The Challenges Of English To Chinese Translation

Despite being two of the most popular languages globally, English and Chinese are very different. They contain many idioms and cultural differences that make them challenging to translate effectively. This is especially true for written content where the slightest change in character composition can alter the meaning of a sentence. The correct understanding of Chinese writing grammar and rules is therefore crucial for creating effective translations.

A major challenge for MRI report translation is the Chinese language itself which has several different dialects, each of which can be completely incomprehensible to another. Even written characters can be pronounced differently in different dialects, as they are logograms which indicate both pronunciation and meaning. Simplified Chinese characters are used in Mainland China, Singapore and oversea regions while Traditional Chinese is still the main form of written Chinese and is taught in Taiwan, Hong Kong and other overseas communities.

Simplified and Traditional Chinese are the most common forms of spoken Chinese, but there are also a number of other regional dialects. These include Wu, Cantonese, Shanghainese and Mandarin. Combined, these dialects have over 1.3 billion speakers worldwide. Among these, a significant percentage are bilingual and use both their native and English language in daily communication. As such, understanding the subtle nuances between Chinese and English is critical for a translator to ensure that their work accurately conveys the intended meaning, culture and emotions across audiences.

In addition to lexicon and pronunciation differences, the Chinese language has very different sentence structures than English. It also uses a number system that differs from the Western numerical system, with symbols representing numbers rather than letters. As a result, sentence structure is key to ensuring that translated text is accurate and readable for your audience.

As a consequence of these unique complexities, working with a native Chinese speaker is essential for producing the most accurate translations possible. Gengo’s native Chinese translators are highly proficient in both Mandarin and Cantonese, as well as a range of regional dialects, allowing them to create effective content that is culturally sensitive and understandable for your target audience.

Using an online Chinese translator is one of the easiest ways to get your translations done quickly and accurately. However, it’s important to choose a translation solution that can handle your specific project requirements.

For example, some solutions may not provide the ability to translate PDF files or scanned documents. Others may only support a limited number of pages for free. For these reasons, it’s important to look for a translation service that offers flexible pricing options and can support your particular file format.

Transphere online translation tool can instantly translate your English content into Chinese while preserving its original layout. The process is quick, easy and convenient, with no need for software installation or download. Start your free trial today and try Transphere for yourself.