Top 6 Chinglish Mistakes
What is Chinglish
Chinese + English = Chinglish!
A mixture of Chinese and English.
When Chinese people speak poor
English and when Americans speak
poor Chinese.
For example, an American might say
• 谢谢你们很多
• Why? Because in English you say
“Thank you very much.”
• Is this good Chinese? No. Instead you
should say 非常感谢你们
In English, you sometimes make
similar mistakes
•Today : Become aware
of the most common
mistakes so that we can
change bad oral English
habits!
1. Going to + Country
Going to + City
Wrong:
I am going to the France.
I am going to the Paris.
Right:
I am going to France.
I am going to Paris.
Which is correct?
a. I am going to Milan tomorrow to see my
sister.
b. I am going to the Paris tomorrow.
c. Next week I am going to the China.
d. I want to go to the Beijing.
Which is correct?
a. I am going to Milan tomorrow to see my
sister.
b. I am going to the Paris tomorrow.
c. Next week I am going to the China.
d. I want to go to the Beijing.
Where are you going?
Where are you going?
2.He and She
• Why is it a common mistake? Because in
Chinese 她 and 他 are both pronounced “ta”,
so you don’t have to think about gender when
speaking Chinese
• In English, you say and write the pronouns
differently
• Stop, think, don’t just say he
• Which is correct?
– She is watching a movie.
– He is watching a movie.
a. She is washing her hair.
b. He is washing his hair.
Please describe the image.
What are they doing?
3. Be Careful or Take care + of + _____.
Wrong:
• “Take Care”
• Chinese people often say “take care” instead of “be
careful”
Right:
• Be careful OR
• Take care + of + someone or something.
•
•
•
•
Take care of your sister.
You are sick, you should take care of yourself.
Please take care of the dog when I am away next week.
Take care + of + somebody/something.
• Yesterday, I went to the doctor because I am
sick.
• Oh no, you should go home and __________.
• A. take care.
• B. you sick.
• C. take care of yourself.
• Tom: It is snowing outside.
• Sarah: Be careful, don’t slip and fall.
4. Happy every day
• Wrong:
– Happy every day.
• Right
– Subject + verb + happy every day.
– I am happy every day.
– She is happy every day.
– I want to be happy every day.
• Alicia: Tomorrow is Spring Festival, you must be
very happy!
• Tom: ______________________, even when I
have exams!
•
•
•
•
A: Happy every day!
B: I am happy every day
C: Happy all the time
D: Every day happy
5. You’re Welcome
• “Thank you for the birthday presents!
• “No thanks”
• Why do you say no thanks, because in Chinese
you say 不谢, but this is wrong in English
• Thank you for the birthday presents!
• You’re welcome!
Sarah: Happy Birthday Laura, here is a
small gift.
Laura: Wow, thanks so much.
Sarah: ____________.
A. No Thanks
B. You’re welcome
• A: Thank you for the red pocket money that
you gave me on the Chinese New Year!
• B: You’re welcome!
• Did anyone give you red pocket money for the
New Year? Did you say thank you ?
6. Why? Because ____.
- Why do you believe in ghosts?
- No why.
Why do you believe in ghosts?
Option 1: I believe in ghosts because _____.
Option 2: I can’t explain why I believe in ghosts, I
just do.
•
•
•
•
Timothy: Do you believe in UFOs?
Nina: Yes.
Timothy: Why?
Nina: I can’t explain why, I just do.
•
•
•
•
Person A: Do you like eating chocolate ?
Person B: No, I hate it!
Person A: Why?!
Person B: I don’t know why, I just do.
• Do you like scary movies?
• No, I don’t like scary movies because after I
can’t sleep.
Review:
•
•
•
•
•
•
1. Going to + country, going to + city
2. He/she
3. Be careful/ take care of + _____
4. I am happy every day.
5. You’re welcome
6. Because/ I just do.
Please find the mistakes!
Yesterday, I caught a cold and my mother was
very angry. She said “take care”! She reminded
me that next week I am taking the train to go to
the Beijing to visit the Great Wall of China. If I
am sick, then I won’t be able to go which would
be too bad. I said to her “Mother, I will try to
take care of myself all week”. Her mother said
“Good, thank you” and her daughter replied “I
am a very luck girl, happy every day.”
Please find the mistakes!
Yesterday, I caught a cold and my mother was
very angry. She said “take care of yourself”! She
reminded me that next week I am taking the
train to go to the Beijing. If I am sick, then I
won’t be able to go which would be too bad. I
said to her “Mother, I will try to take care of
myself all week”. Her mother said “Good, thank
you” and her daughter replied “I am a very luck
girl, I am happy every day.”
Write a dialogue using at least 3 of
these English rules!
•
•
•
•
•
•
1. Going to + country, going to + city
2. He/she
3. Be careful/ take care of + _____
4. I am happy every day.
5. You’re welcome
6. Because/ I just do.