Hello,

My name is Vivienne (Shu) Ma and I am both Chinese- and American-educated with a degree in Chinese Language and Literature from Huazhong University of Science and Technology, one of the top 10 universities in China and have completed a program in Simultaneous Legal interpretation from UCLA. I have traveled extensively while working as an educator, translator and interpreter, and am currently the most-connected language professional on LinkedIn. My language skills, coupled with wide-ranging experiences in cultures around the world, make her uniquely qualified to provide well-written, culturally-sensitive Chinese translation and accurate Mandarin interpreter services. I have also assembled a group of talented individuals in order to provide top-quality English to Chinese translation throughout China and the English-speaking world. You may check my Website: http://mandarinchineseinterpreters.com and LinkedIn profile to find out more about me and see a list of my various past clients in a wide range of industries including: marketing, legal, architecture, real estate, finance, wine & travel among others. Please feel free to contact me if you need my personal interpreting or translation services or read below to find out more about my worldwide team. Thank you.

MANDARIN CHINESE TRANSLATORS AND INTERPRETERS

• The most-spoken language in the world is Mandarin Chinese.
• Chinese is the most commonly-used language online.
• The fastest-growing consumer and industrial markets in the world are Chinese-speaking.
• Less than ten percent of the Chinese population is fluent in English

For all of those reasons, it’s crucial to have a reliable, competent and certified Chinese translator on your side if you’re doing business in China. And your best choice is Vivi’s Chinese Interpreters & Translation. We are an experienced team of Mandarin Chinese translators based in Beijing but working throughout the English- and Chinese-speaking world.

Our professional, certified Mandarin translators and interpreters are equipped to handle any assignment, from translating complicated business or technical documents to in-person interpreting at important business meetings or conferences. Just as importantly, we are intimately familiar with the delicate cultural differences between China and the West, so we are able to guide you through crucial nuances in your business communications and meetings.

Vivi’s Chinese Interpreters & Translation has a global network of staffers and contract employees who specialize in English-Chinese translation for marketing. Just some of the industries we regularly serve:

 Architecture
 Business
 Construction
 Financial
 Government and Political
 Hospitality
 Legal
 Literary Works
 Medical
 Website Translation
 Wine

You can find a complete list of specialties and much more information about all of our services at our website. [link]

About Vivienne Ma

Vivienne Ma is the founder and owner of Vivi’s Chinese Interpreters & Translation. She is both Chinese- and American-educated with a degree in Chinese Language and Literature (having attended both Huazhong University and UCLA), has traveled extensively while working as an educator, translator and interpreter, and is currently the most-connected language professional on LinkedIn. Her language skills, coupled with wide-ranging experiences in cultures around the world, make her uniquely qualified to provide well-written, culturally-sensitive Chinese translation and accurate Mandarin interpreter services. It has also allowed her to assemble a talented group of associates in order to provide top-quality English to Chinese translation throughout China and the English-speaking world.
About Vivi’s Chinese Interpreters & Translation

Headquartered in Beijing, we have a network of certified Mandarin Chinese translation experts located across the globe. In China, we’re in major cities like Shanghai, Guangzhou and Hong Kong, and also in smaller cities such as Nanjing, Xiamen, Hangzhou or Tianjin. We also serve clients throughout the U.S., U.K., Canada, Europe, Asia (including Taiwan) and Australia.

Our Chinese translator and interpreter services have been utilized – and praised – by clients such as Chateau Margaux, the Hong Kong government, Cirque Du Soleil, Lufthansa Airlines, Uber, Air China, the International Montessori Teaching Institute, and Julio Iglesias. We pride ourselves in being able to provide both accurate and culturally-correct Mandarin translations for business documents or websites, as well as unobtrusive and effective Chinese interpreter services for one-on-one meetings or large groups. We can provide Cantonese translation services as well, and can even meet the growing demand for Spanish to Chinese translations.

Why A Chinese Translator Is Crucial For Today’s Businesses

Nearly one-fifth of the world’s population lives in China and speaks Chinese, China is the number-one trading market in the world, and not only is the nation’s economy (measured by GDP) the world’s second largest, it’s projected to pass the United States sometime in this decade. Nearly all major American, European and multi-national corporations have taken major steps to establish a firm presence in China, and Western outsourcing to Chinese manufacturing firms has reached record levels.
That places China in the forefront of international commercial and retail business, and its growing importance means that companies can no longer “get away” with insisting that their trade partners deal with them solely in English (or other Western languages). Any firm seeking serious dealings in the country must be able to communicate easily, and interact properly, with Chinese government officials, business partners and leaders, and the buying public.

