Is it all right to talk about Chinese dub here?

[game2005]

I don't know, I just felt like talking about the Chinese dub, which is the only one I'm restricted to. Is it right to talk about it here? Sorry if it's not. I don't come here often.

The Chinese dub stays true to the Japanese one. Nothing is edited and all opening and closing songs are the same; sang in Japanese and with Chinese subtitles.

The only thing one may need to discuss is voice acting. The voices are very good, everyone has the perfect kind of voices. Okay, maybe not all...

And because this is Chinese language we're talking about, you will never here someone in the dub pronounce the name "Naruto" or "Sasuke". All the names are changed according to literate translations so it fit Chinese and Taiwanese people's language. A few names are still pronounced the same, like Kakashi and Iruka. Their name is still pronounced the same way. Other characters, even Naruto, do not have their names pronounced the same way. Why? Language Translation.

Chinese language is not the same as Japanese and English, where they can use and pronounce the same sounds. So if you're the kind of person who thinks that name changing is bad, then you better stay away from the Chinese dub. It can't be helped, culture is different after all.

And one last thing, the series in Taiwan and China is called Hokage instead of Naruto.

I can go more in depth with name changes and voices if you want, but I want to get approved first that it is fine to talk about it.

[Nybarius]

Don't worry about approval, I for one would be interested to hear it :thumbs

Tell us more!! :) And have some rep.

[game2005]

Okay, since you're interested...

The only voice complaints I have is... Lee and Neji's!!!!

Rock Lee sounds like Mickey Mouse, and I'm not joking! Neji is the worst so far. His voice is like that of an old woman with sore throat... It's just painful to hear him talk... Some people have great voices.

Naruto's voice is just like his Japanese one.

Sasuke's voice isn't very good... His voice is like that of a young 10 years old boy, only a bit lower pitch, but I soon got used to his 'kiddy' voice.

Sakura's voice is very beautiful and well done.

Kakashi's voice is just like his Japanese one. Gai sounds like Bruce Lee... And it's even funnier when he shouts or screams, he sounds like a fat housewife screaming when sees a mouse.

Orochimaru is... He has a kind of lizard-ish voice. You know, with hiss and all... Yes, he hisses in the Chinese dub...

Kidoumaru is without doubt the best voice I've ever heard. His voice seems to implies that he is a supreme and powerful ruler, but not that kind of demon-like voice. Very good one indeed.

Not much to say about others, since they're just right. Ino is very high pitch. Chouji sounds better than his Japanese one, for he has the type of voice every fat people should have.

[game2005]

Now I'll show you the pronounciation of some of the characters' names as they are pronounced in Chinese. I'm not gonna do all, because it'll take forever!

Naruto --> Minren
Sasuke --> Zuozu
Sakura --> Inn
Shikamaru --> Loowan
Chouji --> Dinxu
Ino --> Jinyei
Kiba --> Ya
Shino --> Zinai
Neji --> Ninxu
Tenten --> Tientien
Gaara --> Wuo-Ai-Ruo
Haku --> Bai
Orochimaru --> Da-Suh-Wan
Tsunade --> Gangso (the A is short sound)
Jirobou --> Xilangfang
Kidoumaru --> Guaytongwan
Sakun --> Zuojin
Ukon --> Yojin
Kimimaro --> Junmayen


I'll just list these for now, tell me if you want to know more.

The reasons for some of this changes can be explained. Inn means cherry blossom in Chinese, and that's exactly what Sakura means.

Notice that both Sasuke and Sakon's name begin with Zuo. From what I know, Sa means 'left', and left is pronounce 'zuo' in Chinese.

All names with Maru are changed in Wan in Chinese, thus explaining Shikamaru, Orochimaru, and Kidoumaru's Wan in their names. And Dah-Suh means Big Snake, and Orochi is an eight-headed snake in Jap myth. Guaytong means Ghost Kid. Not sure what Ki means, but I know the Dou part means kid.

If you saw the part about Gaara's past, his name means Love Only Oneself. So his Chinese name sort of means I Love Myself. I don't know what the Ruo part means though.

Gangso means Iron Hand. I don't know what Tsunade actually means, but it may mean something like that.

I don't know how they got Minren out of Naruto, but it sounds better if the Chinese are trying to pronounce Naruto in Chinese. Naruto in Chinese sounds like "Take the deer's head"...

[TenshiOni]

You certainly have my approval. This is all very interesting. :oh

[Dyroness]

Wo Ai Ruo, from Gaara's name:

Ruo = Ashura :wink (Actually, only a part of the original Japanese word, but it takes some meaning to it)

The Ashura that loves only himself.

