Beyond ‘mistranslation’: Reconsidering Chinese dish-name translation and legitimizing China English

Abstract

This article originates from a classroom episode where my students dismissed literal translations of Chinese dish names as ‘mistranslated Chinglish.’ That moment led me to reflect on a persistent blind spot in Chinese EFL instruction: the ignored relationship between language and culture. Critiquing the prescriptive norms that prefer neutral, descriptive equivalents to source-cultural imagery, this discussion moves beyond practical translation strategies. Instead, it employs Chinese dish-name translation as a lens to examine the relationship between language and culture, challenge reductive notions of ‘mistranslation,’ argue for the legitimacy of China English and explore implications for English teaching in China. Ultimately, the article advocates a shift in classroom attitudes—from ridicule to acceptance—to empower Chinese teachers and learners to use English in a more critical, creative and culturally confident way. Its central argument is that the distinction between Chinglish and China English is merely a matter of awareness.