Looking for expert Chinese translation services in both Mandarin Simplified and Traditional? Since 2003, Green Crescent has been a trusted provider of precise and professional English to Chinese translations. We cater to a wide range of industries including technology, legal, and finance, ensuring accurate translations tailored to your business needs. Get a fast, free Chinese translation quote today!
Simplified or Traditional? Mandarin or Cantonese?
| Simplified Script | Traditional Script | |
|---|---|---|
| Mainland China | Mandarin | |
| Taiwan | Mandarin (Taiwanese) | |
| Hong Kong | Cantonese | |
| Macau | Cantonese | |
| Singapore | Singaporean Mandarin | |
| Overseas Chinese (U.S. and Europe) | Mandarin |
Our Comprehensive Chinese Translation Services
Green Crescent’s experienced team of Chinese translators includes subject matter experts for industry-specific needs. We specialize in translations tailored to all major Chinese dialects, including:
- Mandarin Chinese (Simplified for Mainland China)
- Mandarin Chinese (Traditional for Taiwan and Hong Kong, and both scripts for Singapore)
- Cantonese (spoken in Hong Kong, Macau, and Guangdong Province)
- Hokkien (Southern Min, common in Taiwan, Fujian Province, and Singapore)
- Shanghainese (Wu Chinese, spoken in Shanghai and surrounding regions)
- Hakka (spoken in southern China and various overseas communities)
- Teochew (spoken in the Chaoshan region, Singapore, and by diaspora communities globally)
We offer the following services for both English to Chinese and Chinese to English translations:
Simple Translation
Our simple translations in the English/Chinese language pair are designed for basic communication needs. These translations are completed by a single Chinese translator without the involvement of an editor or proofreader, and therefore should not be considered final or polished work for most professional or formal use cases. While they are typically of high quality, simple translations are essentially "rough drafts" that do not go through additional editing, proofreading, or other quality control processes. These translations are ideal for personal letters, informal communications, initial drafts that will later be revised, or for situations where you need to quickly understand the general meaning or "gist" of a Chinese text.
Standard Translation (TEP)
Our Standard Chinese Translation service is designed to provide high-quality translations for everyday use, including business correspondence, websites, reports, presentations, and similar content. This service includes translation, editing, and proofreading (TEP) to ensure the highest level of accuracy and clarity in your Chinese communications.
Organization Critical Translation (TEP+)
Our Organization Critical Chinese Translation service is designed for situations where perfection is essential. This option is recommended for texts intended for large-scale printing, technical documents, legal contracts and patents, medical documents, or any case where an error could be critical or costly. Each translated line is reviewed by a minimum of three linguists, with multiple rounds of proofreading. Subject matter experts (SMEs) may be involved as needed throughout the Chinese translation, editing, and proofreading (TEP) process.
Bilingual Editing
Bilingual Editing for Chinese Translation is the process of editing a translated text by comparing both the source and target texts in the English/Chinese language pair. The editor, fluent in the source language and a native speaker of Chinese, ensures that the translation is accurate, consistent, and faithful to the source text while also maintaining clarity and fluency in Chinese. This step occurs after the initial translation in our TEP (Translation, Editing, Proofreading) Organization Critical and Standard Translation services. We also offer this service as a standalone option for translations completed by individuals or organizations not affiliated with Green Crescent.
Proofreading
With each additional round of editing and proofreading, the error rate of a document approaches the perfection horizon. Our proofreading service for English to Chinese and Chinese to English translations involves reviewing a single-language text to identify and correct surface-level errors, such as spelling mistakes, grammar issues, punctuation errors, and formatting inconsistencies. This step is the final phase in our TEP (Translation, Editing, Proofreading) Organization Critical and Standard translation services. We also offer proofreading as a standalone service for translations completed by individuals or organizations not affiliated with Green Crescent.
Legal Translation
Green Crescent's elite team of linguists, each with subject matter expertise in specialized legal fields, is ready to assist you with the translation of a wide range of judicial, administrative, and private legal documents between Chinese and English. Nearly all countries recognize that submitting documents for translation does not compromise attorney-client privilege. Furthermore, we can implement enhanced security measures to ensure strict confidentiality upon request.
