Frequently Asked Questions

How long does a translation take?

Most standard documents (up to five pages) are delivered within 2–3 working days. For urgent requests, we offer express services to meet tight deadlines. Turnaround time depends on the length, language pair, and subject matter — we always provide a realistic estimate upfront.

Do you translate rare or Asian languages?

We specialise in Chinese (Traditional and Simplified) with an in-house team of expert translators. For Japanese, Korean, Thai, Indonesian, and other Asian languages, we collaborate with trusted professional linguists to ensure consistent quality. If your language needs are outside our core team, we have reliable partners to support a wide range of languages.

What’s the difference between Simplified and Traditional Chinese?

Simplified Chinese is used in Mainland China and Singapore, while Traditional Chinese is used in Hong Kong, Taiwan, and Macau. They differ in character structure, usage, and cultural context — choosing the right one depends on your target audience.

How is Traditional Chinese in Hong Kong different from Taiwan?

While both use Traditional Chinese characters, Hong Kong uses Cantonese-influenced phrasing and region-specific vocabulary, whereas Taiwan follows Mandarin grammar and terminology. Localisation should reflect these linguistic and cultural differences.

Are digitally certified translations widely accepted?

Yes. Digitally certified translations are accepted by many institutions. If you require a printed, stamped hard copy for submission, we can arrange local delivery or international postage upon request. Simply let us know your preference when placing your order.

What is the difference between translation and localisation?

Translation focuses on converting text accurately between languages. Localisation adapts the content for a specific culture or region, considering tone, context, and audience preferences to ensure relevance and engagement.

What’s the typical flow of a translation project?

According to ITI and ISO 17100 standards:
Request → Needs analysis → Quote → Translation → Editing → Proofreading → QA → Final delivery.
Each step is quality-controlled and tailored to the project’s scope and purpose.

How does Chinese punctuation differ from English punctuation?

Chinese uses unique punctuation marks like「」、『』、and full-width symbols，。！ that differ in style and spacing. Mixing them with English can affect formatting and clarity in bilingual documents.

Why are ‘yes’ and ‘no’ translated differently in Chinese?

Chinese doesn’t use “yes” or “no” as direct equivalents. Responses often repeat the verb or use context-based phrasing. This affects consistency and makes one-to-one translation of “yes” and “no” impossible in many cases.