blog · 10 oct 2026

why literal translation makes good english sound off

in your head: a friendly, slightly worried note to your manager. in google translate: "Brother, the deadline is too urgent."

each word is a correct translation. together they are a strange sentence. many languages carry politeness in pronouns and particles ("anh", "ạ", "-yo", "san"). english carries it in phrasing and tone. translate the words and the politeness falls out, or turns weird.

write by intent, not by word

before typing, decide what the message is for: asking, updating, or pushing back. then write the english sentence for that job.

• Brother, the deadline is too urgent, I'm afraid I can't make it.→This deadline is tight. Any chance we could push it to Friday?
• Sister, please help me check this file.→Could you take a look at this file when you get a chance?
• I have sent you already, you check and give feedback for me.→I've sent it over. Let me know what you think!

what to drop

• family titles for colleagues. use names, or nothing.
• politeness particles. replace them with tone: "thanks!", "when you get a chance".
• "help me" requests. "could you" is the polite form.

keep thinking in your own language. just don't make the english wear its clothes.