Another funny video
In the spirit of language faux pas, here is another funny video. This one is a little…or a lot… closer to China. I think that even if you don’t understand Chinese, its still funny, but read the explanation as you watch the video.
Guy: Well, of course, I’ve lived here for awhile now and I think its really important to immerse yourself in the culture and learn the lingo, which is what I’ve done.
CHINESE: 恩,当然我已经在这里生活了一段时间. 我觉得让自己融入这里的文化氛围,学习一些当地的语言也是非常重要的.我也是这么做的.
Guy: 你好 nǐ hǎo
ENGLISH: Hello
Shop assistant 1: 你好 nǐ hǎo
ENGLISH: Hello
Guy: 你好 nǐ hǎo
ENGLISH: Hello
Shop assistant 2: 你好 nǐ hǎo
ENGLISH: Hello
Guy: 这个是我的同志 。 zhè gè shì wǒ de tóngzhì.
ENGLISH: This is my gay partner.
Error: 同志 tóngzhì can mean comrade, partner, or between two guys: gay lover.
Correction: 朋友 péngyǒu is the normal way of saying friend(s). If a guy wants to indicate he and another guy are close friends (but not gay), 哥们 gēmen or 兄弟 xiōngdì can be used.
Shop assistant 2 (corrects guy’s pronunciation): 同志 tóngzhì
Guy: 对. duì 我跟他同房。 wǒ gēn tā tóngfáng.
ENGLISH: This guy and I sleep together
Error: 同房 tóngfáng literally means roommate but implies two people share the same bed.
Correction: 室友 shìyǒu or 同屋 tóngwū are better ways of saying roommate. 室友 shìyǒu is more common, while 同屋 tóngwū is used more commonly in northern China.
Guy to friend: Would you like some tea?
Friend: Yea, a cup of tea.
Guy: Yes, its really good.
Shop assistant 2: New green tea.
Guy: 这个多少钱。 zhè gè duō shǎo qián?
ENGLISH: How much money is this?
Shop assistant 1: 50 grams is 38 yuan.
Guy: 38 yuan. I can get this for you.
Friend: Great!
Guy: Uh, I think I’ve left my wallet behind.
Guy: 我的包皮丢了. wǒ de bāopí diū le.
ENGLISH: I lost my foreskin.
Error: 包皮 bāopí means foreskin. 皮包 píbāo means wallet. The guy has reversed the characters forming a new word with a completely different meaning.
Correction: 钱包 qiánbāo is a better way of saying wallet and doesn’t risk getting mixed up with a different meaning.
Shop assistant 2: 你的包皮丢了 nǐ de bāopí diū le.
ENGLISH: You lost your foreskin.
Guy: 我的包皮丢了 wǒ de bāopí diū le.
ENGLISH: I lost my foreskin.
Shop assistant 2: 怎么会丢了? zěnme huì diū le?
ENGLISH: How did you lose it?
Guy: 不知道 bù zhīdào… 我的包皮 wǒ de bāopí. 我 Wǒ… 我 wǒ… 去 qù.
ENGLISH: I don’t know. My foreskin. I… I… am going.
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