Ying Dan Translation Studio 颖丹传译工作室

I was in Hong Kong airport last Wednesday evening. I asked a security guy in Mandarin : “Dian Ti Zai Na 电梯在哪?” ( I wanted to know where the lift is.)  I followed his instruction and reached an escalator.  I thought maybe his mandarin is not good enough and misunderstood me. After I found the lift, I was surprised to see it has a different Chinese translation than the one we are using in mainland China–升降机.  The literal meaning of 升降机 is a machine going up and down, very vivid description for a lift:-) Then I realized that the misunderstanding resulted from the different translations.

HK people use “电梯 dian ti” as the translation for an escalator. The literal meaning of “电梯” is electrical stairs.  While mainland people use “电梯” as the translation for a lift, and “自动扶梯 zi dong fu ti” as the translation for an escalator. Literal meaning of “自动扶梯” is automatic stairs with arm rail.

After a second thought, I think HK’s translations are more vivid and the difference between a lift and an escalator is shown in the translation.  Lift: 升降机— a machine going up and down; escalator–电梯 electrical stairs.

In mainland China, we use 梯 to refer to both a lift and an escalator, but actually a lift doesn’t have stairs.

But anyway we are used to the translations we are using. But if you are in HK, be aware of the different translations otherwise you may get to the wrong place just like me:-)