[YamazakiSusumu]

Wow. These are cool. Post as many as you can. lol It's neat to see the names changed into Chinese. I wouldn't want to see it happen in the English version (lol, just think of what some would be), but it's ok in Chinese for some reason.

+rep

EDIT: OMG I accidentally just negative repped you... I'm so sorry. Everyone needs to rep him for me to get those 2 green bars back. :sad

[dylec]

Interesting! I see that the names in Chinese version are a literal translation of the Japanese's kanji. Not very surprising, but nice. :amuse

[Mimics]

Interesting! I see that the names in Chinese version are a literal translation of the Japanese's kanji. Not very surprising, but nice. :amuse

Japanese's kanji are actually Chinese language. They are imported to Japan long time ago since China was a powerful country at the time. The culture influence of China is huge which almost affect the most Asian countries.

[MasamuneX7]

What kind of pinyin are you using?

I read the Chinese manga too, so look below if you're interested in full names:

The Good Guys:

(Uzumaki) Naruto - (Xuan Wo) Ming Ren
(Haruno) Sakura - (Chun Ye) Ying (nickname: Xiao Ying)
(Uchiha) Sasuke - (Yu Zhi Bo) Zuo Zhu
(Hatake) Kakashi - (Qi Mu) Ka Ka Xi
Rock (Lee) - (Li) Luo Ke (nickname: Xiao Li)
(Hyuuga) Neji - (Ri Xiang) Ning Ci
Tenten - Tian Tian
(Maito) Guy - (Tie Xue) Kai
(Nara) Shikamaru - (Nai Lan) Lu Wan
(Akimichi) Chouji - (Qiu Dao) Ding Ci
(Yamanaka) Ino - (Shan Zhong) Jing Ye
(Sarutobi) Asuma - (Yuan Fei) A Si Ma
(Aburame) Shino - (You Nu) Zhi Nai
(Hyuuga) Hinata - (Ri Xiang) Chu Tian
(Yuuhi) Kurenai - (Xi Ri) Hong
Gaara - Wo Ai Luo
Kankurou - Kan Jiu Lang
Temari - Shuo Ju
Baki - Ma Ji
Konohamaru - Da Ye Wan
(Hyuuga) Hanabi - (Ri Xiang) Hua Huo
(Hyuuga) Hiashi - (Ri Xiang) Ri Zu
(Hyuuga) Hizashi - (Ri Xiang) Ri Cha
Ebisu - Hui Bi Si
(Umuino) Iruka - (Hai Ye) Yi Lu Ka
(Morino) Ibiki - (Sen Nai) Yi Bi Xi
(Mitarashi) Anko - (Yu Shou) Xian Hong Dou
(Gekkou) Hayate - (Yue Guang) Ji Feng
(Shiranui) Genma - (Bu Zhi Huo) Xuan Jian
Yondaime Hokage - Di (Si) Dai Huo Ying
Sho, Ni, San, Yon, Go - Yi, Er, San, Si, Wu
Sarutobi - Yuan Fei
Jiraiya - Zi Lai Ye
Tsunade - Gang Shou
(Kaze, Mizu, Tsuchi, Rai) kage - (Feng, Shui, Tu, Lei) Ying
Chiyo - Qian Dai

The Bad Guys:

Haku - Bai
(Momochi) Zabuza - (Tao Di) Zai Bu Zhan
Dosu (Kinuta) - Du Si (Zhen)
Zaku (Abumi) - Sa Ke (Deng)
Kin (Tsuchi) - Jin (Tu)
(Yakushi) Kabuto - (Yao Shi) Dou
Jiroubou - Ci Lang Fang
Tayuya - Duo You Ye
Kidoumaru - Gui Lang Wan
Sakon/Ukon - Zuo Jin/You Jin
Kimimaro - Jun Ma Lu:
Orochimaru - Da She Wan
Akatsuki - Shu
(Uchiha) Itachi - (Yu Zhi Bo) You
(Hoshigaki) Kisame - (Gan Shi) Gui Jiao
(Akasuna no) Sasori - (Zhi Sha Zhi) Xie
Deidara - Di Da La
Zetsu - Jue
Kyuubi - Jiu Wei
Shukaku, Ichibi - Shou He, Dan Wei

Hidden Village of - (___) Ying Chun

Leaf - Ye
Sand - Sha
Mist - Wu
Cloud - Yun
Rock - Yan
Grass - Cao
Rain - Yu
Sound - Ying
Waterfall - Pu Bu

[game2005]

It seems that someone knows more than me.

