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tips Can You Use Google Translate to Read Chinese Domain News?

Spaceship Spaceship
Recently, I was asked about the readability and reliability of Google Translate. As China plays a significant role in the domain industry, there is increasing interest to read Chinese domain news, which is often written in Chinese. Many investors turn to Google Translate to translate Chinese news to English, but my experiment that I share in this article suggests strong caution when using this tool.

In this experiment, I chose a very simple piece of news: the sale of a domain name in an auction. You can see the original text here. The main part of the story is reproduced below with only minor editing changes, which is followed by the text produced by Google Translate. The parts in bold indicate problems for discussion.

Chinese Text

3数字域名792.com近200万元昨晚结拍
2016-01-16 16:51:00易名中国 等等 评论:0 条 分享:0
易名中国(eName.cn)1月16日讯,近期,有不少3数字域名纷纷结拍。就在昨晚,3数字域名792.com以199万元的价格完成结拍。域名792.com与“去就爱、七九爱”等谐音,读起来十分顺溜,非常好记,该域名含有国人喜爱的数字9,有长长久久之意,2又谐音“爱”,寓意非常好,可以用来搭建婚恋、游戏、动漫等类型网站。数字域名具有简单易记、使用范围广、建站不受限制等优势,因而受到人们喜爱,而3数字域名更是仅次于2数字,自去年以来行情价格就不断上涨。此前688.com在易名中国十周年拍卖会上还拍出了958万元的高价。​

Google Translate

3 digital domain 792.com nearly 200 million last night beat knot
2016-01-16 16:51:00 easy to name China etc. Comments: 0 Share: 0
Renamed China (eName.cn) January 16 hearing, recently, there are many 3 Digital Domain have knot beat. Just last night, 3-digit domain 792.com 199 million price to complete the junction beat. Domain 792.com and "Love opinions, seventy-nine love" and homophonic, read Shunliu very, very easy to remember the domain name contains Chinese favorite numbers 9, there is a long long time in Italy, 2 and homophonic "love", meaning very well, that can be used to build a marriage, games, animation and other types of sites. Digital Domain has a simple and easy to remember, using a wide range of other advantages establishment unrestricted, so loved by the people, while 3 Digital Domain is second only to 2 figures, since last year, market prices have continued to rise. 688.com had changed its name in the tenth anniversary of China's auction also sold for 9.58 million yuan of the high prices.​

The result was disappointing because Google Translate failed to convey the important information in the news, as follows:
  • 200 million: Very serious error. The translation should be "2m yuan."
  • beat knot: Very serious error. Should be "end of auction (sold in auction)."
  • Renamed China: Unnecessary translation. Should be kept as "eName."
  • hearing: Serious error. Should be "information (news)" because "hearing" may suggest it is a rumor.
  • junction beat: Should be "sold in auction." Also inconsistent with the other translation "beat knot."
  • Love opinions, seventy-nine love:
    • This part is important. It tells you the number rhymes with "go and love" and "seven-nine love" in Chinese.
    • To be fair, it's even a challenge for me to translate. I am not sure of the meaning of "seven-nine love" but it probably means enduring love. According to Baidu, 79 may refer to the 63 days spanning from winter to spring.
    • This piece of information suggests potential application areas of the domain name.
  • long long time in Italy: Serious error. Should be "9 rhymes with forever." It has nothing to do with Italy.
  • 2 and homophonic "love": Should be "the number 2 rhymes with 'love'."

In this little experiment, I have found so many errors -- some very critical -- that I don't feel confident trusting Google Translate to be able to translate from Chinese to English with reasonable accuracy. Therefore, I suggest that you use it with great caution. If possible, check with a native Chinese speaker for confirmation.


Follow me to learn more about Chinese domain names.

This blog post was inspired by @Tytus and @equity78. Special thanks go to the NamePros editing team for their great support.
 
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The views expressed on this page by users and staff are their own, not those of NamePros.
@ Kassey Lee

Hi Kassey !

Have you got an idea why there is a lot of attention from China for this number ; 9958 ???

I owe this number in a certain extension and all the traffic/ type in 's/ unique visitors are from China.

Does this number have a special meaning in Chinese culture ???

Best regards,
Colombialicous
 
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@ Kassey Lee

Hi Kassey !

Have you got an idea why there is a lot of attention from China for this number ; 9958 ???

I owe this number in a certain extension and all the traffic/ type in 's/ unique visitors are from China.

Does this number have a special meaning in Chinese culture ???

Best regards,
Colombialicous
Probably :
A lot of Money Me Lucky
 
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Kassey-as always thank you. I think one also has to be careful-unless you speak Chinese-to use Google to see what an English name transfers to in pinyin. Myself I try to check at least three places and if they all come up pretty much the same then I think it's correct as a rule. What Im finding out is that in the Chinese language-unlike most English- different words can mean the same thing. Example-we just bought ZudeChe.com (hopefully "rental car") and readable by Chinese. Google doesn't come up with that wording at all. We've also seen that in other names with Google so I guess it's a good place to start but one must check other sources. Thank you!
 
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58 means I earn a lot of money in China.
@ Kassey Lee

Hi Kassey !

Have you got an idea why there is a lot of attention from China for this number ; 9958 ???

I owe this number in a certain extension and all the traffic/ type in 's/ unique visitors are from China.

