Foreign Friday - Guest Post

Today, Sheila shares photos of some interesting signs she saw while she was in Japan. Obviously, some meanings get lost in the translation.
Airport Water Fountain
I can't remember the last time I saw anyone gargling
at a water fountain, but evidently, that is frowned upon
in Japan. (click photo to enlarge)
Airport Luggage Carts

Comments

  1. I will try not to gargle there anymore!

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  2. I try not to use public fountains anyway... but gargling?! Really?

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  3. The combination of cultural differences and English translations make for some amusing signs. At least the message came across, which is more than I could say if I were trying to communicate in Japanese.

    My personal favorite sign in Japan was one on a train, advising riders to take only one seat. Stick figures illustrated that passengers were to ride with legs together, not wide-spread, in order to give everyone room. I wish I had taken a photo of it.

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  4. Well if you gargle you usually have to spit..so maybe that was the polite way of saying no spitting:)

    ReplyDelete

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