Chinese is a steadily growing business language in Turkey's import and supply chain. mots Tercüme translates sourcing correspondence, contracts, technical documents and product documentation between Chinese and Turkish.
Simplified and traditional
Simplified characters are used in mainland China and traditional characters in Taiwan and Hong Kong. If it is not known at the outset where the document is going, the text may be delivered in the wrong character system.
How volume is measured
Chinese text has no spaces between words, and volume is measured by the number of characters. For that reason the volume of translation from and into Chinese is calculated not in words but in the unit determined at the start of the job.
The company seal
In Chinese companies what makes an official document binding is, more often than the signature, the company seal. In translation the presence of the seal and the company name on it are carried over as a description.
Sourcing correspondence
Pro forma invoices, order confirmations and correspondence about samples make up a significant share of Chinese jobs. The product code, the quantity and the delivery date are checked separately.
Company names
Chinese companies usually use an English business name alongside the official Chinese name. Although the two names denote the same company, in a legal document the official Chinese name prevails.
Technical documents and national standards
Chinese technical documents refer to national standards. Standard numbers are not translated; if their names are needed, they are given with their official title.
The prevailing text in contracts
Contracts made with Chinese suppliers are usually prepared bilingually in Chinese and English. The contract states which text prevails in the event of a dispute.
Spelling of names
In Chinese personal names the surname comes first. For spelling in Latin letters the official transcription system is taken as the basis and the same spelling is used throughout the file.
Typesetting and typeface
A typeface that does not support Chinese characters displays the text as small boxes. Texts that will be placed into a design need a suitable typeface and a check of the final version.
Quality and inspection reports
In purchases from China, pre-shipment inspection and quality reports are usually prepared in Chinese and English. Measurement values and acceptance criteria are compared separately against the source.
From Chinese into Turkish
Short, compressed expressions are common in technical texts with a Chinese source. When they are carried over into Turkish, omitted subjects and contexts are completed according to the meaning of the source.
When certification is needed
China has been a party to the Apostille Convention since 2023; for documents going to China, the sworn translation and apostille chain is planned at the start of the job. The authority at which the document will be used can change the steps required.
Services requested together
Chinese jobs most often come under technical translation, legal translation and product catalogue translation.
Summary
In Chinese corporate translation the first two decisions are the character system and the unit of measurement. If the two are not made clear at the outset, both the delivery and the quote rest on the wrong footing.