Again, let me say this. Even though Naruto's Chinese name is Ming Ren, the series title isn't called Ming Ren. Rather, this is how the title is pronounced:
Huo Ying Zen Zuh

It simply translates into Hokage Ninja. In short, the series in Taiwan and China is called Hokage.

[MikoWolf]

im ok with china and other asian countries translating names (my opinion vs the native asian) but damn if they had changed it here in europe/US i would have sweared that there was no god =/

but thankfully there is something up there =D

but really interresting. please go on =D byt the way kakashi as ka ka xi =D minor change =P

[Reznor]

Why is the series called "Hokage" if "Kage" is "Ying" instead?

[Kunoichi no Kiri]

I'm curious, Masamune and Game2005, where're you guys from?

At any rate, it is indeed facinating. Thanks. :knk

[Gold Knight]

Cool stuff. :thumbs

Kind of good timing too, since we've been getting Chinese versions lately from JojoHot.

[Khaos89]

I know jojohot offers chinese manga of naruto but do they offer the anime as well? I would just like listen to what they sound like.

[Elysium]

Why is the series called "Hokage" if "Kage" is "Ying" instead?
Huo Ying Zen Zuh

Very loosely translated

"Huo" is 'fire'
"Ying" is shadow

(thus, 'fire shadow' = hokage, if you don't remember)

"Zen Zuh" = ninja.

I think. =)

[Zorokiller]

Neji's and Chouji's name really seem alike:smile-big well the japanese one both end at ji

[Khaos89]

so is there a group like saiyaman that uploads the raws? or is chinese dub too unpopular cos I find it hard to get chinese dubbed anime.

[tinlunlau]

in Hong Kong, Uzumaki Naruto is 渦卷鳴門 ("woh guen ming moon").
Kakashi's name is more literal to what his name means....a scarecrow. can't really read his hong kong version name. otherwise, i would have typed it already.

Sasuke's name sounds better in the Hong Kong version. it is 內輪佐助﹐not 于智波佐助.
i haven't seen the cantonese dub of Naruto yet but knowing TVB's usual habits of dubbing anime, i know they'll do a good job. their Fullmetal Alchemist dub was great.

in Hong Kong, Naruto is commonly known as 狐忍 (woo yan), which translates to "Fox Ninja".

btw, u can download the cantonese dub over at www.ic28.com
i heard there is over 50 dubbed episodes right now and it's only started around July or so. at this rate, they'll be caught up with Japan by next year.

[Mimics]

Naruto in Chinese Pinyin is actually called "Huo Ying Ren Zhe (火影忍者)".

[ichinii30]

This is so interesting. I'm Chinese, but i havn't watched the chinese dub. It's funny about how "naruto" would mean if translated literally:amuse

[MasamuneX7]

I'm curious, Masamune and Game2005, where're you guys from?

At any rate, it is indeed facinating. Thanks. :knk

I'm from China. My parents live in Beijing. I live in the US right now, and am going to college in Minneapolis-St. Paul, MN.

A lot of those words may look the same, such as "Ying" for Shadow (Kage), and "Ying" for Hidden (Hidden Village of...), but they could have different tones or be written differently.

There are 5 different tones that can be represented in Mandarin pinyin by numbers at the end of each word.

The number 0 means a brief tone that is usually used in words that end the sentence, such as the word that is used to represent a question. Basically it sounds like the flat tone in number 1, but it is cut short.
The number 1 means a flat tone - the word is pronounced straight and flat
The number 2 means a rising tone - the word rises from low to high
The number 3 means a curved or valley tone - the word starts at a mid level, drops low, then rises back to the mid level
The number 4 means a falling tone - the word falls from high to low

Example: "Ni du le zhe ge xing qi de huo ying ren zhe man hua ma?"
With tones: "Ni3 du2 le4 zhe4 ge4 xing1 qi1 de4 huo3 ying3 ren3 zhe3 man4 hua4 ma0?
Translation: "Did you read this week's Naruto manga yet?"

[tinlunlau]

Naruto in Chinese Pinyin is actually called "Huo Ying Ren Zhe (火影忍者)".

that's just the title of the book.
Uzumaki Naruto is 旋渦鳴人/渦卷鳴門。

[game2005]

I'm Taiwanese, that's why I wanted to start this in the first topic in the first place. The anime here is currently in the part where they are trying to get Sasuke back from the Sound 4, but the manga already went past that already.

[tinlunlau]

[火田]鹿驚 = Kakashi's name in the Hong Kong version of the manga.
the hong kong edition has one major advantage over the taiwanese edition. it's the fact that we get all the guidebooks and illustration books. Tong Li usually doesn't take the effort and release any of those.

