Characteristics of Polyphonic Chinese Characters and Translation-Related Issues: The Case of the Character “单”

Abstract

Polyphonic Chinese characters are a distinctive phenomenon in the Chinese language. They are not only a unique linguistic feature of Chinese, but also have a certain impact on the learning and communication of native speakers, while posing a significant linguistic barrier for foreigners learning Chinese. Many learners are unable to distinguish the different pronunciations and meanings of polyphonic characters, which often leads to misreading, misunderstanding, and mistranslation.This paper focuses on the case of the character “单” — a typical polyphonic Chinese character with three Sino-Vietnamese readings— and analyzes common translation errors when converting it into Vietnamese, especially in proper nouns such as surnames. Based on fundamental theories of polyphonic Chinese characters, the paper explores their origins, classifications, and characteristics, as well as the common errors made during translation. It then proposes several strategies to help learners minimize basic translation mistakes when dealing with polyphonic Chinese characters.