Need a quick translation proof

exfold · 12 Jul 2013

Hi guys

First post here. be easy on me!

I'm on the design side of a new brand and we're looking to stem out into Japan shortly after launch. It's imperative that our logo has a Kanji form which is visually synonymous with its English form. Unfortunately, I have no knowledge of Kanji and our Japanese speaker is not a confident writer.

The logo has a large, grey horizontal line through the centre and I'm conscious this could affect reading.

The brand name is "Qontribute". This is what we have so far:

I appreciate that the translation is most likely incorrect but I just wanted to show you an example of how it will look.

Do you guys think you could help?

Thanks

Scott

Toritoribe · 12 Jul 2013

You are using a Chinese Hanzi font, not Japanese kanji's one.
寄与する is so-called the dictionary form. It sounds rather odd as a brand name.

exfold · 12 Jul 2013

Thanks a bunch for the reply! I can't believe I missed the font...

Do you think there is a better suited translation for using it as a brand instead of using the dictionary 'verb' form?

Thanks again

Toritoribe · 12 Jul 2013

I would use the noun form 貢献.
The grey horizontal line is essential?

exfold · 12 Jul 2013

Thanks Toritoribe

We're contemplating getting rid of it. Lots of trial and error at the moment!

masaegu · 13 Jul 2013

exfold said:
It's imperative that our logo has a Kanji form which is visually synonymous with its English form.

Just out of curiosity, may I ask why it is imperative? What kind of products are you selling? Kanji brand names are NOT common in Japan, especially those that are regular existing words like 寄与 or 貢献. Those look unbelievably self-important to me, who used to be in the fashion business. I seriously could not think of a product line that would appeal to the Japanese market with a brand name like the two above.

Any reason you guys do not want to go with the katakana for "Qontribute"? That would be the normal route to take for foreign brand names.

masaegu · 13 Jul 2013

Toritoribe said:
I would use the noun form 貢献.

貢献 for a brand name? lmao What is your true mother tongue?

Toritoribe · 13 Jul 2013

単純にカタカナ化することを一般的と見るか陳腐と見るかはそれこそ感性の問題でしょうけどね。

exfold · 13 Jul 2013

masaegu said:
Just out of curiosity, may I ask why it is imperative? What kind of products are you selling? Kanji brand names are NOT common in Japan, especially those that are regular existing words like 寄与 or 貢献. Those look unbelievably self-important to me, who used to be in the fashion business. I seriously could not think of a product line that would appeal to the Japanese market with a brand name like the two above.

Any reason you guys do not want to go with the katakana for "Qontribute"? That would be the normal route to take for foreign brand names.

Thanks a bunch for the replies guys.

Maybe I was wrong about the importance of the kanji form. Could you show me how it looks in katakana?

Thanks :

Toritoribe · 13 Jul 2013

コントリビュート
or
クォントリビュート(If you need to emphasize the difference from just "Contribute".)

These are just a transliteration of the word, so most Japanese people can't understand the meaning.

exfold · 15 Jul 2013

Toritoribe;724242 said:
コントリビュート
or
クォントリビュート(If you need to emphasize the difference from just "Contribute".)
These are just a transliteration of the word, so most Japanese people can't understand the meaning.

I'm still torn on this.

We initially wanted to use the name in Kanji because the brand is about giving and the name needs to reflect that, like in the English version.

Would it maybe be an idea to have the transliteration of "貢献" or "寄与する" (as in, the Japanese transliteration) with a slight change of the first syllable like the Q vs. C in the English version?

Toritoribe · 15 Jul 2013

Generally, there are many homonyms in Japanese language. In fact, a dictionary has twelve entries for こうけん which is the reading of 貢献. The meaning is provided by kanji, so I don't think "transliteration" is a good idea.

exfold · 8 Aug 2013

Just wanted to say, thanks a bunch for all your help. We have a few months until launch and things are subject to change, but here's what we have:

I hope you like I'm also taking Japanese classes as of last week. Four hours a week until Feb and then I sit my JLPT N5.
We're gonna launch in Japan next year, if all goes well in the West.
All the best to you all. I will no doubt be back to say hi

Need a quick translation proof

exfold

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Toritoribe

松葉解禁

exfold

後輩

Toritoribe

松葉解禁

exfold

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masaegu

先輩

masaegu

先輩

Toritoribe

松葉解禁

exfold

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Toritoribe

松葉解禁

exfold

後輩

Toritoribe

松葉解禁

exfold

後輩

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