But it’s not just a matter of getting the language right. There are many cultural differences between East and West, and it’s embarrassingly easy for those unfamiliar with Chinese traditions to unknowingly offend their business partners or consumers in China with simple and avoidable errors in documents or marketing materials. A proper Chinese translation, done by a certified professional from Vivi’s Chinese Interpreters & Translation, will get the language right and hit the “right notes” as well. For example, there are different Mandarin words to address the president of a company and the president of a country, and using the incorrect one could cause offense. An experienced translator can easily ensure the proper usage of all such terms and phrases.

There’s even a specialization which has emerged in the age of internationalization which is known as “language localization,” often shortened to “localization” or “l10n.” This refers to the adaptation of a product (usually either a software or multimedia content, but at times written material) to a different nation’s language and culture. It is similar to, but differs from, simple translation because it also requires knowledge or study of the country’s culture. It can involve everything from using the proper idioms or expressions for a specific region, to avoiding direct translations of phrases which might be correct but could also be insulting. Other considerations can be adapting colors or logos used in graphic presentations, using proper date/time, currency and address parameters, and even physical modification of products. This process clearly goes far beyond “by the book” translation, and it’s the reason why an experienced and knowledgeable Chinese translator can play a vital role in localization for Chinese markets.

The importance of proper translation and localization has been realized by some of the world’s largest companies. As just one example, Disney’s movie “Iron Man 3” (which was co-financed by a Chinese firm) was specially edited for its release in China, and included some exclusive footage (such as an appearance by Chinese film star Fan Bingbing) which won’t be seen in other countries. In the recent past, a movie studio would have been satisfied with just word-for-word dubbing or subtitles on its Chinese releases.

Why A Mandarin Chinese Interpreter Is Important For In-Person Dealings

Making a small purchase in a store is usually a fairly easy process, even if there’s no common language between the vendor and the customer. It’s a very different matter when it comes to important dealings with business partners or governmental officials.

First of all, there’s the issue of customs which we have already mentioned. Proper business etiquette becomes very important when you deal face-to-face with people who have different standards, customs or expectations. This often comes into play when Western and Chinese suppliers, clients, partners or officials meet in person. An experienced Chinese interpreter can help you navigate these sometimes-treacherous etiquette situations, and can even prepare you in advance so you know what to expect and what will be expected from you. Subtleties such as firm handshakes or “bro hugs” (a no-no when meeting a Chinese counterpart), immediate and respectful exchange of business cards (a must-do), or “getting right down to business” (extremely rude in Chinese culture) can be roadblocks to establishing good relations, and your interpreter will be able to make sure you don’t destroy a meeting before it even begins.

Second, there are the questions of intent, feeling and inflection. Even with rudimentary knowledge of another language, it can be extremely difficult to understand the subtext or true meaning of a statement or comment. It can be just as hard to convey your message properly if you are struggling to get by in an unfamiliar language. This is particularly true in Mandarin Chinese because tone, register and inflection are key elements of the language. A qualified interpreter who is fluent in both languages is able to convey not just the literal meaning of what is being said, but the “real” meaning behind it.

Finally, there is the matter of simultaneous or consecutive interpretation. Some situations call for an interpreter to translate both sides of a discussion as it is ongoing (simultaneous), while others lend themselves to the parties speaking one at a time with the translation following afterward (consecutive). There may even be two interpreters involved, one for each side. In any of these situations, a certified Mandarin interpreter from Vivi’s Chinese Interpreters & Translation can be invaluable in making sure that each side is clearly understood by the other.

Other Reasons A Chinese Interpreter May Be Needed

A growing number of conferences and exhibitions are being held in China, and it can be overwhelming to face an endless schedule of lectures, product sourcing, negotiating sessions with potential suppliers or group meetings when you’re not fluent in the language. Having a Mandarin Chinese interpreter with you as you navigate a major conference in Beijing or a huge exhibition in Guangzhou can be an enormous advantage.

Many Western businesses are setting up shop in China, and that can mean lengthy meetings with government officials at several levels. In cases like these, it is strongly advisable to have an interpreter in China with you, so you can handle the often-tricky regulatory processes you may face, without the added burden of trying to understand the fine points of the language and unspoken messages officials may be sending with their inflection or emphasis.

