Japanese is widely considered to be one of the most challenging languages to learn. This means that Japanese translation is also difficult to execute.

With three separate character sets and no derivatives from other languages, Japanese can be hard to translate accurately. Here’s a look in more detail at some of the more specific challenges that Japanese translators face.

#1: No Correlation

One of the biggest problems is that there are some words in Japanese that simply don’t have an equivalent English version. This means that finding the right words in the other language can be an uphill battle.

The challenge lies in preserving the original Japanese intended meaning, especially when it’s an abstract concept. Without a literal translation, things can go badly wrong. For example, Taco Bell translated “cheesy chips” as “low-quality chips” – definitely not what they meant!

#2: No Plural Nouns

Japanese language doesn’t contain plural nouns, which can be confusing when translating into English as context becomes vital. The lack of plural nouns also means that even the methods of counting may vary, complicating matters even more!

#3: Complex Language

Kanji is one of the most popular writing styles in Japan, but the inclusion of concepts rather than actual words increases the difficulty. Kanji uses the strokes within a group of characters to communicate different meanings. When you consider there are 2000 frequently used characters and a few thousand more which are used more occasionally, the task of translating the language starts to become clear.

#4: Unclear Pronouns

Japanese was ambiguous about pronouns even before it became a global trend. This is because it’s not always clear what gender the person is in the Japanese language, with generic references used instead of specific genders. As English doesn’t have the same type of non-gendered language, it takes an experienced translator to be able to find the right words for Japanese translation.

#5: Cultural Nuance

Any linguist has to ensure they capture the cultural nuances of the language accurately. To do so with Japanese, it’s necessary to break the sentence down into small chunks to convey the unique grammar and sense of formality which is commonly used. Takara International (HK) Ltd. handles Japanese translation with care, knowing that with the use of our native Japanese translators, Japanese jargons and nuances are of no problem to you anymore.

#6: Different Tenses

In English, language can be broken down into three distinct tenses: past, present and future. Although this may seem like a basic idea, it’s different in Japanese. The Japanese language only has two tenses, the past and anything that’s not the past. In other words, the present and future would be discussed using the same tense, a complicated concept for a non-native speaker to comprehend.

#7: Placement of Verbs and Subjects

The structure of Japanese grammar is very different from English, and some elements are missing entirely. For example, in English the verb and subject usually appear near the beginning of a sentence. By contrast, in Japanese the verb can be found at the end while the subject often isn’t mentioned at all. Instead, the audience must identify the subject by the context rather than an explicit reference.

#8: Native Understanding

The complexity and different nuances of the Japanese language mean that a native translator is essential for an accurate result. If the translator does not have the same degree of knowledge as the writer or audience, it’s easy to misunderstand and misrepresent the information in the text.