Decoding Chinglish: The Quirky and Hilarious English Signs of China
Travel anywhere in China, and you'll step into the whimsical world of Chinglish—unique translations that blend English with Mandarin flair. A sign reading 'Be Seated Defecate' simply means the restroom has Western-style toilets, not squat ones. 'Deformed Man Toilet' is just a polite designation for an accessible facility for the disabled.
'The green grass is afraid of your foot' is a poetic reminder to 'Keep off the Grass.' In Shanghai, locals and visitors alike see directives like: 'Don't expectorate everywhere. Don't attaint public property. Don't destroy virescence. Don't random through street. Don't say four-letter word.' Welcome to the captivating realm of Chinglish.
Shop signs like 'OC SLOOT YTUAEB & GNISSERDRIAH' seem cryptic at first, but reading from right to left reveals 'HAIRDRESSING & BEAUTY SALOON'—each letter correctly oriented but reversed in sequence.
With China's 1.3 billion potential speakers, Chinglish is a linguistic powerhouse. Soon, you'll instinctively understand 'Be Careful not to Be Stolen' as a theft warning, 'Shoplifters Will Be Fined 10 Times' as a deterrent, 'Don't Stroke the Works' (in museums) as 'Do Not Touch,' and 'Slip Carefully' as a caution for wet floors.
Advocates view Chinglish as a distinct English dialect deserving preservation, with its charming formality and inverted poetry. Long may Chinglish thrive!
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