j2y8n2x

Gothitelle iz naught imprezzed

Seen March 20th, 2011
Posted March 20th, 2011
89 posts
12.2 Years
Apparently, Pokemon fans from Hong Kong are so annoyed with the names that they are sending letters of complaint to The Pokemon Company

Here's the English letter (they did a Japanese one earlier too),
containing the most stupid names ever.
(read the letters in bold to save time)

Dear sir/ madam,


We are a group of Pokemon aficionados from Hong Kong and Taiwan who were very excited by the release of the Black and White games, and so as the anime series. Many of us had been supporting your world-class franchise since 1996.
Unfortunately, our excitement and enjoyment to the franchise was totally wiped out by the abysmally horrible Chinese translations, which had sadden us deeply and even drove some of us to frustration and rage.

The Chinese translations of the generation 5 Pokemon names and moves, translated by the franchiser of Hong Kong and Taiwan—the Top-Insight International Co., Ltd , are not only full of translation errors, but also reminds us nothing more than a baby's gibberish, despite the fact that according to the leaders in Game Freak, Pokemon Black and White are meant to target an older audience, especially teens.
Moreover, many of the Pokemon Chinese names are completely irrelevant to what the Pokemon really is. Some are even misleading.
This had set us into shock, firstly to find out that not one single of our suggested translations were used, and secondly due to the quality.


Here are some examples out of the most bizzare translations:

  1. The move Leaf Tornado, (GRASS Mixer in Japanese), was translated as “GLASS Mixer”, a clear confusion between “grass” and “glass”. Leaf Tornado is a GRASS-typed move, and has NOTHING to do with glass.
  2. The Pokemon Axew (Kibago in Japanese) was translated as “Tooth-tooth”, some baby's gibberish.
  3. The Pokemon Minccino (Chillarmy in Japanese) was translated as “Bubble Chinchilla”, which is misleading since Minccino is neither a water typed Pokemon nor learns any moves to do with bubbles.
  4. The Pokemon Audino (Tabunne in Japanese) was translated as “More-or-less Dolly”. Although in Japanese, “More-or-less” is a homophone of “To be heard”, we do not think that this confusion is acceptable. Also, Audino has NOTHING to do with dolls.
  5. The Pokemon Ducklett (Koaruhi in Japanese) was translated as “Little Duck Goose”--so is it a duck or a goose?
  6. The Pokemon Vullaby (Baruchai in Japanese), and its evolve Mandibuzz (barujiina) was translated as “Vulture Princess” and “Vulture Queen” respectively. We have no idea where the “Princess” and “Queen” came from.
  7. The Pokemon Heatmor (kuitaran in Japanese), the ANTEATER Pokemon, was mistakenly translated to “Mosquito-eating monster”
  8. The Pokemon Chandelure (Shandera in Japanese), which takes form as a chandelier, was translated as “Chandelier Carnival”. Now where does the “carnival” come from?


Further more, we have noticed that the translations had only considered its pronunciation in Mandarin, and had completely ignored the Cantonese factor while translating it. This had set Hong Kong Pokemon aficionados into anger. Many of the names can not even be read aloud in Cantonese, which poses issues in upcoming anime series. Despite our numerous protests, our franchiser insists Hong Kong to use the same set of names as Taiwan does.
I personally acknowledge that the same set of Pokemon names are used in English, Spanish and Norwegian, so it may be difficult for you to understand why Cantonese speakers demand a separate set of names, yet the translation mistakes of this company should not be denied.


We write to you with the aim of changing the company completely, or if it is impossible, we at least would like a complete change on the problematic names.


Please listen to our complaints, and take action so we can be able to enjoy our Pokemon games and animations as we once did since 1996.


Besides, if the Pokemon Company wishes to promote the Pokemon franchise in Mainland China, these horrible Chinese names will not do a single help in your promotions— not only that people would not be interested, it will also create a bad impression to the Mainland Chinese population, as they will have the impression that Pokemon is for either 3 year old kids, or a bunch of retards.


Thank you for your kind attention.


Yours sincerely,
Members of Hong Kong Pokemon Alliance Forum and numerous supporting Pokemon players from Taiwan.

Taemin

MOVE

he / they
USA
Seen January 6th, 2023
Posted December 9th, 2022
11,196 posts
17.8 Years
^ It would make a pretty beast name for an Ice move, not gonna lie.

That aside, I feel really bad for Pokemon fans that live in China. D:

Anyone who's still complaining about the English names for Gen 5 should read this thread. Really.


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vaporeon7

My life would suck without you

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Seen September 6th, 2016
Posted May 27th, 2014
5,143 posts
12.8 Years
You think they would get someone to check before they submit this wouldn't you. Glass Mixer is jut poor.

bobandbill

one more time

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Seen 2 Hours Ago
Posted 5 Hours Ago
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15.2 Years
Anyone who's still complaining about the English names for Gen 5 should read this thread. Really.
This a thousand times over. Sure, the English names have been never great (not the 'never' seeing many 1st gen names are just as 'unoriginal' as others) but they're nowhere near this bad.

Glass Tornado would be epic if it wasn't for a grass move.

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King Gumball

Haven't been here for ages...

