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Words illusion

2 Batmen or 1 Wolverine?

optical illusion

The same image can offer >1 interpretations. Image seen on Pinterest.

(sidetrack: is Batmen the correct plural form of Batman? Never crossed my mind, until now, to consider a need to have plural form for 2 Bruce Waynes)

The beauty of the Chinese language is such that the same sentence / phrase, when read differently, may sometimes yield alternative interpretations. Of course, if you are coming from the other side of the learning curve, you might say that this is a scary rather than charming feature of the Chinese language system.

Consider this seemingly uncomplicated phrase: 爱上一个人 ài shàng yī ge rén.

Let's see if you can get all 4 interpretations. The difference lies in where the emphasis is placed and some tonal changes for the word 个.

5 words, 1 phrase, 4 different meanings

Share it with others and see if they get it :)

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