AsChina’seconomycontinuestogrowatarapidpace,moreandmoreforeignersarecomingtoChinaforbusiness,tourism,orstudy.Asaresult,thereisagrowingdemandforChinesecuisineallovertheworld.IfyouownaChineserestaurantorworkinthefoodindustryinChina,chancesareyouhavehadtotranslateaChinesemenuintoEnglishatsomepoint.
Thetranslationofamenuseemssimpleenough,butitcanbeactuallyquitechallenging.Youneedtomakesurethatthetranslationisnotonlyaccurate,butalsoappealingtothecustomers.ThegoalistopresentyourmenuasanexcellentrepresentationofyourrestaurantandyourcuisinetocustomerswhomaynotspeakChineseorbefamiliarwiththedishes.
HerearesometipsfortranslatingaChinesemenuintoEnglish:
1:BeAccurate:Translationerrorscanruinacustomer’sexperienceandputyourrestaurant’sreputationatrisk.Makesureyouuseanaccuratetranslationofeachdish.
2:KeepitSimple:Usesimplelanguagethatiseasytounderstand,andavoidjargonorobscureterms.
3:BeDescriptive:Usedescriptivewordstobringouttheflavors,spicesoringredientsineachdish.Thiswillhelpcustomersunderstandwhattheyareorderingandwhattoexpect.
4:UseAppetizingLanguage:Uselanguagethatisappetizingandmakesthedishsounddelicious.Forexample,insteadofsaying“steamedfish”,youcouldsay“juicyandtendersteamedfishwithgingerandscallion”.
5:CategorizetheMenu:Considercategorizingyourmenuintoappetizers,soups,entrees,etc.Thiscanmakeiteasierforcustomerstonavigatethemenuandfindwhattheywant.
Theabovetipscanhelpensurethatyourtranslatedmenuishelpfultocustomersanddoesagoodjobofshowcasingyourrestaurant’scuisine.Remember,agoodtranslationcanmakeallthedifferenceinattractingandretainingcustomers.
