I want to donate some signs to a local jogging path that will hopefully encourage the other users to walk/jog a little less selfishly. I want them to say something like this:
靠右邊，一個接一個
Keep Right in Single File
I just did the Chinese using mdgb’s translating function. Could someone please suggest a formal yet polite way of expressing this?
Thanks!
good luck with that.
You could try posting a blank sign. It will have precisely the same effect as one that says “keep right”.
knock a couple on there ass, and watch how they stay out of your way.
actually was done on accident, just imagine if I had of set up and leaned into it.
didn’t hurt the guy, much. and I swear it was an accident.
it works in the grocery store too.
“Single file” seems to be “一列纵队”.
Sometimes, though, it seems that signs in Taiwan are more to prohibit things than to point out correct behavior, so you may want to consider something more along the line of “don’t obstruct the path” or something.
[quote=“ironlady”]“Single file” seems to be “一列纵队”.
Sometimes, though, it seems that signs in Taiwan are more to prohibit things than to point out correct behavior, so you may want to consider something more along the line of “don’t obstruct the path” or something.[/quote]
Thanks for the response! So in your opinion, a better translation would be 靠右邊，一列纵队? About whether to be prohibitive or positive… I think as a foreigner I wouldn’t want to be telling them what they’re doing wrong, just what the correct course of action is.
To the other posters… I’ve found that most Taiwanese who break rules actually know that what they’re doing is wrong and are quite apologetic when reminded of the fact. Having said that, it still probably won’t work but it’s better than griping about it or getting annoyed by it.
WHY is moving in single file the correct course of action?
To the Taiwanese, it probably isn’t.
I would go with “Don’t block the path”. That might seem sensible, at least, although I doubt compliance would be particularly high. After all, outdoor activities are only REALLY fun when you have at least 10 people participating, right?
Not just the jogging path, but bike paths also need such a sign. The other day I was forced off the path by a kid who didn’t know to keep right and nearly ended up in the river.
That’s your own fault for not understanding the rules of the road. Pedestrians have lower social status than bicycle-riders and therefore it is perfectly OK to fling them into the river. The same rule would, shortly after your incident, result in that kid being mangled by a blue van, and kid would have to say ‘bu hao yi si’ to blue-van-driver. And that’s OK too.
Damn, I need a holiday before I start to get cynical.
good on you for trying. but i think they apologise only because they have to.
my gripe is the crowd of friends of four or five who HAVE TO walk SIDE BY SIDE, arm in arm, blocking the entire sidewalk…
The path in question is strictly a walking/running path so no problems with cyclists. However, it’s only about 1.5m wide so if three people are walking side-by-side (or two large/selfish ones) they completely block the path. If you’re running in the opposite direction as them they will always making a decent attempt to get out of the way, but if you’re going in the same direction you need to run off the path (not always possible) or yell “jie-guo” which they probably consider rude.
Many people already walk in single file and have no problems conversing so maybe a few more would also do so with a little reminding.
[quote=“ironlady”]WHY is moving in single file the correct course of action?
To the Taiwanese, it probably isn’t.
I would go with “Don’t block the path”. That might seem sensible, at least, although I doubt compliance would be particularly high. After all, outdoor activities are only REALLY fun when you have at least 10 people participating, right?[/quote]
“Don’t block the path” might be interpreted as “Don’t stand in the path chatting” but what I’m getting at is that people who are using the path as intended (i.e. walking or jogging on it) are still inconveniencing others if they don’t walk in single file as someone who is running faster might want to pass them from behind.
I would just continue to stick with jie-guo. No sign is going to keep them from walking side-by-side imo~
“JIEGuo” is exactly what Taiwanese people would use in that situation…why would it be considered rude? If you want to be warm and fuzzy, add “yIXia” to it. Again, common usage in Taiwan, and considered polite AFAIK.
Let’s take a look at the view from Tai-Cam:
Just to let people know, all cycling paths have signs on them saying that pedestrians have the right of way. That said, I find people are getting much better about keeping to one side as there are enough accidents and incidents every year to drive that in. You can tell the people who are clueless don’t go out very often and they get yelled at by other Taiwanese when the paths are crowded.
Well… I sometimes run pretty quickly so the “jie-guo” is sometimes shouted from 10 meters away to give them time to react. This is also problematic as many are pretty old and hard of hearing (or don’t care) and once one has committed to trying to get them to move out of the way (instead of running off the path and risking a twisted ankle) their failure to do so could result in a bump on the shoulder!
Another positive side effect of having the signs could be that people would get out of the way more quickly when getting told to “jie-guo” as they would definitely know that they’re doing something wrong.
The path in question is exclusively a walking/running path.
Well, best of luck with that…while you’re at it, could you convert all the buxiban bosses and Chinese language school owners to actually teach the language in a useful way? 
Well… I sometimes run pretty quickly so the “jie-guo” is sometimes shouted from 10 meters away to give them time to react. This is also problematic as many are pretty old and hard of hearing (or don’t care) and once one has committed to trying to get them to move out of the way (instead of running off the path and risking a twisted ankle) their failure to do so could result in a bump on the shoulder!
Another positive side effect of having the signs could be that people would get out of the way more quickly when getting told to “jie-guo” as they would definitely know that they’re doing something wrong.
[/quote]
I personally don’t think they are doing anything wrong. I side more on ironlady’s take on it.
Rather than spend money on signs that imo most likely won’t have an effect, and if you don’t want to be yelling because you feel they may get offended at the shout, you could always get yourself a little bike-horn or bell that you could hold in one hand and beep/ding it at the appropriate distance~