Foreigners living and working in Beijing can now give their opinions on the language difficulties their face in capital as part of a new government survey.

Results of the poll, which has been launched by the foreign affairs office and will run until June, will go toward helping officials in building Beijing into an international city.

"Language can be a great barrier for foreigners in Beijing," said Zhang Qian, deputy director of the office and director of Beijing Speaks Foreign Languages.

"The survey aims to improve Beijing's foreign language environment and make visits, work and study more convenient and comfortable."

Questions include expats' difficulties in using public services, such as the 120, 119 and 999 emergency hotlines, as well as taxis, buses and subways.

The survey is also aimed at mining people's experiences at restaurants, banks, hospitals, post offices, galleries, shops and airports.

Zhang told METRO that, with more foreigners arriving in Beijing all the time, the city needs to update and improve its services, including presenting more accurate translations in public places and more foreign-oriented content in newspapers, magazines and television programs.

"Catering better to foreigners will bring plenty of benefits to locals too, as strengthened communication will enhance mutual understanding and bring more opportunities of collaboration in many aspects," she said.

This is the first time the foreign affairs office has conducted such a survey, although officials now plan to make it an annual project to drive designs to create a truly cosmopolitan city.

In addition to the poll, the government will organize more foreign language lessons for Chinese residents and set up more multilingual service platforms.

Volunteers with language skills will also be stationed throughout the city to help those in need.

Streets signs, government and social organizations, positions and titles will also be further standardized to eradicate Chinglish translations.

Michael Schimd, a 39-year-old German tourist on a 1-week excursion to Beijing, said he ha already seen several signs that made him laugh out loud.

"Improper translations are not rare in Beijing," he said. "I saw one by a lake in a park that read: 'Falling into water carefully'. Another on a roadside bin read: 'Garbage throws in here' and 'Cigarette butt throws in absolutely not to'."

And it is not only foreigners who notice bad translations, Chinese learning English have also come across sidesplitting signs.

For Ding Yan, a senior student at University of Science and Technology, who takes great interest in reading amusing public signs, Beijing has far fewer funny translations compared to several years ago, although it is still not too hard to find one.

"Just a few days ago, I saw a sentence on the door of a public toilet in a hutong in Qianmen that said: "This WC is free of washing. Please leave off'. Isn't it funny?"

To take part in the survey, log on to the government's official English website, ebeijing.gov.cn or the Beijing Speaks Foreign Languages website, bjenglish.com.cn.