《英语-科技写作与沟通技巧》Avoid Chinglish

1、 China English if you want life, I have one! 要钱没有，要命一条 Major causes of Chinglish found in Chinese students English writing 1. The misuse of words Examples: A. I forgot my pen in the classroom. (I left my pen in the classroom.) B. Alcoholic drinks are harmful to your body. (Alcoholic drinks are harmf

2、ul to your health.) C. My car tire was broken on the highway. (I got a flat tire on the highway.) D. The old man made a living by catching fish. (The old man made a living by fishing.) 2. The misuse of collocations Examples: A. learn knowledge (acquire, obtain knowledge) B. raise flowers and raise a

3、 cat (grow flowers and keep a cat) C. make dinner （cook or prepare dinner） D. The note writes (The note reads.) 3. Redundancy Examples: A. We should further improve Sino-US relations. (We should improve Sino-US relations.) B. Such practices must be firmly banned. (Such practices must be banned.) C.

4、It is a great event with historical significance. （It is a historic event.） D. My mum went to the shops to buy things for me yesterday. (My mum went shopping for me yesterday.) 4. Improper grammar Examples: A. Because it is very late, so they had to go home. (Because it is very late, they had to go

5、home.) B. Looking from the mountain top, the city appears vey beautiful. (Seen from the mountaintop, the city appears very beautiful.) C. If I have wings, I will fly back to my hometown. （I f I had wings, I would fly back to my hometown.） D. There are more than 200 guests took part in their party. (

6、More than 200 guests attended their party.) 5. Cultural differences Examples: A. Dont be as timid as a mouse. (Dont be chicken-hearted.) B. Children should not watch yellow books. (Children should not read porn books.) C. He was caught in the pouring rain and returned home as wet as a drowned chicke

7、n. （He was caught in the pouring rain and returned home as wet as a downed rat.） D. Have you eaten? Where have you been? (How are you? How are you doing? How are things?) 6. Differences between Chinese and English modes of thinking Examples: A. The clock on the wall is not correct. (The clock on the

8、 wall does not keep good time.) B. Our university library has a lot of books on arts and humanities. （There are a lot of books on arts and humanities in our university library.） D. At the turn of the century, Chinas economy got a substantial development. (The turn of the century witnessed a substant

9、ial development in Chinas economy.) Chinese Chinglish English Chinese Chinglish English 1: 1:干锅鱼头干锅鱼头 fuck a fishhead fuck a fishhead Dry pot fishhead Dry pot fishhead 2: 2:四喜丸子四喜丸子 Glad Meatballs Glad Meatballs Four-Joy Meatballs Four-Joy Meatballs 3: 3: 宫保鸡丁宫保鸡丁 Government abuse chicken Government

10、 abuse chicken Kung Pao Chicken Kung Pao Chicken 4: 4:口水鸡口水鸡 spit Chicken spit Chicken Steamed Chicken with Chili Sauce Steamed Chicken with Chili Sauce 5: 5:红烧狮子头红烧狮子头 burnt lions head burnt lions head Stewed Pork Ballin Brown Sauce Stewed Pork Ballin Brown Sauce 6: 6:夫妻肺片夫妻肺片 Man and Wife lung slice Man and Wife lung slice Pork Lungs in Chili Sa