Language barrier is one of the biggest challenges when travelling. With over 7,000 languages in the world, you may not be able to communicate with others even if you can speak English! At this time, it would be nice to have a travel translator on hand. It can instantly translate languages, allowing you to talk to locals easily and reduce disappointing travel experience caused by poor communication. Wondering how to choose the right translator? Check out the translator buying guide below.

Translator Shopping Tips

1. Number of languages to be translated

If you are going to a specific country, it is sufficient for you to bring a translator with lower number of translation languages. However, if you travel frequently around the world, it is recommended to purchase a translator with more translation languages.

2. Operation time and Standby time

The biggest worry when using a translator is that the battery suddenly runs out of power. So, choosing a translator with the standby time of 72 hours (i.e. 3 days) or more will be better.

3. Translation speed

In general, a portable translator can accurately translate a conversation within 3 seconds (the fastest can be 0.2 seconds). This implies translators that can translate quickly and accurately can facilitate effective communication.

4. Other functions

Nowadays, portable translators have more and more built-in functions. Not only provide oral translation, but also provide photo translation, voice recording and even serve as portable Wi-Fi, making the travel experience more convenient!

5. Portable

Most instant translators on the market today are very compact and lightweight. They are suitable for most people for daily use or travel. But if you want a translator as small as a headset, Timekettle M3 Language Translator Earbuds is what you need! You can even get translated sentences while a person is speaking.

Translator Q&A

Why do I need a mobile translator when I can download a free translation app on my mobile phone?

As we all know, language is versatile. Depending on the tone of voice, the same sentence can have completely different meanings. Free translation apps may not be able to translate the sentence with the same emotion as a human being. Sometimes it is impossible to judge the meaning from the tone of voice.

However, portable translators are designed for travel. Sentence grammar and keywords are travel-related, providing a more natural and smooth translation.

What is the difference between "one-way translation" and "two-way translation"?

There are two main types of portable translators: “one-way" type and “two-way” type. One-way translator can translate Chinese into foreign languages, while two-way translator can translate Chinese and other languages interchangeably.

One-way translator is limited in the number of supported languages. It is often used to translate Chinese into English, Japanese or Korean. Users can use the translator to ask the local people question after inputting the content, but the locals cannot answer you immediately through the same translator. They may respond to you with gestures only.

Two-way translator allows two-way communication. It can quickly translate between two languages. Just select your native language and the language of your travel destination, and you can communicate back and forth!

What is the difference between "Offline Translation" and "Online Translation"?

Offline translation relies on the translation processor and text database in the compact body, while online translation is connected to the network via Wi-Fi or SIM card. Translators with online translation function have advantages in the number of translation languages and the accuracy of translation. They can translate both daily conversation as well as dialogue.