A Case Study of Slogan Translation Errors

In order to welcome Japanese street signs, they were translated into Chinese, but China tourists said with a wry smile that they should not be translated, just because the meaning of Japan after being translated into Chinese is completely different, and even some slogans are "bull's head is not right for horse's mouth".

Nowadays, China people are more and more fond of traveling abroad, and choose to go abroad to feel exotic customs. In addition to the beautiful scenery in Japan, the unique folk culture has attracted many tourists. Tens of millions of tourists visit Japan every year. In order to show our welcome to tourists from China, some Chinese tips or advertisements will be set up on the streets of Japan or in some Japanese shops for the convenience of tourists from China. However, many tourists are stunned by the translation of Japanese gods. Many street slogans have completely different meanings after being translated into Chinese, and even some slogans are wrong.

These "Chinese slogans" in Japan look so funny, which may be caused by the cultural differences between the two countries, which leads to the illogical language after translation. For example, the slogan posted on a public toilet in Japan originally meant "Be careful when opening the door, or you will bump into someone", but it turned out to be "there is a man on the toilet door" after being translated into Chinese, which surprised some female tourists. The same is true of a Japanese restaurant, where a sign was set up in front of the door, which said "Please enter quietly" in Chinese. It instantly reminds tourists of a very popular phrase "I want to be quiet" in China. Many Japanese shops set up these slogans because they are actually worried that some people can't read Japanese, but because many slogans are only translated by machine, their meanings are misinterpreted.

Although some Chinese slogans on the streets of Japan are inconsistent, this is a more intimate move. After all, the cultures of the two countries are different and there will be some differences in translation. Just understand.