I started on my journey into Japanese culture 30 years ago when I went to Japan several times for work to interact with engineering/production teams in product development. I had studied French and Spanish before so I got a Japanese phrase book at the airport which I carried with me.
One memorable event took place in Tamana-gun, near Kumamoto. I needed to check out of the hotel and I had some heavy boxes with computer parts in them with me. I looked for a phrase for such an occasion (I think it was âI need a porter for my luggageâ) and called down to the front desk. I recited the phrase to the best of my ability but was unable to understand the response. So of course I simply repeated myself a few more times, hung up, and hoped for the best.
About ten minutes later, there was a knock at the door. I opened it to a kimono-clad young lady who glided in with a thermos of hot water, set it down, bowed, and left. âWellâ, I thought, âthat clearly did not go as plannedâ. I managed to get all the boxes down to the lobby myself and checked out and waited for the taxi.
When I arrived at the factory, I told some of the guys I was working with what had happened. âWell what did you say?â they asked. I repeated it again. They mulled it over. âWhat you are saying sounds like âI am building a fire in order to boil waterââ. LOL! No wonder!
DL
Thanks for sharing! There are other funny ones in the thread if you wanna read. XD And lots of examples of bad translation, or just funny translation. 