Does this number have a special meaning in Chinese culture ???

Best regards,
Colombialicous
 
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@dotbay @fadn

thanks for the info !
" A lot of :$::$::$: " is what we all are looking for B-):D
 
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Have you got an idea why there is a lot of attention from China for this number ; 9958
Very good number. Regarding meanings, for example:
9958:久久我伴>For a very long time I'll accompany (you)
9958:久久我发>For a very long time I'll make a fortune

Example-we just bought ZudeChe.com (hopefully "rental car")
ZudeChe:租的车
Not sure if you really need "de".

ZuChe:租车>Car rental
See Baidu's explanation of it at:http://baike.baidu.com/link?url=PfS...rKlcazwTf4a6fMjIM35CYKOzLrnHcs_XG5PEwsN55acWK
 
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3p73hBj.png

This is the logo that is now on the one that I just bought. Not sure what that means. It is the site that was on the name before the guy dropped it, so I am not updating the dns at the moment till I know what I want to do with it.

What does the name (and number) mean?
 
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@ Kassey

thanks for the valuable info ! I'll be waiting very patient for the fortune :D
 
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3p73hBj.png

This is the logo that is now on the one that I just bought. Not sure what that means. It is the site that was on the name before the guy dropped it, so I am not updating the dns at the moment till I know what I want to do with it.

What does the name (and number) mean?
1280 may refer to high definition video.
快播影视》Fast broadcast of movie and TV.
So it could have been a video service?
 
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1280 may refer to high definition video.
快播影视》Fast broadcast of movie and TV.
So it could have been a video service?
It is pointed to the old site, and it appears to be a video site. Below is from the top of the website, translated on Chrome:

Powered films from Nora movie resource , Baidu movie resource , high-definition movies preview. This site does not provide any genuine film , please buy genuine.

Here is from the title tag:

1280快播影视资源网、最新好看的电影、高清影视在线观看
 
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I really love google translate
especially for chinese

otherwise I would be totall lost

now at least I can seperate spam from information
and react to iquiries from china
 
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Very good number. Regarding meanings, for example:
9958:久久我伴>For a very long time I'll accompany (you)
9958:久久我发>For a very long time I'll make a fortune


ZudeChe:租的车
Not sure if you really need "de".

ZuChe:租车>Car rental
See Baidu's explanation of it at:http://baike.baidu.com/link?url=PfS...rKlcazwTf4a6fMjIM35CYKOzLrnHcs_XG5PEwsN55acWK
Hi Kassey and thank you! We needed the "de" in ZudeChe.com because the other has been taken for 15 yeras lol Hopefully this one-ZudeChe.com works ok. Another like this we have is DaDeShuju.com ( hopefully read as "Big Data" ) again we had to add the "de" for the same reason. Thank you!
 
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Also Kassey-are you familiar with "Internet Plus" in China? You may want to Google it.
Sort of like their own "Internet of Things" within the country. Anyway we own YinTeWangJia.com ( long but hopefully it works) Commnets please? Thank you!
 
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The problem with GT if you are not a native Chinese speaker is that you can never know for sure if the translation is more or less accurate or there is someone in Google's HQ laughing at you.
 
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Good to know. So it's a video site.

That's a good use of GT. Thanks.

As I understand:

Internet Plus = Adding Internet to traditional businesses.
Thanks Kassey-"as i understand" you said above -did you mean as you understand YinTeWangJia.com to mean "Internet Plus" Thank you!
 
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I have little interest in Pinyin names as they are limited to the Chinese market only.
 
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I have little interest in Pinyin names as they are limited to the Chinese market only.
It's good to invest in areas you're familar with. :)

But I can't help but remember the saying... One man's trash is another man's treasure. The saying goes well for "domaining".
 
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But I can't help but remember the saying... One man's trash is another man's treasure. The saying goes well for "domaining".
Very true. We can find treasure in many areas. I know Pinyin but I choose not to acquire Pinyin names because I have better choices at this moment. If you want to invest in Pinyin names, make sure you can do research in Chinese and not have to rely on translation tools. Languages are not precise and just a slight change in spelling may ruin your investment.
 
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@ Kassey Lee

Hi Kassey !

Have you got an idea why there is a lot of attention from China for this number ; 9958 ???

I owe this number in a certain extension and all the traffic/ type in 's/ unique visitors are from China.

Does this number have a special meaning in Chinese culture ???

Best regards,
Colombialicous
Very good number. Regarding meanings, for example:
9958:久久我伴>For a very long time I'll accompany (you)
9958:久久我发>For a very long time I'll make a fortune

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Hi Kassey !

In my Profile space i have uploaded a screenshot of an email i received last week from China about one of my 7N dot COM domains ( 8698688.com)

Since i don't understand a single Chinese caracter, can you please translate the email ??

This one also looks like a good (Chinese ) combination of numbers when i check the visitor's origen.

Regards,
 
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Bought Zizhide.com ( zizhi de or autonomous) for a driverless car company in the future hopefully.
 
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990v.com Comments please?
 
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@ Kassey Lee

Hi Kassey !

Still waiting for the translation of the email i posted through my " Profile frame ".

I received the email from China about 2 weeks ago concerning one of my 7N - COM domains but i do not understand a single caracter.

Can you please translate ??

You can click on the profile picture to enlarge the screen.

Thanks in advance !
 
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