Technical Translation
Technical translations involve any text that features specialized vocabulary or language registers, necessitating additional research and terminology verification. Common technical subject matter includes legal, medical, scientific, engineering, and IT topics, but any text that utilizes industry-specific terminology or neologisms may be considered technical in nature. These translations cannot be executed by generalists alone; they require the expertise of linguists with in-depth knowledge of the relevant technical field in both Chinese and English.
Medical Translation
Green Crescent has established protocols to ensure compliance with relevant regulations for medical translations. Our Chinese medical translations are treated as "organization critical," unless otherwise specified, and we are committed to implementing the necessary digital security measures and legal safeguards for every project. Our team of skilled linguists, specialized in medical terminology, ensures that your translations are both accurate and secure.
Localization
Our translation services are tailored for specific target markets that require non-standard varieties or dialects of the Chinese language. Green Crescent is equipped to accommodate requests for localized Chinese translation, ensuring that your content resonates with the intended audience. For example, we offer translations in regional dialects such as Mandarin (Simplified for Mainland China and Traditional for Taiwan and Hong Kong), Cantonese, Hokkien, and more. Our experienced linguists are well-versed in the nuances of these dialects, allowing us to provide translations that are not only accurate but also culturally relevant and engaging. By focusing on the unique linguistic characteristics of each Chinese dialect, we help you effectively connect with your audience and enhance the impact of your message.
Website, App, and Software Localization for Chinese
At Green Crescent, we leverage our extensive experience in software development to provide specialized Chinese localization services. We excel in adapting your website, app, or software’s content, design, and functionality for Chinese-speaking audiences. Whether you need a fully multilingual solution or specific adaptations for Chinese, our services encompass translating text, adjusting images, and modifying layouts. We also adapt and program code for both mobile and desktop applications, ensuring that your app functions seamlessly across Chinese-speaking regions while adhering to platform-specific guidelines. Let us help you create an engaging and culturally relevant experience for your Chinese-speaking users.
Back-Translation
Back-translation is often a crucial component of the quality control process, particularly when translating highly technical documents or for critical translations in the Chinese/English language pair where an error could have significant consequences. This process involves an independent linguist translating a previously translated text back into its original source language—either Chinese or English—without reference to the original document. The resulting text is then compared to the original translation to verify its intelligibility, accuracy, and suitability for its intended use. Back-translation is also relevant in situations such as the translation of legal documents, medical texts, and marketing materials, where precise wording is essential. It can be particularly beneficial when adapting content for different cultural contexts, ensuring that the intended message is preserved and resonates appropriately with the target audience in both Chinese and English.
Peer Review
Green Crescent offers professional focus group services that include a comprehensive "read-through" conducted by one or more linguists who were not involved in the original translation process. This approach allows for an unbiased assessment of the translation's quality, style, and overall fitness for its intended purpose. The focus group can evaluate various aspects of the text, including linguistic accuracy, cultural relevance, and the effectiveness of the messaging in reaching the target audience. Feedback is provided on how well the translation conveys the original intent and nuances of the source material, ensuring that it resonates with readers in both Chinese and English contexts.
SME Review
Subject Matter Expert (SME) review is a specialized form of peer review conducted by non-linguist professionals with deep expertise in specific fields. This process is particularly important for Chinese to English or English to Chinese translations of highly technical texts, ensuring that the content is both linguistically accurate and technically precise. In fields such as legal, medical, scientific, and engineering, SMEs help verify the correct use of industry-specific terminology, adherence to regulatory or technical standards, and the contextual relevance of the translated material. By incorporating SME review into the translation process, we ensure that your final product is not only fluent and culturally appropriate but also technically sound and ready for professional use in both Chinese- and English-speaking markets.
Transcreation
Our Chinese Transcreation Service goes beyond simple translation by creatively adapting your content to resonate with Chinese-speaking audiences. At Green Crescent, we ensure that your brand’s messages, campaigns, and communications maintain their original intent, emotional impact, and tone, while aligning with the cultural and linguistic nuances of the target market. Whether it’s marketing, branding, or advertising, we reimagine your content to feel authentic and compelling in Chinese, helping your brand connect meaningfully and effectively with Chinese-speaking audiences.
