Engrish is the name for the occidental writing which appears on Japanese signs. The companies, or their sign writers, wish to give a product cachet, but the result is a funny English phrase. To the Japanese readers, the Engrish words are meaningless since most speak English about as well as most westerners speak Japanese. Little do they know that the English translation has a fatal flaw.
Funny Engrish Signs in the Restrooms
I first saw this Engrish dialect back in the 1960s; a company I worked for imported goods from Japan. The written correspondence occasionally had the sort of faux pas you see on this page; at that time I thought it was an ex-Brit having a joke, but now I can see that the Japanese Engrish disease is rampant. Incidentally, you may have heard of Franglais, those funny French —> English translations, they probably pre-date Engrish.
Parking? Then Our Advice Is To Avoid Windows No.2
Please get a punch at Window No. 2 – No thank you!
Menus Are a Great Source of Funny Engrish
Some Japanese Engrish signs are also Spoonerisms, this is where they transpose the first letters of two words to make funny phrase, for example: Soul of Ballad (Bowl of Salad).
Warter Supplies
One common brand of Engrish is where a word is spelt phonetically as in warter. A variation is when an incorrect homonym is used, the spelling is correct, it SOUNDS ok, but it’s completely the wrong word. One of our favourite funny Japanese phrases is on this sign seen on a barber‘s shop: ‘Speciality Hair Routes’.
Don’t Laugh – Will’s Suitcase is Still in There Somewhere
‘Luggage Disembowel’ is a classic type of a Japanese Engrish sign where the writer has not quite got the translation correct. Judging by the sign they probably meant ‘Lost Luggage’ or ‘Left-luggage Office’.
Not Pure Engrish – But The Most Surprising Sign of This Genre
Is it oriental magic? This sign prevents foreign tourists from getting lost!!
The Origins of Engrish
One of the roots of Engrish lies in pronunciation; in spoken Japanese there is no distinct L and R sounds. However, they do have a consonant that is somewhere in between these two sounds, and the problem arises when they translate an R or L into English if they get it wrong it results in a funny Engrish phrase.
Another source of Engrish is when the translator uses literal equivalents instead of the correct context.
Gives you a healthy mouth and fresh breath.
Gives you strong mouth and refreshing wind.
Do Not Little
Bin there and got the tea shirt!
Carefully Slip and Fall Down
Carefully Fall to the River. (These funny Engrish pictures are so polite)
Another feature of funny Engrish signs is that while all the words are correct, the sequence does not make sense. See also funny Chinese signs.
Just the ‘Ticket’
‘Do not dangle any doll’ conjures up amusing images.
The above amusing sign photographed at the entrance to Wat Arun Temple, Bangkok, Thailand.
Please Do Not Smoke While Walking – Classic Engrish logic
While Engrish is primarily associated with Japanese or Chinese mis-translations, the term is now used to encompass funny malapropisms from other languages.
Kids’ Swear – They Sure Do
Surprisingly, most funny Japanese signs, and especially phrases on garments, are not an attempt to communicate. Japanese designers merely use English as a vehicle to give products a modern look and feel. Incidentally, you can see Engrish in reverse, look out for Japanese or Chinese characters on hats, shirts and tattoos found in English speaking countries.
Shooting Yourself in Foot?
Classic Engrish example – Con Shop
No Dying? Engrish Has Also Spread to China, Where it Known as Chinglish
Engrish has distinct forms, here we have a Malapropism, ‘drying –> ‘dying’. On close inspection I saw a second funny phrase in the above notice. Not only is there ‘Keep table cleaned after dying’, but also there is: ‘Thanks for your corporation’. On the menu was: ‘Hot Bowel of Soup’
Use No Hooks – Handle with Cake
Alternative to Japanese Engrish – Inglish Jokes
Dear sir, with reference to your above see my below – popular opening line in official letters.
- Teachress – a female teacher.
- Timepass – a trivial activity that passes the time.
- She freaked out last night – she had a good time.
- Your lyrical missive has enveloped me in the sweet fragrance of our love – from a book advising lovers on how to write to girlfriends.
- Premesh Patel has left for his heavenly above – a death notice.
- Hue and Cry notice – title of police missing person newspaper advertisement.
Engrish Lessons Appear in the Most Unlikely Places
Engrish is our language. No exetions learn it.
Will and Guy Always Thought the Japanese Were so Courteous – Until we saw this funny Engrish sign
When carrying a parasol please be careful to get in the way of other people around you.
Give me a Winner Any Day
Funny Engrish – Color Loser. I cannot help wondering if the Korean phrase is equally funny.
Please send us your pictures of funny Engrish signs
