out. But I want to focus on the good, not the bad. And besides, no one wants to just read about my complaining all the time, do they?
Thumbs up! That’s a great one, and an excellent idea! Menus are hilarious, too. I ran into a couple of really strange ones in Northeast China. The best sign I ever saw was on the front of a bar in Beijing. It said, “No nuclear bombs, please.” Weird, eh? Looking forward to the next one, Graham.