MTPE-Full (Machine Translation Post-Editing - Full)
MTPE-Full (Machine Translation Post-Editing - Full) refers to the comprehensive post-editing of a machine-translated text between Chinese and English, ensuring the final product meets the highest standards of linguistic quality. In this process, once the machine generates the translation, a skilled human editor thoroughly reviews the entire content, ensuring that it is not only accurate in meaning but also flows naturally and fluently in the target language.
This detailed editing process goes beyond simple corrections, often requiring significant rewriting and rephrasing to fix awkward or incorrect machine translations. The editor ensures that the translated text reflects the original in terms of meaning, tone, and style while adapting it to the cultural nuances and context specific to Chinese or English. Special attention is paid to maintaining the accuracy of technical terminology, idiomatic expressions, and the overall message. The outcome of MTPE-Full is a high-quality translation, comparable to one done entirely by a human translator, but delivered more efficiently. This method is particularly valuable for large volumes of text in the Chinese/English language pair, where maintaining high quality is essential, yet time and budget constraints are in play. Our MTPE-Full service offers an optimal solution in various situations, balancing quality and efficiency.
MTPE-Light (Machine Translation Post-Editing - Light)
MTPE-Light (Machine Translation Post-Editing - Light) for the English/Chinese language pair involves a streamlined post-editing process focused on making machine-translated text between English and Chinese understandable and free of major errors. In this approach, the editor corrects key issues, such as grammatical mistakes, mistranslations, and inaccuracies in meaning, to ensure the text is comprehensible.
Unlike MTPE-Full, MTPE-Light does not aim for stylistic perfection or nuanced improvements. It is particularly useful for internal communications, quick reports, or content that does not require polished, professional-grade Chinese translation but must be accurate enough to convey the essential message. While not suitable for public-facing or highly technical content, MTPE-Light offers a cost-effective and time-efficient solution for projects where understanding is more important than perfection.
Additional Language Services and Options for Chinese
Certified Translation
Green Crescent offers certified translations of a wide range of legal documents, including birth, marriage, and death certificates, diplomas, school transcripts, passports, and much more, in both Mandarin Chinese and English. Our certified translations are recognized for their accuracy and compliance with legal standards, making them suitable for official use. You can receive hard copies of our standard certificate of translation mailed directly to your home or business.
Rush Service
If you require expedited service, Green Crescent can usually accommodate such requests. However, please note that rushing translations often comes with trade-offs, which may affect both price and consistency. Please consult with a project manager for more details.
Discounts
Volume discounts are available for large projects, long-term clients, and for non-profits, charities, NGOs, and government organizations.
Minimum Fee
There is a minimum project fee of $75.00 USD per language, which can be reduced or waived for regular clients.
Additional Language Services
In addition to translation, Green Crescent offers a range of other Chinese language services, including interpretation, transcription, website design and development, and desktop publishing.
About the Chinese language
Chinese is spoken by over 1.3 billion people worldwide, making it the most widely spoken language on the planet. The language is composed of several dialects, the most prominent being Mandarin, which is spoken by the vast majority of Chinese speakers. Mandarin is the official language of China, Taiwan, and Singapore, and is one of the six official languages of the United Nations. Other significant dialects include Cantonese, Wu (Shanghainese), Min, and Hakka, each used in specific regions of China and abroad.
Mandarin Chinese: Standard Dialect and Cultural Legacy
Mandarin, also known as Putonghua, is the standardized form of Chinese and the official language of China and Taiwan. Its rise as the standard dialect can be traced back to the Ming and Qing dynasties, during which the northern dialects, particularly that of Beijing, became influential due to the political and economic power concentrated in the region. Today, Mandarin is the language of education, government, and media in China and Taiwan, and it plays a significant role in business and diplomacy worldwide.