If you’re in China on business or just visiting for pleasure, you may want to take a leisurely and interesting tour of Beijing or other Chinese cities without worrying about being understood. Vivi’s Chinese Interpreters & Translation can provide knowledgeable and friendly guide/interpreters to make your trip more enjoyable.
Why A Specialized Translator Or Interpreter Is Important

It’s fairly easy to find someone who speaks both Mandarin Chinese and English, and who claims to be able to translate or interpret for you. That’s fine if your need for language services is general and not overly important. However, if you are serious about doing business in China or with Chinese companies, you’ll most likely want to find someone who not only knows the language but also knows your industry. Vivi’s Chinese Interpreters & Translation has a wide selection of specialists knowledgeable about nearly every business.

One of the fields particularly sensitive to proper Chinese translation is the financial industry. Ensuring that exact details and metrics on financial statements are properly expressed can be the difference between a successful investment or transaction and one which falls apart quickly. The narrative and qualifications which accompany financial statements are equally crucial to investors, and accurate translation and localization of these items is crucial. The financial experts at Vivi’s Chinese Interpreters & Translation have years of experience in providing exact translations which maintain the quality of the data and are expressed in proper terminology for a Chinese clientele.

Another area of specialty where one error can result in disaster is the law. Straightforward English-Chinese translation of legal documents may end in legal nightmares and penalties, because a lack of familiarity with the ins-and-outs of Chinese law can lead to an agreement which codifies illegalities or locks a company into an unintended and unbreakable contract. There is no substitute for a Mandarin translator who handles legal documents on a daily basis; he or she can ensure the integrity and legality of the translation, and can alert you when differences in culture or law are problematic.

There are also many industries with language and terms specific to their field. An “ordinary” Chinese translator would be likely to run into difficulties trying to express the technical specifications of a car engine or a new skyscraper, the possible ramifications of medical procedures or increased watering of vineyards, or the details of a political campaign or hotel staffing requirements. Vivi’s Chinese Interpreters & Translation has staffers who specialize in the automotive, construction, medical, wine, political and hospitality industries – and many other fields – who know exactly how to take complicated and industry-specific English documents and translate them so the specifics and meaning are neither lost nor confused.

It’s often crucial that a company is able to find an English to Chinese translator who has experience in the marketing field, because a marketing campaign can completely lose its impact if direct translation doesn’t convey the desired meaning and feel. An oft-quoted example is the disaster which Kentucky Fried Chicken experienced when the company slogan “finger-lickin’ good” was promoted in China. KFC’s translator translated the phrase literally, so Chinese consumers were actually being urged to “eat your fingers off.” If the company had used a Mandarin Chinese translator and linguist qualified in marketing and localization, KFC would have been warned about the literal translation and given suggestions on how to convey the same idea in a tag line which made sense in Chinese.

An inexperienced translator was also responsible for an expensive problem for Coke. The company wanted to find the right Chinese characters so that its product would be pronounced “Coca-Cola,” and its translator chose characters which phonetically sounded like “Ke-kou-ke-la.” The company didn’t discover until the marketing campaign was underway that in some Chinese dialects, the phrase that the characters spelled out meant “female horse stuffed with wax” or “bite the wax tadpole.” Again, someone skilled in marketing, English to Chinese translation and localization would have caught the error before it became costly.

Worldwide Translation And Interpreter Service

Globalization means that companies all over the world are now doing extensive business with Chinese firms so the need for English-Chinese translators has grown in most countries, as has the demand for interpreters and translators in China. Finding an experienced freelance translator or interpreter can be a hit-or-miss proposition. That is why Vivi’s Chinese Interpreters & Translation has established a network of certified and qualified linguistic professionals across the globe, providing the same level of quality and service from the United States and Canada, to the United Kingdom and across Europe, all the way down to Australia – as well as in more than a dozen Chinese cities and in Taiwan.

One of the most common business needs in the 2010s is English to Chinese translation for websites, and Vivi’s Chinese Interpreters & Translation has specialists in web translation. But there are many other services heavily in demand. For example, companies often need English-Chinese or Spanish to Chinese interpreters for client/supplier factory visits in the U.S. or Latin America; Vivienne Ma’s skilled team can help those visits go smoothly with either simultaneous or consecutive interpreting.

Hiring The Best

For all of these reasons, Mandarin (or Cantonese) Chinese translators and interpreters have become important for companies doing business with 20% of the world’s population (Chinese residents), in the language most often used both offline and online (Chinese). Some major multi-national corporations employ linguists to handle their translation, localization and interpreting. But that’s not always cost-effective, even for medium-sized or large companies.
The solution for most companies is to utilize the services of an experienced, diverse and culturally-aware worldwide network of professionals for their Chinese translation and interpreting. Vivi’s Chinese Interpreters & Translation [link] can provide those services in virtually any location, at a reasonable price – with specialists who are familiar with your industry.