Chinese-English translation is notoriously difficult.
Bing is a web-based system developed by Microsoft.
特快翻譯 is an app for both iPhone and
Android developed by RockCat Studio.
Both software are accurate in most of the sentences that I have tried, but both have produced horrible translations.
I find 特快翻譯
slightly better in both accuracy and readability in the Chinese that it produces.
Being an app means that it can be carried and used even when no Internet connection is available.
It is an invaluable tool for travellers.
Translation is an art. One cannot expect translations to be 100% accurate, especially for tricky sentences or specialised subjects.
I have tested a number of machine translation software. Some of them are rather poor. Two of the better systems that I've tried are the web-based Bing Translator by Microsoft and the app-based 特快翻譯 by RockCat Studio.
Following are some of the sentences that I have tried. Out of the 16 tests, Bing is right 9 times, RockCat is right 10 times. Bing failed miserably in 4 times, RockCat 3 times. The rest 3 cases are acceptable but not perfect.
| Text to be translated | Bing Translator | RockCat 特快翻譯 | Remarks |
| Winner takes all. | 贏家通吃。 | 贏家通吃。 | Perfect translation by both software. |
| I saw a man in the park with a telescope | 我看見一個人在公園裡用望遠鏡 | 我用望遠鏡看到一個人在公園 | Both translations are acceptable, given that the English sentence is ambiguous. |
| I saw a man in the park with a telescope. | 我用望遠鏡看見一名男子在公園裡。 | 我用望遠鏡看到一個人在公園。 | Both translations are acceptable. Interestingly Bing provides a different interpretation of the same sentence above, but RockCat is more consistent. |
| There is cause for concern. | 有理由表示關注。 | 令人擔憂。 | Both translations are acceptable, but RockCat's Chinese more accurately expresses the concern. Bing's translation may sound too mild to Chinese speakers who don't know English. |
| My policy on this matter is not to have a policy. | 我在此問題上的政策並不是有一套政策。 | 我在這個問題上的政策是不是有一個政策。 | Neither translation is correct. I am not sure if they could be understood by a Chinese speaker who doesn't understand English. |
| He who dares wins. | 他敢於 wins。 | 誰它的敢贏。 | Neither translation is meaningful. Interestingly, Bing refuses to translate the word "wins". |
| Are there any vegetarian choices? | 是否有任何素食選擇嗎？ | 是否有任何素食選擇嗎？ | Just about ok. Both translations are comprehensible. However, the Chinese sentence is grammatically problematic. With "是否", there is no need to use "嗎". "有素食選擇嗎？" would be sufficient. |
| Where would I find a bank please? | 哪裡會請找到一家銀行？ | 我會在哪裡請找銀行？ | Just about ok. Both translations will be understood, but both Chinese sentences are poorly structured. |
| 請問那裡有銀行？ | There are Bank? | Excuse me, where is the bank? | Both translations are poor though they could be understood. |
| 可以平宜一點嗎？ | Can be expensive little? | Can be a bit cheaper? | I am surprised that Bing fails in this test. Bing's translation conveys the opposite message. RockCat's translation conveys the right message, though the translation is not very English. |
| 時間不早了，我要回家了。 | The hour is late, I want to go home. | It's getting late. I'll go home. | Both translations are acceptable. |
| 我對你的建議並無異議 | I have no objection to your proposal and | I have no objection to your suggestion | Both translations are correct. However, I don't know why Bing adds "and" at the end of the sentence. |
| 我對你的建議並無意見 | My recommendation for you and no comments | My advice to you is no comment | Both translations are completely wrong! |
| 請關掉手提電話 | Please switch off your mobile phone | Please turn off the mobile phone | Both translations are correct. Bing's translation is slightly better. |
| 請大家保持鎮定 | Please keep calm | Please remain calm | Both translations are good. |
| 請你考慮考慮吧！ | Would you please consider! | Please consider it! | Both translations are good. Bing's transalation is acceptable. RockCat's translation is perfect. |
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