Check language and writing separately
Mandarin, Cantonese and other forms of language are not the same; Short and long characters also affect the writing.
Sinitic language group
Have Chinese translated
中文
“Chinese” refers to several Sinitic language forms. For a reliable translation, the spoken variant, origin and characters used must be clearly identified.
Sinitic languages are spoken by more than a billion people in total; Mandarin forms the largest single group.
Geographical distribution of Chinese
- Main distribution
- Other regional use
- Selected Diaspora
China
Taiwan
Singapore
Hong Kong Special Administrative Region
Macau Special Administrative Region
Malaysia
United States
Schematic selection of important distribution areas. Language usage does not always follow national borders; the map is not complete population statistics.
Language profile
Chinese at a glance
- Proper name
- 中文
- language family
- Sinitic language group
- font
- Chinese characters, simplified or traditional
- Language code
- zh
Documents and deployment
The language direction is often used
It's not just the language that matters. ABBA-Sprachendienste also classifies document type, recipient, subject area, certification requirement and desired language direction.
Have the document checked- Diplomas and university certificates
- Birth and marriage certificates
- Commercial register and company documents
- Certificates and technical documents
- Contracts and powers of attorney
Origin and development
How language developed
The Chinese writing tradition goes back several millennia. Spoken varieties can vary greatly from one another, while common written forms enabled cross-regionally understandable communication for a long time.
Today, documents mainly contain simplified characters from the People's Republic of China and Singapore as well as traditional characters from Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macau. This distinction is practically important for names, stamps and forms.
Good to know
What makes this language special
Names have several orders
Family name and personal name can be arranged differently than in German forms. An existing passport spelling is particularly helpful.
Stamps carry content
Official seals, company stamps and marginal notes can contain essential information and must not be treated purely decoratively.
A little language insight
Three first expressions
The transcription only serves as an initial guide. Pronunciation and regional forms may vary.
| Original | Transcription | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 你好 | nǐ hǎo | Hello |
| 谢谢 | xiexie | Thank you |
| 请 | qǐng | Please |
Sources and classification
Further information
Speaker numbers are rounded guide values and may vary depending on the definition, year of survey and inclusion of second language speakers.
- Chinese languages
Wikipedia · language-specific overview
- Codes for the Representation of Names of Languages
Library of Congress / ISO 639-2 Registration Authority · Language codes and standardized language names
- Language and Locale Names
Unicode Common Locale Data Repository · Language, script and area names and variants
- Glottolog 5.3
Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology · Language families, classification and linguistic literature
Editorial source status: July 14, 2026. Information will be cross-checked before production goes live.
Chinese FAQ
Frequently asked questions about Chinese
Can I have Chinese translated into German and German into Chinese?
Both directions can be requested. A binding commitment is made after checking the type of document, subject area, certification, date and intended use.
Which documents are often relevant in Chinese?
Diplomas and university certificates, birth and marriage certificates, commercial register and company documents, certificates and technical documents are among the typical occasions. Other types of documents can also be checked with an easy-to-read photo or PDF.
What does ABBA-Sprachendienste look for in Chinese?
The language direction, document type, Chinese characters, simplified or traditional, names, stamps, subject area, purpose and possible need for certification are checked.
Do I need a certified translation for my Chinese document?
This is decided by the receiving authority, the court, the notary or the other requesting body. Tell ABBA-Sprachendienste where the document will be presented; then the need can be classified appropriately.
Is a photo enough for the first check?
Yes. A complete, sharp and easy-to-read photo or PDF is usually sufficient to check the offer. Depending on the order, the original may also be required for later execution.
Have Chinese ↔ German checked specifically
Send an easy-to-read photo or PDF. ABBA-Sprachendienste personally checks the language direction, document, purpose and certification requirements.
