Description: Three panels. The first panel is a picture of a sign on a window with Chinese that tells people to not to throw things out the window. There is a poor English translation on the sign that says “Do not shit in the air like a god.” The second panel is D.W. from Arthur glaring at the sign. The third panel is D.W. saying “That sign won’t stop me because I can’t read!”

  • lugal@lemmy.ml
    3·
    10 months ago

    Is that just a terrible translation or a metaphor non Chinese people don’t get or something in between?

    • Malgas@beehaw.orgEnglish
      3·
      10 months ago

      The image is pretty blurry, but I’m seeing:

      窗户己限位请勿高空抛物

      Which Google translate renders as “The windows are limited. Please do not throw objects at high altitudes.” Which still seems kind of mangled, but at least resembles something potentially reasonable.

      Maybe someone who actually speaks the language will show up to help us out.

        • Malgas@beehaw.orgEnglish
          1·
          10 months ago

          So is that a transcription error on my part, or is the original image nonsense?

            • lugal@lemmy.ml
              1·
              10 months ago

              Leads me to my next question: do you have any clue how the wrong translation came into existence?

                • beq@feddit.ch
                  2·
                  10 months ago

                  You’re right, although it looks like they deliberately omitted some prepositions any conjunctions to save space. All the important elements are there, so it should be understandable by native speakers, but I guess that in speech, you would probably have to add a few more words in to make yourself understood a little more easily.

          • RandomStickman@kbin.social
            1·
            10 months ago

            No, you read it right. It’s kinda awkward to me as well, but I think it means that the opening is limited, like you can’t completely open the window beyond just a crack, to curb littering.