Saturday, January 25, 2020

Robinsons' 'broken' Chinese on CNY decorations has people scratching their heads

Source Website: https://www.asiaone.com/singapore/robinsons-broken-chinese-cny-decorations-has-people-scratching-their-heads
By Kimberly Anne Lim, kimberlylim@asiaone.com,  AsiaOne, 16 January 2020


A Robinsons spokesperson clarified that the 欢乐到笑 Huān lè dào xiào, 'Happiness joy arrives smile' original greetings is a five-character greetings 欢乐数到笑 Huān lè shù dào xiào, 'Happiness joy count until smile'.
PHOTO: A Robinsons spokesperson clarified that the 欢乐到笑 Huān lè dào xiào, 'Happiness joy arrives smile' original greetings is a five-character greetings 欢乐数到笑 Huān lè shù dào xiào, 'Happiness joy count until smile'.
PHOTO: Facebook/SinChineseSg
Picture posted by Kimberly Anne Lim, kimberlylim@asiaone.com,  AsiaOne on 16 January 2020
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https://www.asiaone.com/singapore/robinsons-broken-chinese-cny-decorations-has-people-scratching-their-heads


A Robinsons spokesperson clarified that the five-character greetings 'Cai Bao Shu Dao Fa' and 'Huan Le Shu Dao Xiao' were the original greetings. There was an "error in the adaption of the original message" that was rectified on Wednesday (Jan 15) evening.

Robinsons also apologised if the production error had caused any misunderstandings.

Robinsons' Chinese New Year decor isn't the only thing that's red.

The department store chain was also left red-faced after netizens took to Facebook on Wednesday (Jan 15) to call it out for the nonsensical Chinese phrases it had on display as part of its festive decorations.

Photos shared on the Facebook page SinChineseSg showed two banners that appeared to be displayed at the entrance of a Robinsons store at Raffles City.

The banners read 'Cai Bao Dao Fa' and 'Huan Le Dao Xiao' which loosely translate to 'Wealth treasure arrives prosper' and 'Happiness joy arrives smile'.

Confused? You're not the only one.

The awkwardly phrased greetings which made little sense left many Mandarin-speaking netizens scratching their heads.

The problem? The wording is grammatically incorrect, "very localised" and may be difficult for foreigners to understand, a Chinese Studies lecturer at Ngee Ann Polytechnic told Shin Min Daily News.


财宝到发 Cái bǎo dào fā, 'Wealth treasure arrives' prosper'
PHOTO: 欢乐到笑 Huān lè dào xiào, 'Happiness joy arrives smile'
Picture posted by 新加破华文 on 15 January 2020
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https://www.facebook.com/SinChineseSg/photos/pcb.2249245222039315/2249244998706004/?type=3&theater



Posted by 新加破华文 on 15 January 2020 at 7:00 AM
https://www.facebook.com/SinChineseSg/posts/2249245222039315


Some of the more optimistic netizens could not resist taking a gander at trying to figure out what message Robinsons was trying to get across.


Some of the more optimistic netizens could not resist taking a gander at trying to figure out what message Robinsons was trying to get across.
PHOTO: Some of the more optimistic netizens could not resist taking a gander at trying to figure out what message Robinsons was trying to get across.
Picture posted by Kimberly Anne Lim, kimberlylim@asiaone.com,  AsiaOne on 16 January 2020
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtmr0LjXAjBmSf7zfqRuVbO06idmokpU31yFGBiObFjhQrS5UCvkBV-cFhCRqTJTEJ35cZB4RBhmsbsFZMuA5d4zbrE1Q-WZ18LwRNihRbG-MMdTAGAPAVOSJcQd_5HnNTIQme6iwzmLU/s1600/Robinsons%2527_broken%2527_Chinese_1.png
Robinsons'_broken'_Chinese_1.png
https://www.asiaone.com/singapore/robinsons-broken-chinese-cny-decorations-has-people-scratching-their-heads


But other commenters weren't convinced, taking to the comments section to chew Robinsons out for its abysmal (extremely bad) command of the Chinese language.


