FAQS

Do I need an interpreter?

An interpreter and translator are two diverse people. An interpreter deals with spoken languages but a translator only focuses on the written word.

The main reason an interpreter will be used is due to a language difficulty. Interpreters are often used for presentations, meetings, conferences, court hearings, police enquiries and all sorts of other situations where people cannot communicate with one another due to language differences.

How much does an interpreter cost?

Our costs depend on many different factors; the length of the job, the type of subject matter, where the location is and the number of interpreters required.

Although an hourly rate for interpreters will be set, we also have an additional charge for travel time and expenses. We will always try our best to match you to an interpreter closest to you in order to keep your costs as low as possible.

Please contact us for a quote.

Are interpreters available throughout China?

Our interpreters cover most of the main cities. Even if we do not have an interpreter near you please ask as we may be able provide one.

How many interpreters do I need?

This is entirely up to you and to a large extent depends on the type of work you require. As interpreting is a mentally exhausting skill, you should not expect your interpreter to work for hours without a break.
Generally, for simultaneous interpreting it is wise to hire two interpreters for a day, so that they can take turns.

For consecutive interpreting the needs are slightly different and dependent on the nature of the job. We are happy to offer you advice on this matter.

What kind of interpreter do I need?

Please refer to our section on services where the differences between simultaneous and consecutive interpreters are fully explained.

If you don’t know what kind of interpreter you need please contact us and we will be happy to assist you.

What information do I need to give you?

It will be very useful to us if you could initially tell us about the following areas:

Dates:
Daily Start/ Finish Times:
Location:
Type of job:
Other attendants:

How do I get the best out of my interpreter?

You can prepare them well by giving them as much background information as possible. For example, you can provide them with a copy of your speech, discuss and clarify any jargon or complicated vocabulary and warn them about any controversial or delicate topics.