Catch Phrase | 翻车现场(fānchē xiànchǎng)

Writer: Debra Li  | Editor: Stephanie Yang  | From:  | Updated: 2019-08-01

Meaning:

“翻车” literally means “a car turning over,” and “现场” means “scene, site.” As Chinese netizens use the term “veteran driver” (老司机) to refer to those with experience and skill in certain things, the term “site of an overturned car” is a metaphor for an unexpected “accident,” usually used jokingly.

Example:

A: 猜猜昨天我在大排档吃小龙虾看见谁了?

Cāicāi zuótiān wǒ zài dàpáidàng chī xiǎolóngxiā kànjiàn shuí le?

Guess who I saw last night at the street corner food stall that sells crawfish?

B: 不知道。

Bù zhīdào。

I have no idea.

A: 要不是亲眼看见我也不信。我看见小丽吃得津津有味,面前的虾壳堆起好高。

Yào búshì qīnyǎn kànjiàn wǒ yě bú xìn。Wǒ kànjiàn xiǎolì chī de jīnjīnyǒuwèi,miànqián de xiāké duī qǐ hǎo gāo。

I wouldn’t believe it if I didn’t see with my own eyes. Xiaoli was totally enjoying her dish, with crawfish shells piling up high in front of her.

B: 真是翻车现场,她不是从来只吃牛油果沙拉这种健康食品吗?

Zhēnshì fānchē xiànchǎng ,tā búshì cónglái zhǐ chī niúyóuguǒ shālā zhèzhǒng jiànkāng shípǐn ma?

What a big surprise. Isn’t she only eating healthy stuff like avocado salad?