When Chinese manufacturers translate their product descriptions into English, certain mistakes appear again and again. These errors don't just make your content look unprofessional—they actively cost you sales by confusing customers and damaging trust.
1. Incorrect Article Usage
One of the most common issues is missing or incorrect articles (a, an, the). Chinese doesn't use articles, so translators often omit them entirely or use them incorrectly.
Wrong: "Product is made of high quality material"
Right: "The product is made of high-quality materials"
2. Plural Form Errors
Another frequent mistake is using singular forms where plurals are needed, or vice versa.
Wrong: "Available in 5 color"
Right: "Available in 5 colors"
3. Awkward Word Order
Direct translations from Chinese often result in unnatural English word order that confuses readers.
Wrong: "This phone very powerful is"
Right: "This phone is very powerful"
4. Overly Literal Translations
Idioms and expressions don't translate literally. What sounds poetic in Chinese can sound bizarre in English.
Wrong: "This product will make your heart flower open"
Right: "This product will delight you" or "You'll love this product"
5. Inconsistent Terminology
Using different terms for the same feature throughout your description confuses customers.
Wrong: Using "power button," "on/off switch," and "start button" to refer to the same thing
Right: Pick one term and use it consistently
6. Vague or Exaggerated Claims
Chinese marketing often uses flowery, exaggerated language that doesn't work in English-speaking markets.
Wrong: "Super amazing fantastic quality beyond imagination"
Right: "Premium quality construction" or "Exceptional build quality"
7. Missing Context
Translators sometimes assume knowledge that English-speaking customers don't have.
Wrong: "Compatible with national standard plug"
Right: "Compatible with US standard 110V outlets" (be specific about which market)
8. Grammatical Tense Errors
Mixing past, present, and future tenses inappropriately.
Wrong: "Product will shipped yesterday"
Right: "Product ships within 24 hours" or "Product was shipped"
9. Spelling and Capitalization Issues
Random capitalization and British vs. American spelling inconsistencies.
Wrong: "Colour Screen Display with High Resolution"
Right (US): "Color screen display with high resolution"
Right (UK): "Colour screen display with high resolution"
10. Technical Specification Confusion
Mixing up units of measurement or using incorrect technical terms.
Wrong: "Battery: 3000 mA"
Right: "Battery: 3000 mAh" (milliamp-hours, not milliamps)
The Solution
These mistakes are completely avoidable with professional English editing. A native English speaker with localization experience can transform your product descriptions from confusing to compelling, helping you build trust with customers and increase sales.
Don't let poor English translations cost you business. Invest in professional editing—it pays for itself through improved conversion rates and reduced customer service inquiries about confusing descriptions.