skylee Posted March 17, 2008 at 01:01 PM Report Share Posted March 17, 2008 at 01:01 PM I like this ad. Strange thing is that in the version on HK TV, I think the subtitle of the last line that I saw is "弓長的那個張". In the versions on the internet, the last line is "工廠的那個張". Youtube -> http://hk.youtube.com/watch?v=Nc5zHwTAn5g (traditional chinese subtitles) Youtube -> http://hk.youtube.com/watch?v=YRkHvRecYVE (english subtitles) Youku -> http://v.youku.com/v_show/id_cj00XMjA3MjIyNDA=.html Tudou -> http://www.tudou.com/programs/view/Xhcq-gBKbP4/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
heartless Posted March 17, 2008 at 03:00 PM Report Share Posted March 17, 2008 at 03:00 PM I think the ad is playing on the homophonic and polyphonic Chinese characters. "工"and"弓"have the same pronounciation and the word "长" has two different pronounciations in different contexts. Thus, "弓长的张" refers to the composition of the Chinese character "张", while "工厂的张" refers to a person whose family name is "张" and works in a factory. Very interesting and smart trick. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skylee Posted March 17, 2008 at 03:05 PM Author Report Share Posted March 17, 2008 at 03:05 PM I suppose those of you who are on the mainland can view the ad on youku or tudou, right? Actually "弓長的那個張" vs "工廠的那個張" is not the main point of the ad. The ad basically sells the better service of Fedex claiming that it knows the place better (knowing that Zhang is a very common name) so it serves better (calling Mr Zhang Wei instead of just Mr Zhang). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lu Posted March 17, 2008 at 03:23 PM Report Share Posted March 17, 2008 at 03:23 PM I saw that commercial too, and thought it was brilliant for this pun on words. Nayige Zhang? Gongchan(g) neige Zhang! I don't remember seeing subtitles (that would kind of kill the pun), but I might just have forgotten. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Meng Lelan Posted March 17, 2008 at 04:49 PM Report Share Posted March 17, 2008 at 04:49 PM I agree with Lu, seeing subtitles would have killed the pun. Oh that was so funny!! I just sent the video link to a Chinese friend. I enjoy seeing funny commercials in Chinese like that. Thank you skylee for making this such a great forum. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lu Posted March 18, 2008 at 10:04 AM Report Share Posted March 18, 2008 at 10:04 AM Thank you skylee for making this such a great forum.I second that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
heartless Posted March 18, 2008 at 03:31 PM Report Share Posted March 18, 2008 at 03:31 PM Yes, I checked the ad again and see the main idea there, but still the main idea is established on that pun, right? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ZhangXinQiang Posted March 22, 2008 at 07:53 PM Report Share Posted March 22, 2008 at 07:53 PM lol... My friend gave me same name.. I am another Zhang Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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