Signese

New York Chinatown sidewalk signage - this one is particularly busy. But what sort of foods are available on this street?

Car Park at Yu Long River 遇龙河 near Yangshuo 阳朔, Guangxi.

From a local shop.

1) What World Cup memorabilia is on sale?

2) Which character did I misread as 罩 when first walking past and what did I think was for sale as a consequence?

3) For extra credit, figure out what a 米米卡 is. I have no idea.

What is the issue here?

I am back from a short trip to Shanghai and these are two of the pictures I took during a visit to the China Pavilion of the Expo 2010 site.

Observation 1 - I wonder if everyone (e.g. Chinese learners and users of simplified script) sees what Chinese character the logo next to the words "中國館" represents ...

Observation 2 - the name of the kid who did that painting is quite unusual in my opinion. I had never seen such a surname before, and the given name is just too good. Your view?

I took these last weekend. That triangle sign, I just don't understand why we need it, and would appreciate it if someone could explain it to me. And the red sign reminded me of a poem of 李白. Which one do you think it was? The last one is the name of a ruin up on a hill.

Enjoy.

Who is that in the star, and what is this poster promoting?

What are these, and how many can you buy for 10 yuan?

Maybe someone has posted similar photos before but I'd add a few questions with this one:

1.How many different services can you identify?

2.Where do you think it is most likely to be taken?

Sorry for the large size of the picture (1200X1600) but some interesting (at least I thought they are ) details would have been missing if it had been resized any smaller.

Now enjoying my 1 month break back to where I grew up, there are some pictures that I would like to share. Many things have changed, but sadly, some of those which need changes desperately may have not. I was surprised to see signs like what I took in the first picture (file 001.jpg) through out my trip. Hopefully I will see much less of this kind in the future. Well, question time:

1: What kind of message the first sign is trying to convey?

2: Can you think of one 成语 or 四字俗语 which is related to this sign?

To relax a bit after the somewhat heavy topic, please take a look at the second sign (file 002.jpg), and try to answer these simple questions:

1: I can think of at least two ways to interpret the sign, how about you?

2: There is a joke related to this sign, can you find it?

One fairly random photo of Chinese characters in action, per week, until sometime in 2018. And perhaps longer if I'm encouraged. Those who want to contribute their own random photos of Chinese characters are welcome, just get in touch and I'll add you to the contributor list so you can post directly, from computer or phone.

I wonder what a non-民用 key is. 

One fairly random photo of Chinese characters in action, per week, until sometime in 2018. And perhaps longer if I'm encouraged. Those who want to contribute their own random photos of Chinese characters are welcome, just get in touch and I'll add you to the contributor list so you can post directly, from computer or phone.

I like to think of some poor foreign student recognising the first character and assuming from context he can get his puncture sorted out off to the left.

One fairly random photo of Chinese characters in action, per week, until sometime in 2018. And perhaps longer if I'm encouraged. Those who want to contribute their own random photos of Chinese characters are welcome, just get in touch and I'll add you to the contributor list so you can post directly, from computer or phone.

Signs like this are (or were) common, as people tried to order their own surroundings a bit closer to the heart's desire.

One fairly random photo of Chinese characters in action, per week, until sometime in 2018. And perhaps longer if I'm encouraged. Those who want to contribute their own random photos of Chinese characters are welcome, just get in touch and I'll add you to the contributor list so you can post directly, from computer or phone.

It's clear what it means, but I like to think of someone trying to just rent a meaty stick.

One fairly random photo of Chinese characters in action, per week, until sometime in 2018. And perhaps longer if I'm encouraged. Those who want to contribute their own random photos of Chinese characters are welcome, just get in touch and I'll add you to the contributor list so you can post directly, from computer or phone.

On campus at BNU. Used to live nearby, I should really be entitled to a degree, considering how much time I spent there. 

One fairly random photo of Chinese characters in action, per week, until sometime in 2018. And perhaps longer if I'm encouraged. Those who want to contribute their own random photos of Chinese characters are welcome, just get in touch and I'll add you to the contributor list so you can post directly, from computer or phone.

A classic online translation error, sent in from somewhere in Sichuan I think. 

One fairly random photo of Chinese characters in action, per week, until sometime in 2018. And perhaps longer if I'm encouraged. Those who want to contribute their own random photos of Chinese characters are welcome, just get in touch and I'll add you to the contributor list so you can post directly, from computer or phone.

Lack of STTH (sewers-to-the-home) meant lots of public toilets.

One fairly random photo of Chinese characters in action, per week, until sometime in 2018. And perhaps longer if I'm encouraged. Those who want to contribute their own random photos of Chinese characters are welcome, just get in touch and I'll add you to the contributor list so you can post directly, from computer or phone.

I hear it's China's best 院. A contribution from a certain Mr O'Kane ,I think.

One fairly random photo of Chinese characters in action, per week, until sometime in 2018. And perhaps longer if I'm encouraged. Those who want to contribute their own random photos of Chinese characters are welcome, just get in touch and I'll add you to the contributor list so you can post directly, from computer or phone.

Love of your own safety and respiratory health optional.

One fairly random photo of Chinese characters in action, per week, until sometime in 2018. And perhaps longer if I'm encouraged. Those who want to contribute their own random photos of Chinese characters are welcome, just get in touch and I'll add you to the contributor list so you can post directly, from computer or phone.

Practice your passives.

One fairly random photo of Chinese characters in action, per week, until sometime in 2018. And perhaps longer if I'm encouraged. Those who want to contribute their own random photos of Chinese characters are welcome, just get in touch and I'll add you to the contributor list so you can post directly, from computer or phone.

So good I suspect I've posted it twice.

One fairly random photo of Chinese characters in action, per week, until sometime in 2018. And perhaps longer if I'm encouraged. Those who want to contribute their own random photos of Chinese characters are welcome, just get in touch and I'll add you to the contributor list so you can post directly, from computer or phone.

I think I'd be less inclined to take photos behind people's backs nowadays.

One fairly random photo of Chinese characters in action, per week, until sometime in 2018. And perhaps longer if I'm encouraged. Those who want to contribute their own random photos of Chinese characters are welcome, just get in touch and I'll add you to the contributor list so you can post directly, from computer or phone. 

Outside a friendly neighbourhood restaurant.

One fairly random photo of Chinese characters in action, per week, until sometime in 2018. And perhaps longer if I'm encouraged. Those who want to contribute their own random photos of Chinese characters are welcome, just get in touch and I'll add you to the contributor list so you can post directly, from computer or phone.

One fairly random photo of Chinese characters in action, per week, until sometime in 2018. And perhaps longer if I'm encouraged. Those who want to contribute their own random photos of Chinese characters are welcome, just get in touch and I'll add you to the contributor list so you can post directly, from computer or phone.

Wonder if this bit of grass is apartments yet...