Machine Translation Gone Wrong: How “🎈🎈休闲” Becomes “Casual (Category 99)”

When "Balloons" Become "Category 99": A Machine Translation Blooper

A while ago, I was hired to review a machine-translated gaming market report. It was, for the most part, pretty straightforward – until I stumbled upon one "suspicious"-looking translation that stopped me in my tracks.

So, this particular translation was part of an infographic. The original infographic featured two balloons and the Chinese word “休闲” (which, in this context, referred to casual games). The two balloons were clearly meant to symbolise leisure or fun.

(See a screenshot of the actual infographic below!)

Yet, the English translation read:

Casual (Category 99)

Wait… what?!

How on earth did that happen?

Checking the Excel spreadsheet containing the source text and the translation against the original infographic solved the mystery.

Somehow, the machine translation tool had “seen” the two balloons and mistook them for the numerals 99 — presumably thanks to its built-in OCR (optical character recognition) function.

So the system thought the source text said “99 休闲” and dutifully translated it as “Casual (Category 99)”. (Yep, "Casual 99" was not good enough – the machine translation software decided to add the word "category" to give it more refinement!)

It’s both hilarious and horrifying – the kind of error no human translator would ever make, yet completely understandable once you know how MT engines process images and text.

What this teaches us

The JOY of Machine Translation Post-Editing (MTPE)... Oh well. At least I had a good laugh!

Funny as it is, this little blooper highlights a few serious lessons for everyone involved in the translation chain:

For translators:

Always look beyond the text. If you’re reviewing MT output, check the visuals, source files, and layout elements. Machines can misread icons, diagrams, or stylised fonts – and you will be the last line of defence.

For agencies:

MTPE isn’t just “proofreading faster.” It’s a distinct skill requiring linguistic intuition, cultural awareness, and real attention to detail. Treat it – and pay for it – accordingly.

For clients:

Machine translation can save time and budget, but it still needs a human brain to make sense of nuance, context, and (apparently) balloons. Always factor professional review into your workflow – or your audience might end up asking themselves what the heck "Casual (Category 99)" actually means!

The bigger picture

Machine translation has come a long way, and tools with OCR and image-text integration are becoming more common. But as this story shows, the technology just isn't quite there yet. In the meantime, CONTEXT IS EVERYTHING when it comes to producing an accurate translation that makes sense.

That’s why, even in the age of AI, the "human touch" (what a charming phrase) is not optional. It's essential, especially when your company or organisation's reputation is at stake.

Over to you:

Have you ever come across a translation blooper that made you laugh (or cry)? Share it in the comments – I might just feature it in a follow-up post!