Mandarin's literary and cultural influence spans centuries, from the classic works of Confucius and Laozi to contemporary Chinese literature and cinema. Traditional Chinese calligraphy, poetry, and the vast influence of Chinese philosophy continue to shape global culture. The written form of Mandarin, based on simplified characters in Mainland China and Traditional characters in Taiwan, reflects thousands of years of history and artistic expression.
Chinese Dialects and Regional Varieties
While Mandarin is the most widely spoken dialect, China is home to a rich tapestry of regional dialects, including Cantonese, Wu, Min, and Hakka. Cantonese, primarily spoken in Hong Kong, Macau, and the Guangdong province, is another major Chinese dialect and is known for its use in traditional Chinese cinema and pop culture. Wu, spoken in and around Shanghai, and Min, common in Fujian and Taiwan, contribute to the linguistic diversity of the Chinese-speaking world.
Despite these differences, the written form of Chinese, particularly Simplified Chinese, is used widely across the country, with Traditional Chinese being prevalent in Taiwan, Hong Kong, and overseas Chinese communities. Green Crescent ensures that your Mandarin translations are localized appropriately for the target audience, whether in Mainland China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, or Singapore.
Simplified and Traditional Chinese: A Comparison
Simplified Chinese characters were introduced in the 1950s as part of a government initiative in Mainland China to promote literacy. These characters are used primarily in China and Singapore, while Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Macau continue to use Traditional Chinese. The difference between Simplified and Traditional Chinese is not just in the form of the characters, but also in some cases, in the cultural connotations and stylistic preferences of the regions that use them.
Green Crescent offers both Simplified and Traditional Chinese translation services, ensuring that your content is adapted to the specific requirements of the target audience. Whether you are targeting Mainland China, Taiwan, or Hong Kong, our experienced translators are well-versed in the nuances of both character systems and cultural contexts.
Key Linguistic Considerations in Chinese Translation
Translating between Chinese and English involves several key linguistic challenges that require careful attention to detail.
Character-based Writing System
Chinese uses a logographic writing system, where each character represents a word or morpheme. Unlike alphabetic systems such as English, Chinese does not have letters representing sounds, making translation a more context-dependent process. The meaning of each character or combination of characters can vary significantly depending on its placement in a sentence.
Grammar and Sentence Structure
Chinese grammar is quite different from English. For instance, Chinese sentences do not require tense markings like English verbs do, and the subject can often be implied. The use of measure words, which are required when counting nouns, is another distinct feature of Chinese grammar that must be carefully handled in translation.
Formal and Informal Speech
Chinese distinguishes between formal and informal language, with differences in vocabulary and tone. The level of formality often depends on the relationship between the speaker and the listener, making it crucial to choose the appropriate level of politeness in translations, particularly for business and legal communications.
Idiomatic Expressions and Cultural Nuances
Chinese is rich in idiomatic expressions and cultural references that may not have direct equivalents in English. For example, the phrase "卧虎藏龙" (crouching tiger, hidden dragon) refers to unseen talent or strength, which can be difficult to translate directly without losing the intended meaning.
Localization for Specific Regions
Localization is a critical aspect of Chinese translation. Content tailored for Mainland China may need to be adjusted for Taiwanese or Hong Kong audiences, particularly in terms of political, social, and cultural sensitivities. Our translators are experts in ensuring that your message is appropriately localized to resonate with your target audience, whether in China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, or Singapore.
Green Crescent's Expertise in Chinese Translation
With years of experience in Chinese translation, Green Crescent offers precise, culturally sensitive translations in both Simplified and Traditional Chinese. Whether you are looking to translate business documents, legal contracts, technical manuals, or creative content, our team of professional translators is here to ensure your message is conveyed clearly and effectively. From Mandarin to Cantonese, we provide tailored services that meet your needs for any Chinese-speaking market.
An Insight into Chinese Wit and Expression
This passage is from 活着 (To Live) by Yu Hua, first published in 1993. This iconic novel reflects the resilience of the human spirit during China's tumultuous 20th century.
- Chinese: "生活是属于每个人自己的感受，不属于任何别人的看法."
- English Translation: "Life belongs to each person's own feelings, not to the opinions of others."