Understanding Google Translate’s Limitations in English – Chinese Translation: A Linguistic Error Analysis Approach

Machine Translation (MT) tools such as Google Translate (GT) are widely used by language learners for translating texts between Chinese and English languages, underscoring the need for systematic evaluation of MT output accuracy. This study examines the quality of GT by conducting an error analysis of Chinese-to-English and English-to-Chinese translations across texts of varying genres and lengths. The research was motivated by the growing perception that GT has improved in recent years, raising the question of whether learners can rely on GT for translation accuracy without the guidance of a language instructor. To contextualise learner engagement with GT, a preliminary questionnaire was administered to beginner-level undergraduates studying Chinese as a Foreign Language at a private higher education institution in Sri Lanka to examine usage patterns and reliance on the tool. Using a qualitative thematic analysis approach, the study identifies several linguistic errors produced by GT. The findings reveal persistent limitations in GT’s handling of linguistic, semantic, and contextual features, thereby offering insights into its reliability and pedagogical implications for Chinese–English translation in language learning settings.