Hainanese interpreters and translators anywhere in the UK, for families with roots on Hainan Island or in Singapore, Malaysia and Thailand and for companies doing business with the island, with face-to-face, telephone and video interpreting, certified translation between Chinese and English, and bookings taken 24 hours a day.
- 8,000+ linguists
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Hainan interpreting services
Hainan was part of Guangdong until 1988, and the island has more than one language. Most islanders speak Hainanese, but the Li people, the largest indigenous group, have a Kra-Dai language of their own, and Hakka, Cantonese and Mandarin are all heard there too. "From Hainan" does not settle the booking, so ask what the person speaks at home. Linguists describe two main forms of Hainanese, Wenchang and Haikou, and Wenchang speech is the prestige form, the one used for Hainanese news on local radio. For someone from the diaspora, find out which other languages come easily; a Singaporean might want English for the paperwork and Hainanese for the conversation. Consecutive interpreting, a sentence or two at a time, suits nearly every Hainanese appointment.
Face-to-face interpreting
The interpreter comes to you: a hospital ward, a courtroom, a council office, a home visit or a business meeting. It is the best choice when people need to read expressions as well as words, or when the conversation is long or sensitive.
Telephone interpreting
The quickest option to set up. It works well for short calls, triage, appointment reminders and quick checks with a client.
Video interpreting
A Hainan interpreter joins by video for remote hearings, consultations and meetings, which helps when there is no interpreter near you.
We also provide medical interpreting and conference interpreting.
Certified Hainan translation
What needs translating depends on where the Hainanese family has lived. Papers issued on Hainan are in Chinese, in simplified characters. A family from Malaysia is more likely to bring certificates in Malay, and one from Thailand documents in Thai, while Singapore's are usually in English already; tell us the language on the page when you ask for a quote, because the translation you need may not be from Chinese at all.
Each of our translators works into their native language, so a Chinese certificate is put into English by a native English speaker. We copy names exactly as the passport spells them, and the certified translation is ready for UK Visas and Immigration, a solicitor or a university.
- Certified translation of birth, marriage and death certificates, passports, driving licences, degree certificates and bank statements, for the Home Office, courts, universities and employers.
- Legal translation: witness statements, court bundles, contracts and immigration papers.
- Document translation of medical reports, letters, leaflets and patient information.
- Urgent translation when a deadline is close.
- Transcription of Hainan audio and video recordings, with an English translation if you need one.
English to Hainan translation
English into Chinese for Hainanese readers means standard written Chinese, because Hainanese itself is seldom written outside the pinyin scheme announced in 1960 and the old church romanisation used for Bible translations. What matters is the character set. Readers educated in mainland China use simplified characters, as do those schooled in Singapore after it began simplifying in 1969 or in Malaysia after it adopted the mainland set in 1981. An older reader who learned to read before then may find traditional characters easier, so ask.
Hainan court and police interpreters
Legal work in Hainanese is uncommon, and qualified legal interpreters for it are very rare in the UK. For court, police and solicitors' bookings we look for Hainanese interpreters with legal experience and, where interpreters holding them exist for Hainanese, the Diploma in Public Service Interpreting (Law) or registration with the National Register of Public Service Interpreters (NRPSI). Ask early whether the person could give evidence in Mandarin, and let them answer for themselves, not through a relative. If it has to be Hainanese, a video link can bring in an interpreter from elsewhere in the UK where the court allows it.
How to book a Hainan interpreter
- Tell us about the assignment: the date, time and address, or that you need telephone or video; how long it should last; and what it is for, such as a hospital appointment, a hearing or a business meeting.
- Tell us about the speaker: their country or region and, if you know it, their dialect. Mention any preference for a male or female interpreter.
- Get your quote. We email you a quote, with no obligation to book.
Call 0800 2425 125, email info@uklinguisticservices.co.uk or request a quote online.
About the Hainanese language
Hainanese is a Min Chinese language, spoken mainly in Hainan Island, China, and Chinese communities in South-East Asia.
Hainanese is written in Chinese characters.
| Name in Hainanese | 海南話 |
|---|---|
| Language family | Min Chinese language |
| Where it is spoken | Hainan Island, China, and Chinese communities in South-East Asia |
| Writing system | Chinese characters |
| Language code | nan |
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Hainan interpreters near you
We send Hainan interpreters to appointments across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, and telephone and video interpreting work wherever you are. Choose a town for its local page.
Hainan interpreter and translator FAQs
How quickly can I book a Hainan interpreter?
We take bookings 24 hours a day, every day of the year. Telephone and video interpreting are usually the quickest to arrange. For a face-to-face appointment, give us as much notice as you can: same-day cover is often possible, but it depends on where you are and how many Hainan interpreters work nearby.
How much does a Hainan interpreter cost?
The price depends on the type of interpreting (face-to-face, telephone or video), how long the appointment lasts, where it is and how much notice you give. We quote before anything is booked, and quotes are free: call 0800 2425 125 or use our online quote form.
Can you certify Hainan translations for a UK visa or immigration application?
Yes. We translate and certify documents such as birth and marriage certificates, passports and police certificates for visa, settlement and citizenship applications. UK Visas and Immigration asks for each translation to confirm that it is accurate and to show the date and the translator's full name, signature and contact details, so tell us when you order that the document is for an immigration application. Because Hainanese is not written in the Latin alphabet, send us the passport spelling of every name so the translation matches it.
Do you provide Hainan interpreters for courts, tribunals and police interviews?
Yes. Tell us the setting when you book, for example a Crown Court trial, an immigration tribunal hearing or a police interview under caution, so we can match a Hainan interpreter with the right legal experience and qualifications.
