Mistranslations between English and Chinese

China policy China policy (not "China policy")

Chinese dragon Qilin (not "Chinese dragon")

American beauty A kind of rose, named For "American beauty" (not "American beauty")

English disease rickets (not "English disease")

Indian summer A happy and peaceful old age (not "Indian summer" ")

Greek gift A harmful gift (not a "Greek gift")

Spanish athlete A braggart (not a "Spanish athlete")

French chalk Talcum powder (not "French chalk")

pull one's leg in a joke (not "pull back")

in one's birthday suit naked (not "in a birthday suit")

eat one's words retract the preface (not "broken promise")

an apple of love tomatoes (not "fruit of love")

handwriting on the wall ominous mega (not "big-character poster")

bring down the house to win the applause of the audience (not "tear down the house")

have a fit to be furious (not "try on")

make one's hair stand on end creepy - scary (not "outrageous - angry")

be taken in deceived, fooled (not "accepted")

think a great deal of oneself think highly of oneself (not "think a lot for oneself")

pull up one's socks muster up the courage (not "put up socks")

have the heart to do (used in negative sentences) have the heart to do...not "willingly do" or "intentionally do")

What a shame! What a shame! it's a pity! (Not "how shameful")

You don't say! Really! (Not "Don't say")

You can say that again! Well said! (Not "You can say it again")

I haven't slept better. I slept better. (Not "I've never had a good night's sleep")

You can't be too careful in your work. The more careful you are in your work, the better. (Not "You can't work too carefully")

It has been 4 years since I smoked. I have quit smoking for 4 years. (Not "I have been smoking for 4 years")

All his friends did not turn up. Not all his friends did turn up. (Not "None of his friends have arrived")

People will be long forgetting her. People will remember her for a long time. (Not "People will never forget her")

He was only too pleased to let them go. He was only too pleased to let them go. (Not "He was too happy to let them go.")

It can't be less interesting.

(not "it can't be interesting")

black art black art (not "black art")

black stranger a complete stranger (not "strange black man")

white coal (used as a source of power) water (not "white coal")

white man a loyal and reliable person (not "white-skinned person")

yellow book yellow book (French government report, sealed with yellow paper) (not a "yellow book")

red tape bureaucracy (not a "red tape")

green hand novice (not "green hand")

blue stocking female scholar, female talent (not "blue stockings")

personal remark personal attack (not "personal comment" )

Sweet water fresh water (not "sugar water" or "sweet water")

confidence man liar (not "trustworthy person")

criminal lawyer criminal lawyer (not "criminal lawyer")

service station gas station (not "service station")

dressing room dressing room (not "fitting room" or "dressing room")

horse sense common sense (not "horse feeling")

capital idea good idea (not "capitalist thinking")

familiar talk vulgar conversation ( Not "familiar conversation")