(Sibu, June 12) – Sarawak Chinese General Chamber of Commerce president Dato Dr. Ng Biao Sheng commented on the recent humorous incident regarding the translation of "Mee Pok," saying that seeing some translation mishaps is quite amusing, but it also prompts us to reflect on how, in our multilingual environment, mastering multiple languages and understanding local dialects is important.
Dr. Ng Biao Sheng used a Fuzhou proverb, "Thinking the character 'one' is the latch of a cowshed door," as a metaphor, joking that sometimes a single character or sound may seem very simple, but without understanding its linguistic background and real meaning, it can lead to results that are "off by a hair but miss by a mile."
He mentioned that the recent translation issue with "Mee Pok" has created quite a discussion on social media.
Ng pointed out that "Mee Pok" is actually the familiar "面薄 (flat noodles)," referring to a type of flat noodle. "Mee" means "noodle," and "Pok" retains the pronunciation of "薄" (thin) in Chinese dialects; so "Mee Pok" refers to the shape of the noodle and has nothing to do with pork.
"However, if someone is unfamiliar with Chinese dialects and directly associates 'Pok' with the English word 'Pork', a one-character difference makes a completely different meaning."
He joked that what was originally just a familiar bowl of "Mee Pok" almost got misinterpreted as "pork noodles" due to misunderstanding, which can't help but make people smile.
Ng believes that although this funny incident can be seen as a language joke, it also reminds everyone that, as a nation of multiple races, cultures, and languages, we should not have language education move toward singularity but should value multilingual ability even more.
He stated that learning Bahasa Malaysia is of course important, since it is the national official language and an essential communication tool for the populace. At the same time, English is also an extremely important international communication language, playing crucial roles in business, technology, education, and global interaction.
"We certainly should master Bahasa Malaysia, but that does not mean we should neglect English, let alone overlook the many dialects that have been passed down within Chinese communities."
He pointed out that Sarawak, in particular, has a unique multicultural and multilingual environment; besides Mandarin, the Chinese community has preserved Fuzhou, Hokkien, Hakka, Teochew, Cantonese, and other dialects. Meanwhile, the different ethnic groups in Sarawak also have their own rich languages and cultural traditions.
"These languages are not a burden, but our cultural assets. The more languages a child learns, the more windows are opened for them to understand the world and their own culture."
Ng emphasized that the real purpose of language learning is not simply to "score in exams"—more importantly, it is about accurate understanding, expression, and communication.
He joked again that if even a bowl of "Mee Pok" can become a "pork noodles" joke because of a single character, then everyone should realize that translation and language comprehension is never as simple as converting one word to another.
"AI and translation software are getting more advanced, which is a good thing; but no matter how advanced, translation tools still need to be combined with local culture, linguistic background, and context in order to truly achieve accurate translation."
He believes that as we face an era of rapid technological and AI advancement, our education system should cultivate students' proficiency not only in Bahasa Malaysia, English, and Chinese, but also in local dialects and cultural literacy—so the younger generation can both connect internationally and appreciate and treasure their own cultural roots.
Ng concluded that language is meant to promote understanding and communication between people. While we can laugh off translation errors, we should see the bigger meaning behind these "little jokes."
"A difference of one character can cause a joke, but knowing one more language can build an extra bridge of communication."
He also hopes that all sectors of society will adopt a more open and inclusive attitude toward multilingual education, so our country's rich languages and cultures can continue to be passed down.
He mentioned that the recent translation issue with "Mee Pok" has created quite a discussion on social media.
Ng pointed out that "Mee Pok" is actually the familiar "面薄 (flat noodles)," referring to a type of flat noodle. "Mee" means "noodle," and "Pok" retains the pronunciation of "薄" (thin) in Chinese dialects; so "Mee Pok" refers to the shape of the noodle and has nothing to do with pork.
"However, if someone is unfamiliar with Chinese dialects and directly associates 'Pok' with the English word 'Pork', a one-character difference makes a completely different meaning."
He joked that what was originally just a familiar bowl of "Mee Pok" almost got misinterpreted as "pork noodles" due to misunderstanding, which can't help but make people smile.
Ng believes that although this funny incident can be seen as a language joke, it also reminds everyone that, as a nation of multiple races, cultures, and languages, we should not have language education move toward singularity but should value multilingual ability even more.
He stated that learning Bahasa Malaysia is of course important, since it is the national official language and an essential communication tool for the populace. At the same time, English is also an extremely important international communication language, playing crucial roles in business, technology, education, and global interaction.
"We certainly should master Bahasa Malaysia, but that does not mean we should neglect English, let alone overlook the many dialects that have been passed down within Chinese communities."
He pointed out that Sarawak, in particular, has a unique multicultural and multilingual environment; besides Mandarin, the Chinese community has preserved Fuzhou, Hokkien, Hakka, Teochew, Cantonese, and other dialects. Meanwhile, the different ethnic groups in Sarawak also have their own rich languages and cultural traditions.
"These languages are not a burden, but our cultural assets. The more languages a child learns, the more windows are opened for them to understand the world and their own culture."
Ng emphasized that the real purpose of language learning is not simply to "score in exams"—more importantly, it is about accurate understanding, expression, and communication.
He joked again that if even a bowl of "Mee Pok" can become a "pork noodles" joke because of a single character, then everyone should realize that translation and language comprehension is never as simple as converting one word to another.
"AI and translation software are getting more advanced, which is a good thing; but no matter how advanced, translation tools still need to be combined with local culture, linguistic background, and context in order to truly achieve accurate translation."
He believes that as we face an era of rapid technological and AI advancement, our education system should cultivate students' proficiency not only in Bahasa Malaysia, English, and Chinese, but also in local dialects and cultural literacy—so the younger generation can both connect internationally and appreciate and treasure their own cultural roots.
Ng concluded that language is meant to promote understanding and communication between people. While we can laugh off translation errors, we should see the bigger meaning behind these "little jokes."
"A difference of one character can cause a joke, but knowing one more language can build an extra bridge of communication."
He also hopes that all sectors of society will adopt a more open and inclusive attitude toward multilingual education, so our country's rich languages and cultures can continue to be passed down.