The most detailed China translation rules needed to follow

Chinese is one of the languages with very high difficulty but is extremely popular. A Chinese translation has a lot of rules for the translation of sentences, paragraphs, and meaning. In the article below, Tomato Media will help you gather some basic yet necessary Chinese translation rules for both learners and translators.

Tomato Media is also a high-quality Chinese translation and interpretation company; contact us immediately if you need this service!

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Chinese translation rules: literal but not “word by word”

The forbidden point in the Chinese translation rules is the word-by-word translation. Chinese has ideographs as its characteristic. In addition, there is also a difference between the meaning, usage of traditional Chinese and simplified Chinese. The word creates diversity in the manner of writing, the rules of pronunciation and the meaning of the word.

The way of writing in Chinese is very diverse and rich. A translator’s task is to translate closely with the meaning of the original text but not mechanically translate each word. There should be a connection in a sentence, between sentences, and between sentences and paragraphs.

Sometimes, due to the characteristics of works of literature or books, a translation needs to be quite free without being limited to literal words. However, it is still necessary to follow the principle of retaining the main meaning that the original text wants to convey.

Chinese sentence translation rules

The next Chinese translation rule to pay attention to is sentence translation. Chinese sentences are sometimes quite complex and varied. Therefore, to translate Chinese correctly, it is necessary to master the important rules of translating Chinese sentences:

For example:

For example:

In Chinese, modal verbs are always preceded by place nouns

For example:

For example:

For example:

For example:

Respond to correct, sufficient and in-depth information about expertise and fields to be translated

In order to create a complete, professional translation, in addition to understanding the grammar, culture and customs of the target language, it is necessary to have an understanding of the specialty and field to be translated. Each field will have its own specialized glossary. Translators – interpreters performing the translation in particular areas need to understand specialized vocabulary, terminology to properly and fully convey the meaning of sentences, and especially ensure the expertise and depth of the document in need of translation.

Correct, standard, in-depth translation of a particular specialty is one of the important Chinese translation rules that any translator – interpreter needs to regularly cultivate.

For example:

Popular Chinese translation methods

There are many different Chinese translation rules and methods, and each of which brings different translation effects:

#1: Back translation

The outstanding feature of back translation is that the wording has to reverse the order of the words in the original text. The back translation method will be greatly influenced by the style, personality, nuances of the translator’s wording so it will not be true completely compared to the original.

For example:

#2: Forward translation

Unlike back translation, the forward translation method in Chinese is that the text is translated according to the word order, the writing style, and the thought and emotion of the text.

For example:

#3: Split translation and combined translation

A split translation is the separation of meanings from the original sentence and turns it into independent sentences. A combined translation is the summary of the main idea of the original text.

For example:

#4: Literal translation and communicative translation

A literal translation includes phonetic translations and word-for-word translations. A phonetic translation is the use of words that have the same pronunciation as the word to be translated. It is quite similar to the Latin word borrowed in Vietnamese.

For example:

Word-for-word translation means the word order is preserved and each word is translated into the most common meaning of the target language. However, this translation is considered ineffective because it makes the sentence not smooth. Word-for-word translation is also one of the minus points for violating the first Chinese translation rule we mentioned above.

Communicative translation means that the translator does not completely rely on the grammatical structure or the word order of the original sentence. The translator only needs to understand the meaning of the original sentence and translate it into the target language in his style as long as it ensures full transmission of the meaning of the original sentence.

#5: Free translation

Free translation means the translator adds words according to his/her understanding to clarify the meaning of the original sentence.

For example:

#6: Brief translation

In contrast to free translation, brief translation means the omission of some words that are meaningless (auxiliaries) or unnecessary to make the sentence easier to understand.

For example:

Chinese translation cannot ignore text formatting rules

Text format is one of the Chinese translation rules that cannot be ignored when translating Chinese. Chinese characters are ideograms, so the translation from languages using the Latin alphabet into Chinese or vice versa should pay special attention to this point. Chinese translations must respect the format of the original document. In particular, the presentation should be clear and aesthetically pleasing to ensure the legibility and logic of the document.

Choose a translation unit that fully meets the Chinese translation rules to save you maximum time

Tomato Media is an optimal translation solution provider with more than 5 years of experience in the translation industry. We have provided translation services to more than 2,500 clients with more than 65,000 successful projects. Therefore, Tomato is committed to bringing the most accurate Chinese translation, ensuring compliance with Chinese translation rules with top-quality translation.

Tomato Media provides the optimal translation solution in Chinese, English, Japanese, Korean, etc. with a large, experienced, and highly qualified staff. We can translate Chinese into 50 other languages with more than 100 fields. Tomato Media is confident to give customers the perfect experience.

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If you have a need for Chinese translation, contact us via hotline 0938 596 333 to register for translation service today.

The above is a summary of Chinese translation rules for those who are studying Chinese or Chinese translators and interpreters. Chinese translation is a field that requires many things from expertise to experience and personal skills. Tomato Media is here to help you address your translation needs with a commitment to quality commensurate with price, and consistency in engagement with customers.

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Frequently asked questions about Chinese translation rules

What is the arrangement of the word order in the Chinese sentence?

The order of words in Chinese sentences is as follows:

• With full sentences: subject + adverb + negative + auxiliary verb + verb + adjunct + object.
• With basic sentences: subject + predicate + object (similar to Vietnamese)
• With sentences containing time: subject + time + place + action

Based on the above structure, you can know what the translation order is in Chinese!

Back translation in Chinese?

Back translation in Chinese will change the order in the translation process, from word usage, sentence formation, or just habits. In the original text & Chinese translation, the sentence setting is very different, so based on the grammatical structure of the translation text, the translation will be adjusted. In this method, the level of the translator is the decisive factor.

Rules to make interrogative sentences in Chinese?