Slang Name：At KFC, We do Chicken Right
Chinese：在肯德基，我们做鸡是对的
Type：Food & Drink / Chinglish Slang
English：
A legendary Chinglish slogan mistranslation. The intended English slogan was "We Do Chicken Right" (我们做好鸡), but in Chinese context, "做鸡" (zuò jī) is also slang for "to work as a prostitute." The phrase became an infamous example of cross-cultural marketing fails that went viral worldwide.
中文：
传奇的中式英语标语误译。原意是"We Do Chicken Right"（我们做好鸡），但在中文语境中"做鸡"也是"做妓女"的俚语。这个短语成为跨文化营销失败的经典案例，全球爆红。
This slogan was spotted on Chinese KFC storefronts in the 2000s. The Chinese text "我们做鸡是对的" can be read two completely different ways because "做鸡" is a well-known Chinese slang term. Photos of the sign went viral and became a textbook example of why cultural context matters in translation.
📌 Example 1
Showing a photo:
"Look at this KFC sign. At KFC, we do chicken right."
"Wait... do they mean chicken the food or..."
给朋友看照片：
"看这个肯德基招牌。"
"等等……他们说的是鸡还是……"
📌 Example 2
Online comment:
"This is the greatest translation fail of all time."
"I can never look at KFC the same way again."
网上评论：
"这是史上最伟大的翻译失误。"
"我再也无法直视肯德基了。"
📌 Example 3
Language class discussion:
"'At KFC, we do chicken right' — what is the double meaning here?"
"The whole class burst out laughing."
语言课讨论：
"At KFC, we do chicken right——这里的双重含义是什么？"
"全班都笑翻了。"
📌 Example 4
Marketing lesson:
"This is why you hire native translators."
"Or at least someone who knows what '做鸡' means."
营销课：
"这就是为什么你要雇母语翻译。"
"或者至少找一个知道做鸡什么意思的人。"
📌 Example 5
Tourist photo caption:
"Found this gem in China. At KFC, we do chicken... right?"
"Chinglish at its finest."
游客照片配文：
"在中国发现的宝贝。在肯德基，我们做鸡……是正确的？"
"最纯粹的中式英语。"
📌 Example 6
Chatting with friends:
"What's your go-to fast food?"
"KFC. Because they do chicken right. Literally."
朋友聊天：
"你最喜欢的快餐是什么？"
"肯德基。因为他们做鸡是对的。字面意思。"
Dragon's beard candy
龙须糖
A traditional Chinese candy made from pulled sugar into thousands of thin thread...
One more bowl
再来一碗
A simple but powerful Chinglish request: "one more bowl please!" Used when you w...
Dry pot
干锅
Cooking style in a dry pot with spices.
Explode the chicken
爆炒鸡
Menu translation where "stir-fry" (爆炒) was mistakenly translated as "explode"
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