Ease of Gas Retention
From Brazil, reader Joao (a long time Japanese student) sent in a photo of this young man proudly displaying his cool tattoo at a party.
Besides the fact the characters are poorly written, the true meaning of the tattoo may not be as what the owner intended.
氣 (air, gas, steam, vapor; spirit), 止 (stop, halt, desist; detain), 康 (peaceful, quiet; happy, healthy), could be interpreted as “ease of gas retention”.
Perhaps this is some kind of viral ad campaign by makers of gas-relief medications?
T-shirts Giveaway sponsored by Hanzismatter and Jlist.com
Besides the fact the characters are poorly written, the true meaning of the tattoo may not be as what the owner intended.
氣 (air, gas, steam, vapor; spirit), 止 (stop, halt, desist; detain), 康 (peaceful, quiet; happy, healthy), could be interpreted as “ease of gas retention”.
Perhaps this is some kind of viral ad campaign by makers of gas-relief medications?
T-shirts Giveaway sponsored by Hanzismatter and Jlist.com
Bad Hanzi in Beijing
Joel Martinsen of Danwei.org has sent me this scan from a newspaper in Beijing.
Although Hanzi Smatter mostly focuses on the misuse of Chinese characters in Western culture, I had to comment about this. Especially the glaring error in the story has embarrassed Beijing City’s Traffic Bureau.
(larger view)
The painted 人行步道 (pedestrian crossing) has an extra dot in 步.
I should also point out that in Japanese, 步 does indeed include the extra dot.
Related: "SOTP" and "SHCOOL"
Update: March 24, 2006 - UN to Stop Using Traditional Chinese Characters after 2008.
T-shirts Giveaway sponsored by Hanzismatter and Jlist.com
Although Hanzi Smatter mostly focuses on the misuse of Chinese characters in Western culture, I had to comment about this. Especially the glaring error in the story has embarrassed Beijing City’s Traffic Bureau.
(larger view)
The painted 人行步道 (pedestrian crossing) has an extra dot in 步.
I should also point out that in Japanese, 步 does indeed include the extra dot.
Related: "SOTP" and "SHCOOL"
Update: March 24, 2006 - UN to Stop Using Traditional Chinese Characters after 2008.
T-shirts Giveaway sponsored by Hanzismatter and Jlist.com
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