But other commenters weren't convinced, taking to the comments section to chew Robinsons out for its abysmal (extremely bad) command of the Chinese language.
PHOTO: But other commenters weren't convinced, taking to the comments section to chew Robinsons out for its abysmal (extremely bad) command of the Chinese language.
Picture posted by Kimberly Anne Lim, kimberlylim@asiaone.com,  AsiaOne on 16 January 2020
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLov4srLdBeo0bscdZG0Vf2xzD4M_pRArnFoHHpo5VMuttWkyjocgZZju27H41fmBkDXICiBV_p9cFj8Kjl6sf6QWUh_VBJIxhzHuomhvVEOBizIte_WFFQ-KslVSBvcjcbWlRrivvOZM/s1600/Robinsons%2527_broken%2527_Chinese_2.png
Robinsons'_broken'_Chinese_2.png
https://www.asiaone.com/singapore/robinsons-broken-chinese-cny-decorations-has-people-scratching-their-heads


Following the criticism online, a Shin Min Daily News reporter visiting the store today (Jan 16) found that the banners had been updated to include a '鼠 shǔ', meaning mouse or rat, a reference to the Year of the Rat.

The word '鼠 shǔ' is also a homonym for the word '数 shù', 'count'.
 

欢乐鼠到笑 Huān lè shǔ dào xiào, 'count happiness and joy until smile'.
PHOTO: 欢乐鼠到笑 Huān lè shǔ dào xiào, 'count happiness and joy until smile'.The word '鼠 shǔ' is also a homonym for the word '数 shù', 'count'. 
PHOTO: Shin Min Daily News
Picture posted by Kimberly Anne Lim, kimberlylim@asiaone.com,  AsiaOne on 16 January 2020
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFZqLQXGRrv_9RIG5FHBuWbZdmQk_GLU0VsNkQilvr_T0qcq95_Ef2boV6SCR9YTEZkNKIkTdqcrdfEBflpl8F5JTC4loo8R08CiSyAyOMxDuVSM4L_3WxeU22GJZ2HVn6mAttlyW7feY/s1600/updatedbanner.png
https://www.asiaone.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/updatedbanner.png
https://www.asiaone.com/singapore/robinsons-broken-chinese-cny-decorations-has-people-scratching-their-heads


The new and improved banners now read 财宝鼠到发 Cái bǎo shǔ dào fā and 欢乐鼠到笑 Huān lè shǔ dào xiào which (more or less) translates to 'count wealth and treasures until prosperous' and  'count happiness and joy until smile'.

Nice try, Robinsons. But it's still a little awkward.

Robinsons did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

But it isn't the only retailer that could benefit from some Chinese lessons.

Local supermarket chain NTUC FairPrice pulled a Chinese New Year T-shirt from stores earlier this week after netizens pointed out how a single Chinese character transformed it from a regular red shirt to a 'funeral' outfit.


The new and improved banners now read 财宝鼠到发 Cái bǎo shǔ dào fā and 欢乐鼠到笑 Huān lè shǔ dào xiào which (more or less) translates to 'count wealth and treasures until prosperous' and  'count happiness and joy until smile'.
PHOTO: The new and improved banners now read 财宝鼠到发 Cái bǎo shǔ dào fā and 欢乐鼠到笑 Huān lè shǔ dào xiào which (more or less) translates to 'count wealth and treasures until prosperous' and  'count happiness and joy until smile'.
Picture saved from nozz21
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https://www.pinterest.com/pin/646618458968337910/?lp=true
 

Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.
Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.
PHOTO: "Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness." (Lamentations 3:22-23).
Picture posted by best-wallpaper.net
gif file generated by Animated Images Effects Generator at http://www.webestools.com/animated-images-effect-generator-effects-gif-images-picture-blog-gif-fx-images-animated-effect.html
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https://best-wallpaper.net/Beautiful-Japanese-girl-kimono-pink-sakura-spring_iphone_wallpaper.html

By Kimberly Anne Lim, kimberlylim@asiaone.com,  AsiaOne, 16 January 2020



Reference
[1] Kimberly Anne Lim, kimberlylim@asiaone.com,  AsiaOne, Robinsons' 'broken' Chinese on CNY decorations has people scratching their heads, posted on 16 January 2020, https://www.asiaone.com/singapore/robinsons-broken-chinese-cny-decorations-has-people-scratching-their-heads


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