Engrish Bookbag

I’m used to seeing Engrish on t-shirts and on signs, but this is the first time I’ve seen Engrish on a bookbag, apparently designed to be read by the people behind the wearer.

Engrish Bookbag

How about a closeup of that Engrish?

Engrish Bookbag (closeup)

I have to admit, following this guy, I did enjoy the time in spring, and I appreciated to read it. I elected to skip the bathing, but this bag did bring a smile to my face.

Share

John Pasden

John is a Shanghai-based linguist and entrepreneur, founder of AllSet Learning.

Comments

  1. The Kippies Says: April 12, 2011 at 12:54 pm

    But I feel like if you have ever been shopping at 七浦路, there are lots of bags with Chingrish on them….

    • Ah… I definitely don’t do that.

      • The Kippies Says: April 12, 2011 at 4:56 pm

        I haven’t braved it in a long long time, but I do recall stores full of bags with interesting English. Its a good trip for the Engrish/Chinglish/Chingrish(?) connoisseur who doesn’t mind being trailed by an army of watch-bag-dWEd(dvd) salespeople.

  2. Isn’t it called “Chinglish” when it’s in China? “Engrish” is from Japan?

    Posting Chinglish for the laughs just seems like something that China newbies do.

    • To me, “Chinglish” is more fitting when it’s clear that the awkward English is a result of translating straight from Chinese to English, whereas “Engrish” can be more “decoratively” used (as in this example).

      Posting Chinglish for laughs is indeed something that China newbies do, along with debating the perceived superiority of simplified or traditional characters, and a few other things. But it doesn’t mean we can’t revisit them from time to time… I found this one particularly charming.

  3. I got a Winpard backpack at a Beijing Carrefour with “I Shine My Dream”…couldn’t resist.

Leave a Reply