It is often difficult for people from different cultural backgrounds to understand one another. On the other hand, this article provides some information about the problems Ethiopians have in understanding the concepts of Western psychiatry. In this study, the Western concepts are contained specifically in the items of the Self-Reporting Questionnaire, a psychiatric case-finding instrument designed by the World Health Organization. On the other hand, this article illustrates how Western-trained health workers often experience grave difficulties in understanding the - in their eyes, often bizarre - complaints of Ethopians seeking help. Western psychiatric jargon is culture-bound, and needs adaptation before being exported to other cultures.