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Seen April 8th, 2013
Posted April 8th, 2013
2,178 posts
12.8 Years
Wow... that is really bad... They are some awful, simple mistakes, well not really mistakes but errors that should have been thought through. Tooth Tooth? I wonder how Anime there will cope, I hope they do take up Taiwanese names. B/W are the best games imo, but they would probably be the worst if I was from HK.
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Sora's Nobody

The Official Roxas

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Seen January 4th, 2014
Posted July 4th, 2011
1,112 posts
14 Years
Horrible. Althought i do believe, that Vullaby's name makes pretty good sense. Vullaby is Female-only. I want to see it's counterpart Rufflet. If that name as something male-ish in the name it will make perfect sense, as Rufflet is Male-only.

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Male
Kwun Tong Mountains
Seen November 18th, 2015
Posted July 20th, 2012
3,003 posts
15.8 Years
^ It would make a pretty beast name for an Ice move, not gonna lie.

That aside, I feel really bad for Pokemon fans that live in China. D:

Anyone who's still complaining about the English names for Gen 5 should read this thread. Really.
I live in China (Hong Kong) and Hong Kong has provided English education for all schools, so therefore, it wouldn't be a problem for me or my HK friends.

Anyways, author, can you write those PKMN names and move names in Chinese? I wanna laugh at the errors.
Back to the topic, most people from HK can read English. It ain't a problem for HK citizens to play the English B/W.
I am now an anime dubber, cover singer and a fan of anime. I can still apply as a translator and grammar corrector, though.
Age 31
Female
Seen August 15th, 2011
Posted April 2nd, 2011
133 posts
13.2 Years
Wow I feel bad for them =(
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j2y8n2x

Gothitelle iz naught imprezzed

Seen March 20th, 2011
Posted March 20th, 2011
89 posts
12.2 Years
This thread belongs in the B/W forum so I'll move it there now.
no it does not!
There are no Chinese games!
I'm talking about the anime!
We all play games in Japanese or English
My god, how can a translator be that stupid? Are they trying to simply kill all sales of the games? Wow.
They are killing the anime!
And the anime IS using these stupid names!

Games aren't a problem because no Chinese Pokemon game exists.
We all play Japanese or English versions, so we have already finished our games a long time ago.

It's the anime that's getting us on fire.

Also, they are airing it in the children's TV channel...against Pokemon's aims.

I live in China (Hong Kong) and Hong Kong has provided English education for all schools, so therefore, it wouldn't be a problem for me or my HK friends.

Anyways, author, can you write those PKMN names and move names in Chinese? I wanna laugh at the errors.
Back to the topic, most people from HK can read English. It ain't a problem for HK citizens to play the English B/W.
Here:

Sora's Nobody

The Official Roxas

Male
Destiny Island
Seen January 4th, 2014
Posted July 4th, 2011
1,112 posts
14 Years
no it does not!
There are no Chinese games!
I'm talking about the anime!
We all play games in Japanese or English

They are killing the anime!
And the anime IS using these stupid names!

Games aren't a problem because no Chinese Pokemon game exists.
We all play Japanese or English versions, so we have already finished our games a long time ago.

It's the anime that's getting us on fire.

Also, they are airing it in the children's TV channel...against Pokemon's aims.


Here:
Relax, will you. You didnt state any place in the post it was concerning anime. So Serene Grace obviously moved it to the BW section, because it was concerning gen 5 names. On top of that, this wouldnt even go in the Pokemon General section, but in the Pokemon Anime Section.

Sora's Nobody ★ Nothing Yet!
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Age 30
Male
Long Beach,California
Seen April 23rd, 2011
Posted April 23rd, 2011
152 posts
12.2 Years
Well the Japanese names are the best in my opinion and it took me a while to get used to the English ones but these are just ridiculous. As much as I like Pokemon, I don't think I would have went to the extreme of writing a letter of complaint, that's just not me. Hopefully they will release another version or something but if I was in this situation I'd just nickname all of my Pokemon.

Azumi

★七色に光る女★

Age 28
Female
SE.RA.PH
Seen January 3rd, 2017
Posted September 7th, 2014
1,631 posts
15.2 Years
I just checked Bulbapedia and found these translations:

1. Pansear/Baoppu is "Stir-fried Monkey" or if you want the literal translation "Explosion Fragrant Monkey". The literal one doesn't make sense, especially with the fragrant part, but if you think about the real meaning of the name... ;~;

2. Munna is "Eat Dream Dream" and Musharna is "Dream Dream Erode" (erode in Chinese also means eclipse). Please note that Mew's Chinese name is "Dream Dream" as well. Also, it's kind of strange that, when usually the Pokemon name would be adjective + animal name, like Snivy's "Vine Vine Snake", this Pokemon doesn't follow the pattern at all.
Note: This rule is irrelavent with the Zorua line, Reshiram/Zekrom and some others because they're just a literal translation of the Japanese name.

3. Woobat/Kokomori is "Roll Roll Bat". 'nuff said.

4. Haxorus/Onokunusu is "Double Axe Battle Dragon". The translation is okay, but it really sounds like a Digimon name when it's in Chinese.

Your Mileage May Vary with all of these, though. :/




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