Hi! I’m an ABC(ish) writer/illustrator who’s currently relearning Chinese/exploring my family’s heritage. I’m currently sharing what I’m learning through my[instagram webcomic](https://www.instagram.com/pandacubstories/). This one is about how (I’ve observed) foreign names are translated in Chinese:)
https://preview.redd.it/pzlayqlf5nc51.jpg?width=800&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=be57388858050b11d3544667e84b1def84c9dfda
https://preview.redd.it/ojlh2plf5nc51.jpg?width=800&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=76e33f1f8815f8b442f30943b2cfe516f477b61b
https://preview.redd.it/0ma93qlf5nc51.jpg?width=800&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=bb88597a53463d616970b6f4d091d99952dfd4ff
https://preview.redd.it/2yrvd1mf5nc51.jpg?width=800&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=557db82e73a297508e8e619b1c89508a9f276b9c
https://preview.redd.it/9hzoynlf5nc51.jpg?width=800&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=f4ce127223b63bc5a336afeabe425afc63b797da
There are three ways (in my experience) that foreign names are translated into Mandarin Chinese:
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1️⃣ Translation by SOUND
2️⃣ Translation by MEANING
3️⃣ Translation by MIX n’ MATCH
The examples are in the comic itself — but here’s a text version for folks who prefer just to read:
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SOUND TRANSLATION:
Example: Pikachu
For this method, break the foreign name down into single syllables: [Pi] [Ka] [Chu]. Then, pick the Chinese characters that approximate these sounds:
皮(Pí)卡(kǎ)丘(qiū)
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MEANING TRANSLATION
Example: #Grimer and #Muk
For this method, take a good gander at what you want to translate: Grimer and Mukj… both look like mucky sludge, right? So… what characters would describe this appearance? Hence:
Grimer = stinky-mud (臭泥 chòu ní)
Muk = “stinky-stinky-mud” (臭臭泥)
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MIX n’ MATCH TRANSLATION
Example: #Starbucks
Finally, you can use a mashup of the previous two methods. So for Starbucks, we have #halfmeaningtranslation :
Star = ⭐️ = 星 (Xīng)
And #halfsoundtranslation
Bucks = bā kè (巴克)
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Alrighty, that’s are post for today (this one took me significantly longer than I thought it would … but I had a ton of fun drawing pokemon 😅).
If there are other methods of translating names I’ve completely blanked on — pls let me know!
Until the next post,
再见! Zài jiàn!
– Linda
P.S. #coffeeboba photo courtesy of u/nextshark
