Chinanews, Beijing, Dec.26 – Beijing authorities are aiming to standardize English names on restaurant menus these days, but around the names of "doufu" and "jiaozi" a debate is raised among the general public.

 

It is learned that the move would help reduce confusion and misunderstanding caused by the very approximate English names that used to appear on city restaurants' menus. Since Dec.20, Beijing has started to solicit advices on a sample translation work from people of all walks of life and from foreigners in Beijing as well.

 

Many suggestions have been collected now, mostly on "doufu" and "jiaozi". In the sample text, "jiaozi" is rendered as "dumpling" and "doufu" as "bean curd", while in fact "jiaozi" and "doufu" are believed to be very familiar with foreigners. In this case, many people think using their original names is better than the suggested ones.

 

Another famous Chinese food "Kung-pao Chicken" has also been recognized widely overseas. Thus some people deem that there is no necessity to translate it with an explanatory meaning.