Picture Time!: Transformers Bumper Sticker

CAN YOU READ THIS?

  

Too small? Let's zoom in...

Background info: These pictures were taken while I was driving to work one morning and saw that the car in front of me had an interesting bumper sticker.

Scoring:

If you can read and recognize all the characters on the first try by using the first picture, give yourself FIVE points.
If you can read and recognize all the characters after seeing the zoomed-in picture, give yourself FOUR points.
If you can read some characters, but not others, and still guessed the meaning of the characters that you didn't recognize correctly, give yourself THREE points.
If you can read some characters, but not others, and couldn't not fill in the gaps with an educated guess, give yourself TWO points.
If you can't read it at all, give yourself ONE point for even trying!

If you recognized the Transformers logo, good for you!

I've always wanted to do this for a long time, which is to start a picture recognition series! Let's learn all the Chinese we can by walking the streets and viewing interesting signage. To be able to read actual signs boosts our confidence and educates us as well. I will start posting pictures from time to time on my blog for the more advance Chinese students and you never know if a sign will be in traditional characters or simplified characters. I might catch you off guard. I would be interested to know how many points each reader obtained so if you have time, please drop me a comment at the end of each post!

Now, I shall reveal the answer!

WRITING SYSTEM: TRADITIONAL

保持距離

Jyutping: bou2 ci4 keoi5 lei4

Pinyin:  bao3 chi2 ju4 li2

Literally:

protect maintain distance leave/separate

別逼我變形

Jyutping: bit6 bik1 ngo5 bin3 jing4

Pinyin: bie2 bi1 wo3 bian4 xing2

Literally:

don’t force me change shape

Actual Connotation / English Meaning:

Maintain distance

Don't force me to transform!

A few words of vocabulary to note:

保持 = maintain
距離 = actual distance

別逼我 = don't force me
變形 = to change shape or morph. In our case, it can definitely mean to transform since the message is related to the Transformers.

Now, you should be able to:

1. Read the traditional characters
2. Write the traditional characters
3. Say the phrase in Cantonese
4. Say the phrase in Mandarin
5. Be able to type it out on your computer using the Pinyin or Jyutping method!

Go go go!



Even I have to study this myself.
See you next time! Keep track of your points! :)