Chinese to English translation
Chinese to English translation is one of the most requested language combinations: Chinese has around 1.3B speakers.
Choose Simplified (mainland China, Singapore) or Traditional (Taiwan, Hong Kong) characters. Text is much shorter in characters but not in reading time; no spaces between words.
Indicative freelance rates for east asian languages run from about $0.10 to $0.22 per word for general commercial work; specialised, certified and urgent jobs cost more, and literary translation is usually paid per 1,000 words.
In the US, 3,549,780 people speak Chinese at home and 1,815,921 speak English less than "very well", which drives steady demand for Chinese–English translation and interpreting in healthcare, legal and public services.
Indicative rates
Per-word band for general commercial work in the east asian group. Real quotes depend on subject, volume, deadline and experience.
Translation cost calculatorEstimate a quote by language, word count, subject and deadline.
Open calculator →Tips for Chinese → English projects
- Quote by source characters or words consistently — CJK character counts are not comparable with English word counts.
- Decide on US or UK English spelling and punctuation conventions up front.
- For official documents (birth certificates, diplomas) into English, US agencies usually accept a translator's signed certification; check the receiving institution.
- Send reference material and a glossary of brand or series terms; it saves revision rounds and money.
Frequently asked questions
How much does Chinese to English translation cost?
Typical freelance rates are about $0.10–$0.22 per word, depending on subject, deadline and the translator's experience.
How long does it take to translate Chinese to English?
A professional translator typically produces 2,000–3,000 words a day, plus time for revision by a second linguist.