[Demonic_Ice]

I;m Taiwanese also:smile-big
I also saw the chinese or taiwanese dub, and I have to say, it far more better than the english in alot of ways!

Naruto: Sounds like the japanese naruto
Sasuke: Its not that bad, needs to be a little more stern
Sakura: Perfect
Kakashi: I personally it is even better than the japanese
Rock Lee: Decent enough
Ten-ten: Decent enough
Neji: his voice sounds corny
Gai: his voice is REALLY messed up
Kiba: very good
Shino: samething
Hinata: It is even more realistic than the japanese, since her voice is more like a 12 years old
Kurenai: samething
Shikamaru: decent enough
Ino: samething
Chouji: decent enough
Asuma: -never heard him spoke-

The only bad voices are Gai, Jiraiya, and Neji, isnce they're too high pitched, but besides that I like it pretty much ^^'

[NashNinja]

Excuse my interjection of your posting of valuable information, but...

Curses! The Chinese get the superior dub while we Americans are subject to the tribulations of "Jootsu" and "Geneen"! Then again, a lot of anime makes it's way to China, moreso than the US I'd imagine, so I suppose quality dubbing in China is more common than in the States, at least in theory.

[Kunoichi no Kiri]

I think the American dub isn't bad at all. The "mispronunciations" are nothing but misplaced emphasis and simply pronouncing the word too slow - and I think the voices are excellent.

I would like to hear the Cantonese, however - but I can't find anything at http://studio.ic28.com/. :(

[General Shino]

I love hidden Village of We

[Splyte]

hey can one of u 2 guys tell me what inuzuka is in the chinese dub?

[crabman]

in Hong Kong, Uzumaki Naruto is 渦卷鳴門 ("woh guen ming moon").
Kakashi's name is more literal to what his name means....a scarecrow. can't really read his hong kong version name. otherwise, i would have typed it already.

Sasuke's name sounds better in the Hong Kong version. it is 內輪佐助﹐not 于智波佐助.
i haven't seen the cantonese dub of Naruto yet but knowing TVB's usual habits of dubbing anime, i know they'll do a good job. their Fullmetal Alchemist dub was great.

in Hong Kong, Naruto is commonly known as 狐忍 (woo yan), which translates to "Fox Ninja".

btw, u can download the cantonese dub over at www.ic28.com
i heard there is over 50 dubbed episodes right now and it's only started around July or so. at this rate, they'll be caught up with Japan by next year.


Dude....i wish i would have read this like a year earlier before i went to Hong Kong. I had the hardest time trying to get naruto vcds cuz nobody knew wat "Naruto" meant. I ended up having to buy a naruto keychain and like asking them if they had it "this" anime. I still didn't end up getting any......

And i dunno.... chinese dubs are usually pretty bad. I seriously think they find like 3 people off the street who's voices they liked and just stuck them in the studio. It always sounds really cheaply done. Like when i watched Wild Striker, or Patlabor on Jade World. I was like whoah..... those dubs are reallly hard to listen to. And wats worst is they like don't change the grammer or anything. So they still call each other cheen pui and stuff like in Initial D, makes it kinda hard to an ABC like me to unnerstan it sometimes.....

[tinlunlau]

Dude....i wish i would have read this like a year earlier before i went to Hong Kong. I had the hardest time trying to get naruto vcds cuz nobody knew wat "Naruto" meant. I ended up having to buy a naruto keychain and like asking them if they had it "this" anime. I still didn't end up getting any......

And i dunno.... chinese dubs are usually pretty bad. I seriously think they find like 3 people off the street who's voices they liked and just stuck them in the studio. It always sounds really cheaply done. Like when i watched Wild Striker, or Patlabor on Jade World. I was like whoah..... those dubs are reallly hard to listen to. And wats worst is they like don't change the grammer or anything. So they still call each other cheen pui and stuff like in Initial D, makes it kinda hard to an ABC like me to unnerstan it sometimes.....


of course, a year ago, there was no Cantonese dub of Naruto yet. it's started about 3-4 months ago. they're up to 50 something episodes in Hong Kong. One Piece and Initial D were dubbed by ATV from what i gather. everything they dub sounds like it's coming from a phone booth.

TVB's a little better in the dubbing aspect. to get to 50+ episodes in 4 months is quite an accomplishment. by then, America would be at episode 16 running in the pace that they're into.

[tinlunlau]

I think the American dub isn't bad at all. The "mispronunciations" are nothing but misplaced emphasis and simply pronouncing the word too slow - and I think the voices are excellent.

