4 things to know about chinese translations

4 things to know about chinese translations

You’re ready to enter Asian markets with your product, and to do that, you know you need your material translated into Chinese. Beyond that, you probably don’t have a clue of what you need to properly get your content translated. This post serves as a primer to help guide you to a successful Chinese translation.

1. Dialects in China matter

The primary spoken languages in China are: Mandarin, Cantonese, Wu, and Min. From those, there are dozens of versions, or dialects. By some counts, there are around 8,000 different dialects in China. Not all Chinese citizens speak the same dialect, and what would sell in one part of the country would be left on the shelf a few hundred miles away, if it was translated into a dialect that area didn’t speak.

Know which dialect your target audience prefers. If you plan to introduce your product across all of China, you will need to invest more in translations so that your products are available in all major languages, as well as potentially a few of the primary dialects. This can add to your budget, both in translation costs and printing additional materials for each language.

2. Writing systems are also important

Writing systems for Chinese consist of Simplified or Traditional Characters. It is very important to use the appropriate character type for written documents.

  • Simplified: This written form of Chinese is used in mainland China, as well as in official publications in Singapore and Malaysia.  This form was developed in the 1950’s by the People’s Republic of China in an effort to expand literacy and political control.

  • Traditional: This written form of Chinese is used mainly in Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Macau. Previously, traditional Chinese was more common in the United States than its simplified counterpart. However, as immigration from mainland China grows, the demand for simplified Chinese language documents also increases.

When it comes to translation, you want to use the written system that the majority of people use.

3. Chinese characters don’t make translations easy

Translating English into Chinese is more complex than say, English to French, because we don’t use the same alphabet. In fact, Chinese dialects don’t use an alphabet at all. They use characters that represent sounds or concepts, that then combine to form words or phrases.

If you are paying per word for a Chinese translation, your word count won’t be similar to what the source document in English contains.

Because of the differences in language style, it can be difficult to get a verbatim translation. As an example:

  • Mobile phone translates to 手机 shǒujī, which means “hand device/machine”

Most of the time this isn’t a concern, but if you are translating sensitive material, such as directions for use of a medication, you want to ensure the translator gets the important information across succinctly.

4. Chinese translation isn’t something to skimp on

Because of the intricacies of the language, the different dialects, and the inexactness in translating word for word, it’s all the more important to work with a skilled, professional translator who understands the various dialects of China. You want a translator who can make recommendations about which language your material should be translated into first, as well as whether or not you should translate into other languages or dialects.

This isn’t the time to try out a freelance translator or decide to pull the project in-house. It is important to work with a language service provider with deep experience in Chinese translations — in multiple languages and dialects — especially when you’ve got your chance to enter new markets on the line.

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