HK fans spurn Mandarin translation of Pikachu

Washington

CHILDREN the world over have grown up with the cherubic, lightning bolt-inspired, mouse-like creature known as Pikachu, the central character of the Pokemon media franchise. Spanning television shows, trading cards and more, the company celebrates its 20th anniversary this year, and is in turn releasing two new video games: Pokemon Sun and Pokemon Moon. In Hong Kong, Taiwan and mainland China, the games will be released in simplified and traditional Chinese this December, but not all fans are pleased.

The discontent stems, in essence, from the difference between the traditional Hong Kong translation of Pikachu - Bei-kaa-chyu - and the Mandarin translation - Pi-ka-qiu. The distinction may seem trivial, but it speaks to a broader fear among Hong Kong residents: that Mandarin Chinese, the language of mainland China, is gradually replacing the Cantonese dialect most widely used in Hong Kong.