I Lost a Translation Job Over “Face” (And Called My Boss a Bastard)
Mailbag episode
Mandarin Monkey Podcast · Mandarin Monkey Ltd
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Show Notes
This week’s mailbag episode is… painful.
• A freelance translator loses a business contract because he didn’t understand 面子 (miànzi).
• Someone tries to compliment their manager… and accidentally calls him a bastard.
• Another listener’s Chinese name sounds dangerously close to “horse sh*t.”
We talk about cultural competence in business Mandarin, tone disasters, gaming as a language-learning method, and why choosing a Chinese name is more serious than you think.
If you’ve ever made a language mistake that keeps you awake at night, this one’s for you.
Don’t lose confidence. Just don’t translate “losing face” word for word.
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