"Open the Light"? 10 Direct Translation Errors You Didn't Know You Were Making
If you are bilingual, "Chinglish" happens when you translate Chinese (or local dialect) logic directly into English. It makes perfect sense to us in Singapore, but it can sound confusing to everyone else.
10 Common Examples
Why it matters
Using these phrases doesn't mean your English is "bad," but it does sound informal. In a professional setting, or when speaking to overseas clients, these small errors can make communication harder than it needs to be.
Deep Dive Scenario: The Misunderstood Project Update
The "Can or Not" Confusion
During a Zoom call with US stakeholders, a local developer, Tan, wanted to know if the timeline was feasible. He asked:
"So for this deadline, can or not?"
The room went silent. The directness felt aggressive to the US team, who weren't used to the efficient Singlish syntax.
Better Approach: "Is this deadline feasible for everyone?" or "Are we able to meet this timeline?" This small shift maintains the professional tone expected in global business.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Why do we say "Open the light"?
Attributes to the Chinese phrase "Kai Deng" (开灯). "Kai" can mean "Open" (like a door) or "Switch on" (like a machine). In English, we strictly "open" things that can physically close, and "turn on" electronics.
2. Is it rude to use Singlish at work?
It depends on the audience. With local colleagues at lunch? Totally fine. In a formal presentation or written report? Avoid it. Using standard English shows professionalism and respect for clarity.
3. How do I stop direct translating in my head?
Read more standard English content (news, books). The more you expose your brain to correct English sentence structures, the less you will rely on your native language's logic to form sentences.
Solution
Hard to break old habits? Ai Grammar Buddy is trained to catch these specific logic errors that standard spell checkers often miss.
Stop translating. Start thinking in English.