While there is ambiguity present in any translation, the translation of the Mandarin word weiji (危機) has proven particularly controversial. The controversy stems from the following quote from John F. Kennedy, delivered in an Indianapolis speech on April 12, 1959.

The Kennedy Quote

When written in Chinese the word crisis is composed of two characters.

One represents danger,

and the other represents opportunity.

(SOURCES: [1],[2])

A slightly different formulation of the quote is provided below, attributed to the British writer Burejer:

中文的“危机”分为两个字， The Chinese (Wiktionary:中文) word for crisis is divided into two (Wiktionary:两) characters (Wiktionary:字),

一个意味 着危险， one (Wiktionary:一) meaning danger, (Wiktionary:危)

另外一个意味着机会。 and the other meaning opportunity. (Wiktionary:机)

(SOURCE: [3])

(For more character-by-character analysis, use Rikai)

The Controversy

This particular interpretation has gained great popularity in universities, among business consultants, and in the popular press. It is used to communicate the inspirational notion that a crisis should be a time for optimism, by focusing upon the opportunity inherent in this translation. (SOURCES: The Economist, Yaleglobal)

However, this interpretation is controversial, and is considered by some to be a childish and inaccurate representation of the Chinese language. [4]. The controversy is mostly due to differening interpretations of how much optimism should be associated with the character 機. The characters in question are as follows:

• 危機 or 危机 (wei ji or wēijī) -- 'crisis'
• 危 (wei xian) -- 'danger'
• 機 or 机 (ji huay or jīhuì) -- 'opportunity' (or 'crucial point', or 'machine')

A good summary of the issues involved in the translation of this word is available at the Straight Dope. ([5]).