Japanese Translation Services: 5 Tips to Improve Your Translations

There is no denying that the internet has become a part of daily life, and the world’s economy is becoming increasingly globalised. The opportunity to communicate with one another has thus never been more accessible or important, and translation services are used by businesses across the globe to ease communications. Japanese translation services are one of the most in-demand, and our Japanese translation agency is one of many offering this language service.

With its unique grammar rules, writing script, and vocabulary, Japanese is a complex language to translate. Let’s explore some of the issues of English to Japanese (or vice versa) translations and how hiring Japanese translation services can help you overcome these common pitfalls.

Pay Attention to Grammar

As with any professional translation, grammar matters! And grammar is no less important in Japanese translations than in any other language. Make sure to have a basic understanding of the grammar of both the initial and target language and apply that knowledge when translating to Japanese.

For instance, there are no plurals or articles in Japanese grammar. There are also structural particles in the Japanese language that have no equivalents in the English language. These language nuances can be a little confusing for anybody who is not a native speaker or fluent in Japanese as their second language to offer accurate Japanese translation services.

To get these grammatical rules and discrepancies correct, you must study how to make up for these differences when working on something that needs to be translated into Japanese. It is best to work with a Japanese translation agency that hires qualified native speakers. These people can intuitively use the correct grammar, so your deliverables are 100% accurate (and you don’t need to stress about learning complex grammar rules!).

Do Not Depend on Machine Translations

Japanese translation services are available online using free machine translation tools like Google Translate. However, many Japanese sayings have no direct English translation, and it is easy for the message to get lost in a machine translation.

If you do choose to use a  machine to translate to Japanese, make sure to run translations by someone who speaks the language fluently afterwards. This person will be more familiar with slang words and then be able to provide precise translations. A better option is to hire a Japanese translation agency for editing and proofreading, if not the full translation process.

Do Not Be Afraid to Transcreate Content

Transcreation services are beneficial when there is no direct English to Japanese translation of a saying or a message. This service isn’t available when using free online translation tools. However, a professional Japanese translation agency can accurately render the message to make it more appropriate for a Japanese audience.

When transcreating content, the context and the intent of the message will stay as close as possible to the original, but the direct translation will have changed. This can be pretty hard to do, but it is crucial for audience engagement. Only someone with an in-depth knowledge of Japanese culture can adapt your content as part of their Japanese translation services.

For instance, let’s say that an American company has a slogan that depends on its audience’s knowledge of a nursery rhyme. This company would like to start selling in Japan; however, the Japanese audience does not know this American nursery rhyme, so the slogan loses its effect. This is when you need professional transcreation to make the tagline more appropriate for Japanese speakers. The company can now start making money in Japan!

Always Read Over English to Japanese Translations

As with any translation, always read over the Japanese translation when it is done. This is best done by a native speaker of the language or at least someone fluent in it. Even better is someone intimately knowledgeable about Japanese culture and who works at a Japanese translation agency. This person can look at the Japanese translation and tell if the Japanese public would understand the message.

Conversely, if a non-native translator provides your English to Japanese translation services, there will probably be some issues. You may be left wondering why your sales are low in Japan compared to other countries. But the answer could be in something seemingly simple as a Japanese translation gone wrong! We cannot stress the importance of checking and double-checking your translations enough. Even when you think it’s perfect, check once more!

Be Creative in Your Japanese Translation Service

Finally, know that it is fine not to have a verbatim translation. As a matter of fact, getting creative with the translation can improve the message and impact within the Japanese market. But how do you get creative with translations, you ask? It is really quite simple.

We recommend starting with a verbatim translation and deciding what message the original text is trying to convey. Once you have decided that, try new ways to say it in Japanese without losing too much of the original message. As long as the tone and message remain close to the original, minor tweaks can take your Japanese translation services up a level.

Remember, the important part of your Japanese translation is to deliver a clear message to your audience. If that involves changing the wording or even the background story (if there was one used), then so be it! It is important to remember that creative translation is impossible when using machines and is only truly accessible through a professional Japanese translation agency.

Renaissance Translations’ Japanese Translation Services

Renaissance Translations can help anyone looking for a reliable Japanese translation agency. Our professional Japanese translators are on hand to help you with your translation needs. We have won the trust of thousands of companies thanks to our stringent quality control procedures and would love to add you to our list of happy clients. Contact us today to learn more about our Japanese translation services or request a quote for your project.