A Beijing bus shelter displayed mistranslated public service slogans—‘Close Love’ for ‘Care’ and ‘Become Your Person’ for ‘Adulthood’—sparking criticism. Operators admitted purchasing translations from paid online services.

Social Context

Public signage translation falls under the 2021 Language Law, requiring government review for accuracy and cultural appropriateness. Outsourcing to unvetted platforms violates municipal procurement rules—Beijing’s 2023 Public Communication Standards mandate certified linguists for all official bilingual content.

Safety Tip

Verify translations via the State Council’s ‘Chinese-English Terminology Database’ before approving public materials; use AI tools only for drafts, not final output.