TRANSLATION BY TYPE · BOOK & LITERARY
Book and Literary Translation for the Chinese Market
Publishing a translated book in China requires more than a good translation — it requires passing China’s content-review process and registering under China’s own CSBN system, since international ISBNs aren’t valid for mainland publication. Only Chinese-language books, or foreign-language books translated into Chinese that pass censorship review, can be registered. HI-COM translates the book and can guide authors and publishers through what the registration and review process actually involves.
ISO 17100 certified
TAC member
40+ languagesWhat You Need to Know Before Translating a Book for the Chinese Market
Before budget goes into translation, it’s worth knowing three things about how book publishing actually works in China.
International ISBNs don’t work here. China uses its own system — a CSBN (China Standard Book Number), administered by the China ISBN Center, which also maintains the national CIP (Cataloging in Publication) database. A foreign ISBN won’t get a book onto Chinese shelves or platforms.
You need a domestic publishing partner. Authors and foreign publishers can’t register a book directly — a Chinese publishing house reviews the manuscript and carries the registration forward.
Content review is real, and it’s more detailed for some subjects. Books covering history, ideology, religion, or other sensitive topics go through additional, more detailed review before they can be registered. Hong Kong has a separate, generally faster registration process for publishers who ask about it.
Operational guidance, not legal advice. For any manuscript touching a sensitive subject, confirm the process with a qualified publishing partner or counsel in China before committing translation budget.
For the full step-by-step breakdown, see HI-COM’s How to Register an ISBN in China.
Not sure whether your book’s subject matter would trigger extra review?
Tell us the general topic and we’ll tell you what to expect before you commit to translation.
Ask About My BookLiterary Translation, Done to Preserve What Makes the Book Work
Translating a book isn’t the same discipline as translating a contract or a manual — the goal isn’t just accuracy, it’s keeping the book itself intact.
Genres We Translate
- Classic novels
- Modern fiction
- Fantasy / science fiction
- Philosophical works
- Biographies / autobiographies
- Short stories
- Poetry
- Song lyrics
- Scripts for plays, musicals, movies & TV shows
- Children’s literature
- Comics / cartoons
- Fact books
- History books
- Newspapers
- Archive material
Children’s books and any title covering history, religion, or ideology should expect the more detailed review process mentioned above — worth factoring into your publishing timeline from the start, not discovering partway through.
How We Match You With the Right Translator
Your project manager reviews the manuscript and matches a translator by genre and style, not just language pair.
Direct contact between author and translator, where possible.
A sample extract is translated in multiple style options.
You choose the style that fits before full translation begins.
A native-reader review pass checks the finished translation reads naturally, not just accurately.
What Our Clients Say
Done it right. Impressive services!
Our cooperation with Stephane Choury and his team at HI-COM Asia aimed to launch our new company website and online client platform in China. We were delighted by the amount of research done to understand our very specific industry and its codes.
David MezenenBusiness Development Director APAC
A competitively priced and professional service
The HI-COM Team has been a great ongoing and flexible resource for us as we have adapted our website and other biz related software to the China market. They are responsive, thorough and professional, and we look forward to using them on future projects.
Nicholas HerbertDirector at Concept2 Asia Pacific
I would recommend HI-COM thoroughly!
I needed a quick solution for my NAATI document translations for Australian authorities, and HI-COM has delivered the translation within a few hours! Great work! Thank you!
Vlada D.Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use my book’s existing ISBN to publish in China?
No. International ISBNs aren’t valid for mainland Chinese publication. Books are registered under China’s own CSBN system through the China ISBN Center, and only through a domestic publishing partner.
Will my book have to go through censorship review?
Foreign-language books translated into Chinese go through a content-review process before registration; books on history, ideology, religion, or other sensitive topics face a more detailed version of that review. This is a real step in the process, not a formality — worth planning for before translation begins.
Do I need a Chinese publisher to translate my book, or just to publish it?
You don’t need a Chinese publisher to have your book translated — HI-COM handles that directly. You do need a domestic publishing partner to register and formally publish it in mainland China; we can point you toward what that process involves.
What if I only want to publish in Hong Kong, not mainland China?
Hong Kong has a separate, generally faster registration process — see our full guide for the specifics and approximate costs.
How do you match translators to a specific genre, like poetry or children’s books?
Your project manager selects a translator based on genre and style fit, not just the language pair, and you review sample-style options before committing to full translation.
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Ready to Translate Your Book for the Chinese Market?
Send your manuscript, or a sample extract, and HI-COM will confirm the right approach — and help you understand what publishing in China actually involves before you commit.
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