Japan’s McDonalds Japanese

Sometimes I’m not sure if Japanese is more confusing when you don’t understand a word… Or when you understand just enough to realize how confusing it really can be.

パワーの力 - pawaa no chikara - Powers Power.

So, Power’s Power you say. What does that mean? Well I’ll tell you. It means Power’s Power. Kinda like Weakness’s Weakness. Or Might’s Might. You get the pattern?

Remember Mighty Mouse?

What in the world…

And I think that anyone smart enough to figure out what this ad is trying to say, Japanese or not, is [u]not[/u] going to need the hiragana for 力…

Just to be fair. The character 力 DOES have other meanings. Checking over at Breen’s Dictionary…

Power:

力 【ちから; りき; りょく】 (ちから) (n) force; strength; energy; might; power; agency; authority; influence; vigor; stress; emphasis; exertions; endeavors; efficacy; help; support; good offices; ability; faculty; capability; attainment; means; resources; (りき) (n) strength; (りょく) ; (n-suf) strength; power; SP

So… Maybe this means “Power’s Vigor”.

And therefore isn’t weird at all…

Hey. Is this some kind of witty pun that I’m just not understanding? Normally I’m good at this kinda gag… But this… I just don’t get it!

- Harvey