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A translation firm has published a list of humourous mistranslations spotted on signs in hotels around the world.
The list of mistranslations include one sign in Thailand which requests guests not to bring “solicitors” into their rooms, while one sign in a Japanese hotel invites guests to “Take advantage of the chambermaid”.
Tongue Tied is a translation, interpreting and typesetting company based in Sussex UK.
While the list may be amusing to the outsider, for those hotels in the UK looking to market themselves to overseas visitors, it’s a lesson in due-diligence and avoiding any potential word gaffes.
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The full list of mistranslated signs:
Paris: “Please leave your values at the front desk”
Switzerland: “Our wines leave you nothing to hope for”
Norway: “Ladies are requested not to have children in the bar”
Vienna: “In case of fire, do your utmost to alarm the hotel porter”
Bucharest: “The lift is being fixed for the next day. During that time we regret that you will be unbearable”
Moscow: “If this is your first visit to the USSR, you are welcome to it”
Japan: “Guests are requested not to smoke or do other disgusting behaviors in bed”
Japan: “You are invited to take advantage of the chambermaid”
Thailand: “Please do not bring solicitors into your room”
Nairobi: “Customers who find our waitresses rude ought to see the manager”
Acapulco: “The manager has personally passed all the water served here”
Tokyo: “Is forbitten to steal hotel towels please. If you are not person to do such thing is please not to read notis”
Japan: “Please to bathe inside the tub”
Leipzig: “Do not enter the lift backwards, and only when lit up”
Belgrade: “To move the cabin, push button for wishing floor. If the cabin should enter more persons, each one should press a number of wishing floor. Driving is then going alphabetically by national order”
Athens: “Visitors are expected to complain at the office between the hours of 9 and 11am daily”
Switzerland: “Special today – no ice cream”
Tokyo: “Special cocktails for the ladies with nuts”
Finland: “To stop the drip, turn cock to right”
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