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Google has funny meanings in Chinese

Google has chosen their Chinese logo and name, but Chinese speakers are criticising their choice of brand name. Apparently the Mandarin they chose to represent themselves can sound like: fool, funny, fart.

Folx online have proposed some other words which sound similar to "google", but which in Chinese mean: enough, auntie, ancient dog, dog dog, elder brother, or good dog.

This whole story reminds me a lot of how "Coca-Cola" sounds like "Bite the wax tadpole" in Chinese. (See the Snopes Urban Legends entry about this.)

- Y! MyWeb

Bah!

Storm in a Tea Cup. If you understand Chinese, what they are doing makes sense. But if you don't understand Chinese ...

But then, one could also criticise this venerable site for it's choice of name, I mean, Threadwatch is all about Knitting and Sewing is it not? Or am I missing something?

By Woz at May 2 2006 - 02:17

My vote's for

'gege'

they keep your logs forever... truly the act of a big brother

By Andy Hagans at May 2 2006 - 02:57

not just Google

I just blogged this... Congress is adopting the "do no evil" mantra, too.

http://www.threadwatch.org/node/6466

Why doesn't Google just choose a Chinese sound that means "all powerful"? Too direct?

By John Andrews at May 2 2006 - 07:42

..

Andy, Ge Ge is Older Brother, Big Brother would be Da Ge (pronounced Dah Ger) a subtle difference but an important one in the local culture.

"all powerful"? Too direct?
In China?" Absolutely.

By Woz at May 2 2006 - 08:05

> Ge Ge is Older Brother,

Ge Ge is Older Brother, Big Brother would be Da Ge (pronounced Dah Ger)

Technically yes, but you've never heard gege translated as big brother? :-)

By Andy Hagans at May 2 2006 - 12:27

Hmm

I assumed that Da Ge was oldest brother, and Ge Ge was Big Brother, in which case Laoban Andy wins this round ;)

I say we could always call it AYI ...

By Shak at May 2 2006 - 13:44

Woz

are you a china hand too?

By Andy Hagans at May 2 2006 - 15:19

Da Ge (pronounced Dah Ger)

What are you from the Bei?

Down South we say Dah Guh

By Andy Hagans at May 2 2006 - 15:20

>Woz, are you a china hand

Woz, are you a china hand too?
I have some history there ... and yes, I have a (mostly) northern accent, heavy on the reflexive "R".

I assumed that Da Ge was oldest brother, and Ge Ge was Big Brother,
I guess it depends on in which circles you mix, I would say "15 all".

But then, we digress from the original topic.

Hao Le!

By Woz at May 2 2006 - 23:19