An example of what I mean:
I, in China, told an English speaking Chinese friend I needed to stop off in the bathroom to “take a shit.”
He looked appalled and after I asked why he had that look, he asked what I was going to do with someone’s shit.
I had not laughed so hard in a while, and it totally makes sense.
I explained it was an expression for pooping, and he comes back with, “wouldn’t that be giving a shit?”
I then got to explain that to give a shit means you care and I realized how fucked some of our expressions are.
What misunderstandings made you laugh?
Similar story! I teach Capoeira, am not Beasilian. Part of the tradition is coming up with students’ “apelido”, like an alias for them as a martial artist. We try to pick things that are cool, or ironically amusing (but kind).
Well there’s this bigger teenage boy in my class who’s getting REALLY strong. Great kid. Sings real strong too. Has been hitting the weights I think.
“Cannon”. I thought. “That’s badass and not too elaborate. He’s loud and he hits hard. Perfect!” So I look up the translation and submit my suggestions.
“That’s gonna need a change…” my Professor says with a chuckle.
“…Canhão means ‘lesbian’.”
Where does this slang come from?!? My research gave zero indication of this possibility lmao. SO glad he double checked me.
Similarly confusing, a lot of Capoeira songs feature the lyrics “vamo vadia” which I’m told is like, “Let’s go hang out / loiter / chill.” According to google translate…vadia directly means “removed.”
This beautiful language intimidates me. 😂
Ok that’s badass