Translation from English into Chinese

Introduction to Translation (English to Chinese)

Translating from English into Chinese is one of the most rewarding parts of Paper 4 (Writing). Instead of coming up with your own ideas, the exam gives you the "what" to say, and your job is to figure out "how" to say it using the Chinese you’ve learned. Whether you are aiming for a Grade 1 or a Grade 9, the secret to success is not just about knowing words—it is about putting those words in the correct order.

Don't worry if you find characters difficult to remember! In this task, clear communication is the priority. Even if you make a small mistake in a character stroke, you can still gain marks if the meaning is clear and the grammar is solid.

Exam Breakdown: Foundation vs. Higher

In both tiers, the translation task is Question 3. It will be a short passage or a series of sentences based on the three main themes: Identity and culture, Local/Global areas of interest, or Study and employment.

Foundation Tier:

– Length: Minimum \( 25 \) words in English to be translated.
– Total Marks: \( 10 \) marks (divided into \( 5 \) marks for Conveying key messages and \( 5 \) marks for Grammatical knowledge).

Higher Tier:

– Length: Minimum \( 40 \) words in English to be translated.
– Total Marks: \( 12 \) marks (divided into \( 6 \) marks for Conveying key messages and \( 6 \) marks for Grammatical knowledge).

Note: For more information on other writing tasks, such as the 75-character structured task, please see the chapter "Structured writing task".

How the Markers Grade You

The examiners look at two main things:

1. Conveying key messages: Did you translate all the information? If the English says "I went with my brother," but you only write "I went," you will lose points for missing a key piece of information.
2. Application of grammatical knowledge: Is your Chinese word order correct? Did you use the right measure words? Did you correctly indicate if something happened in the past, present, or future?

The "Golden Rule" of Chinese Word Order

This is the most important tool in your revision kit. English and Chinese often put words in different places. Use this formula to build your sentences:

Subject + Time + Place + Manner + Verb + Object

Example: "I played football in the park yesterday."
In Chinese, this becomes: I + Yesterday + In the park + Played + Football.
(我昨天在公园踢了足球。)

Key Word Order Tips:

– Time (like "yesterday" or "at 8 o'clock") always goes before the verb.
– Place (like "at school") always goes before the action.
– With people (like "with my friend") goes before the verb.

Step-by-Step Translation Strategy

When you see the English text, don't start writing immediately. Follow these steps:

Step 1: The "Time Check"
Look at the verbs. Are they in the past ("I went"), present ("I like"), or future ("I will study")? Identify which markers you need, such as 了 (le) for completed actions or 想/打算 (xiǎng/dǎsuàn) for future plans.

Step 2: Chunking
Break the English sentences into small "chunks." For example: [Last year] [I went to China] [with my family]. This makes it less overwhelming.

Step 3: The Reconstruction
Arrange your chunks using the Subject-Time-Place-Verb rule. Replace the English chunks with Chinese words.

Step 4: The "Final Polish"
Check for the "little words" that make a big difference:
– Did you use a Measure Word (like 个, 本, 只)?
– Did you use 的 (de) to link descriptions to nouns?
– Are your Connectives (like 因为...所以...) in the right place?

Common Pitfalls to Avoid

1. Translating "To Be" (am/is/are) literally:
In English, we say "I am happy." In Chinese, we use a modifier instead of "is": 我很高兴 (I very happy). Only use 是 (shì) when connecting two nouns, like "I am a student."

2. Forgetting the Negative:
Remember that 不 (bù) is for present/future, but 没 (méi) is used with 有 (yǒu) or to say you "didn't" do something in the past.

3. Measure Word Errors:
In English, we say "three books." In Chinese, you must have a measure word: 三本书 (Three + measure word + book). If you forget the specific one, 个 (gè) is better than nothing!

4. Plurals:
Chinese doesn't usually add an "s" to words. "Many friends" is just 很多朋友. You don't need to change the word "friend."

Essential Grammar for Higher Tier

If you are taking the Higher Tier, the examiners expect to see a bit more complexity. Try to include:

– Comparative structures: Using 比 (bǐ) to compare things.
– Advanced connectives: 不但...而且... (Not only... but also) or 虽然...但是... (Although... but).
– Experience marker: Using 过 (guò) to show you have done something before.

Quick Review: Essential Vocabulary by Theme

While you should study the full vocabulary list, here are some high-frequency "helper" words often needed for translation:

– Theme 1 (Identity): 朋友 (friend), 家人 (family), 爱好 (hobby), 手机 (mobile phone).
– Theme 2 (Local/Global): 城市 (city), 公园 (park), 环境 (environment), 去旅行 (go traveling).
– Theme 3 (Study/Work): 学校 (school), 老师 (teacher), 压力 (pressure), 工作 (work/job).

Key Takeaways

– Foundation: Aim for at least \( 25 \) words; Higher: Aim for at least \( 40 \) words.
– Word Order is King: Remember Subject + Time + Place + Verb.
– Don't Leave Gaps: If you forget a specific character, try to describe it or use a similar word. You get points for conveying the message!
– Check Your Tenses: Use 了 for the past and 想/要 for the future.