(China Daily)
Updated: 2008-02-26 11:49

One of China's most established food brands has adopted an English name, "Go Believe", which sounds like its bizarre Chinese name Goubuli, or "Dogs wouldn't care".

The Tianjin Goubuli Corporation, a Tianjin-based, 150-year-old maker of steamed buns, started displaying its English name at branch restaurants yesterday.

"The English name sounds similar to its Chinese counterpart, and it is positive and meaningful by highlighting the trustworthiness of the company," Zhang Yansen, chairman of the group, said.

"We hope it can be better understood and trusted by foreign guests," he said.

However, some have criticized the bun-maker's new name on the Internet .

"The phrase 'Go believe' is grammatically wrong. And it's hard to connect this superficial name with the century-old famous one," one person said.

The Goubuli name first appeared in 1858 and there have been various explanations for the moniker since.

One of the most popular stories has it that a poor village boy nicknamed Gouzai (puppy) went to Tianjin and apprenticed at a food shop when he was 14. He started his own business selling stuffed steamed buns years later. Business was brisk and Gouzai became so busy at his shop that he had no time to speak with customers.

They complained then that "Gouzai sells buns but does not speak to people". This was later shortened to goubuli, which means "Gouzai does not pay attention to others".

Xinhua

(China Daily 02/26/2008 page5)