I would like to hear the Cantonese, however - but I can't find anything at http://studio.ic28.com/. :(


you have to register to that forum to be able to get the torrent links for it.

[crabman]

of course, a year ago, there was no Cantonese dub of Naruto yet. it's started about 3-4 months ago. they're up to 50 something episodes in Hong Kong. One Piece and Initial D were dubbed by ATV from what i gather. everything they dub sounds like it's coming from a phone booth.

TVB's a little better in the dubbing aspect. to get to 50+ episodes in 4 months is quite an accomplishment. by then, America would be at episode 16 running in the pace that they're into.

really? I found a box or two, i didn't know if it was dubbed or not since it was a HUGE boxset, and i really didn't feel like taking that on teh plane, and i can't read chinese so i couldn't check if it was dubbed or not...

[tinlunlau]

it usually indicates at the back of the dvd box.
i saw bootleg copies of the cantonese dub of Naruto for sale at Pacific Mall.

$5 bucks for 12 dubbed and subbed episodes.
with $20 bucks, u can probably get around 40+ episodes already.

[crabman]

Seriously? i got ripped off when i bought kare kano then... i got the whole series of 26 episodes for like $30 USD.

[icoselitham]

Awww man...the changed the name of the series. Your lucky though since the opening/ending are left intact.

[Splyte]

inuzuka anyone?

[TDM]

I would like to hear the Cantonese, however - but I can't find anything

Damn it, I had such high hopes.inuzuka anyone?


I got no clue.

[missq]

I always wondered why the title 'Naruto' had a fire character on chinese Naruto sites, now it makes sense.

[grutsch]

First thanks for this great series of posts ... really good info. I found a CD-pack of Naruto DVDs in an Chinese supermarkte, which includes the first 30 episodes. I really like it and since I am learning Chinese it really enables me to do some "fun learning".
Now for my question: I have done some research, but due to my limited Chinese skills I was not able to find out if the Naruto series was still being dubbed. Any info on
-how many episodes have been dubbed
-if the dub will be continued
-and so on
will be greatly appreciated.

[Even]

3 year bump?? :sag

[grutsch]

Yep; bump it up. I could have started a new thread, but I feel it is good manners to use old threads as long as the topic is not too far off - especially as an almost-never-poster.
So does anyone have any info?

[tinlunlau]

I saw the Cantonese dub of the first Naruto Shippuden movie on sale in VCD and DVD format.

[Mider T]

Absolutely not.

[Animeblue]

This very interesting you guys thanx and more info are welcome

[Registrator]

in Hong Kong, Uzumaki Naruto is 渦卷鳴門 ("woh guen ming moon").
Kakashi's name is more literal to what his name means....a scarecrow. can't really read his hong kong version name. otherwise, i would have typed it already.

Sasuke's name sounds better in the Hong Kong version. it is 內輪佐助﹐not 于智波佐助.
i haven't seen the cantonese dub of Naruto yet but knowing TVB's usual habits of dubbing anime, i know they'll do a good job. their Fullmetal Alchemist dub was great.

in Hong Kong, Naruto is commonly known as 狐忍 (woo yan), which translates to "Fox Ninja".

btw, u can download the cantonese dub over at www.ic28.com
i heard there is over 50 dubbed episodes right now and it's only started around July or so. at this rate, they'll be caught up with Japan by next year.

I thought 狐忍 is pronounced as "hu ren"? Your translation is correct though. Oh perhaps it is your dialect, cantonese.

[tinlunlau]

I thought 狐忍 is pronounced as "hu ren"? Your translation is correct though. Oh perhaps it is your dialect, cantonese.

It is Cantonese, you dork!
Do you expect Hong Kongers to really call it "Hu Ren" in Mandarin? Of course, they'll be referring to it in the Cantonese dialect. On 9-9~!

[tinlunlau]

I actually had a good 90 minute chat with Hong Kong actor/singer Nicholas Tse back in early August and apparently, he's a Narutard too. lol!

[KaiXi]

hey can one of u 2 guys tell me what inuzuka is in the chinese dub?

Actually, from what I can tell, a literal Kanji translation would be Gou Zhong, which means, well, Dog Cemetary. Now that doesn't make too much sense, seeing as the Inuzuka raise dogs....but *shrugs*

As far as my experience with Naruto Chinese dub goes...I've never seen any (to my memory; the last time I was in China was 3 or 4 summers ago, and then I wasn't exposed to Naruto yet). The only dubs for sale I remember seeing were Inuyasha and Sailor Moon. *shrugs again*