Chinglish, Silk Market and Chinese Medicine

Signs are one of the more amusing parts of life in Beijing because of the translations or “Chinglish”. Usually you can figure out what the sign is trying to communicate but the ungrammatical or nonsensical English can be a challenge.

Beware of Grass

This picture was taken near an outdoor café in downtown Beijing.

Walmart Bathroom Sign

This picture was taken in the bathroom at Walmart. I thought it was funny because of the concern for the potential thief’s future and reputation.

Sign at Entrance of Silk Market

This sign has nothing to do with chinglish, but I thought it was funny because it was in the entrance of the Silk Market. The Silk Mark is probably the most famous market in China for selling fake hand bags, watches, shirts, jackets etc. An interesting note is that people were selling a variety of fake Columbia clothes. I did not know Columbia had an international market. The best part about the fake jackets was that they said Made in Portland Oregon and had Gore-Tex, neither of which is true.

Chinese Muscle Pain Relief Medicine

As most of you know, I hurt back before I left for China, which has made sight-seeing difficult at times. When LS’s coworker took us for a tour of the hutongs and Tiananmen Square, I had to often stop and rest my back. The next day at the office he gave to LS some Chinese medicine for me to use on my back. It was really thoughtful of him and the medicine did in fact help my back.

The Chinese believe different parts of animals are important for health and wellness. The Musk Strength Bone Plaster was one such medicine that had deer pheromones. It worked like the Icy Hot Patches you stick on for sore or pulled muscles. The plaster had a strong smell, which consisted of a mix of vics-vapor rub and the deer scent you put on when you go hunting. When the plaster is applied a hot a heating sensation is felt and the muscles relax, thus the pain relief.

Ingredients and Warnings

I included a picture of the back of the Musk Strength Bone Plaster because I thought the ingredients were interesting and the Chinglish was funny (The Contradictions section is the best).