Hilarious Translations Of Pokemon Names in Chinese

All images below are from Bulbapedia and belong to Nintendo, The Pokemon Company, and Ken Sugimori.

Pokémon Go is sweeping across the world. Even though the game has yet to come to mainland China (despite how much money it could make there), the game is now available in Chinese-speaking regions such as Hong Kong and Taiwan.

We decided to have some fun looking at Pokémon names in Mandarin Chinese. (Note: Depending on the region and dialect, the Pokémon names vary. For example, "Pokémon" is sometimes translated to "神奇宝贝(shén qí bǎo bèi) and sometimes translated to "宠物小精灵 (chǒng wù xiǎo jīnglíng)".) Translations for foreign proper nouns to Chinese can go one of two routes: be phonetically-translated or contextually-translated. A lot of brand names go either route or even use a dual-adaptation.

We took a look at the Pokemon names in Chinese, and the literal translations definitely made us giggle. (Want to learn how to laugh in Chinese? Read our post here.) Sit back, relax, 'cause you'll be scrolling for a while.

#1. "Wonderful Frog Seed"

Bulbasaur is 妙蛙种子 (miào wā zhǒng zǐ) in Chinese.

#2. "Wonderful Frog Grass"

Ivysaur is 妙蛙草 (miào wā cǎo)

#3. "Wonderful Frog Flower"

Venusaur is "妙蛙花 (miào wā huā.)"

#4. "Little Fire Dragon"

Charmander in Chinese is 小火龙 (Xiǎo huǒ lóng.) No one lost any brain-cells coming up with that name.

#5. "Fire Dinosaur"

Charmeleon is 火恐龙 (huǒ kǒng lóng.)

#6. "Fire-Breathing Dragon"

Charizard is 喷火龙 (Pēn huǒ lóng.) (The words "喷火 (Pēn huǒ)" which mean “fire-breathing" or "fire-spitting" are also the the phrase for "flamethrower," which was a Chinese invention.)

#7. "Jeni Turtle"

Squirtle is "杰尼龟 (jié ní guī)" in Chinese. It is a phonetic translation from the Japanese name, "Zenigame."

#8. "Kami Turtle"

Wartortle is "卡咪龟 (Kǎmīguī)." The name came from the Japanese name for Wartortle, "Kameil." "Kame" means "Turtle" in Japanese. Therefore the Chinese name actually means "Turle Turtle."

#9. "Water Arrow Turtle"

Blastoise is 水箭龟 (shuǐ jiàn guī.) It means "water arrow turtle," or "water rocket turtle."

#10. "green Caterpillar"

Caterpie is "绿毛虫 (Lǜ máo chóng.)"

#11. "Steel Armor Pupa"

Metapod is "铁甲蛹 (Tiě jiá yǒng.)"

#12. “Bada Butterfly"

Butterfree is "巴大蝴 (Bā dà hú.)" 巴大 (Bā dà) sounds like "butter," so the Chinese writers put this there for phonetic purposes. It helps that "大" means "big."

#13. "Unicorn Bug"

Weedle is "独角虫 (dú jiǎo chóng)."

#14. "Steel Shell Insect"

Kakuna is "铁壳昆 (Tiěkékūn)."

“昆 (kūn)" is one half of the phrase "昆虫(chóng)" which means "insect." This phrase is more scientific.

#15. "Big Needle Bee"

"Beedrill" is "大针蜂 (dà zhēn fēng)."

#16. "BoBo"

Pidgey is "波波 (Bōbō)." Just like its Japanese name, Pidgey's Chinese name was chosen to mimic the sound of a pigeon cooing. (Read more on what animals sound like in Chinese here.)

#17. "BiBi Bird"

Pigeotto is "比比鸟 (Bǐ bǐ niǎo)," which came from the Japanese name and "鸟 (niǎo)" which means bird.

#18. "Bi Eagle"

Pigeotto is "比雕 (Bǐ diāo)."

#19. "Little Rada"

Rattata is "小拉达 (xiǎo lā dá)." It is a phonetic translation, meant to sound like "rat."

#20. "Rada"

Raticate is "拉达 (lā dá)."

#21. "Fierce Sparrow"

Spearow is "烈雀 (Liè què)."

#22. "Big Mouth Sparrow"

Fearow is "大嘴雀 (Dà zuǐ què)."

#23. "Abo Snake"

Ekans in Chinese is "阿柏蛇 (Ā bó shé)" Just like "Ekans" is "snake" spelled backwards, "阿柏 (Ā bó)" is "boa" backwards.

#24. "Abo Monster"

Arbok is "阿柏怪 (Ā bó guài)." The namemakers probably ran out of ideas here.

#25. "Pikachu"

Pikachu is "皮卡丘 (Pí kǎ qiū)." Since this is the most recognizable character of the franchise, this name was directly translated.

#26. "Thunder-Chu"

Raichu is "雷丘 (Léi qiū)."

#27. "Mountain-Burrowing Mouse"

Sandshrew is "穿山鼠 (chuān shān shǔ)."

#28. "Mountain-Burrowing King"

Sandslash is "穿山王 (chuān shān wáng.)"

#29. "NiDo Orchid"

Nidoran is "尼多兰 (Níduōlán.)" "兰" means "orchid" but also sounds like "ran." Having a flower in your name is common in Chinese female names.

#30. "Nido-Na"

Nidorina is "尼多娜 (Níduōnà.)"

#31. "Nido Queen"

Nidoqueen is "Níduōhòu (尼多后)." "后“ also means "behind" in Chinese, but in this case it's taken from the phrase "王后" for "queen."

#32. "NiDo Bright"

Nidoran is "尼多朗 (Níduōláng)." "朗" is a commonly seen character in a lot of Chinese male names.

#33. "Nidorino"

Nidorino in Chinese "Níduōlìnuò (尼多力诺.)" It is a direct phonetic translation.

#34. "Nido King"

Nidoking in Chinese is "尼多王 (Ní duō wáng.)"

#35. Pippi

Clefairy is "皮皮 (Pípí)" which comes from the Japanese name. It is meant to sound like "pixie."

#36. Pixie

Clefable is "皮可西 (Píkěsī)" in Chinese. This is a direct phonetic translation of the English word "pixie."

#37. "Six Tails"

Vulpix is "六尾 (Liù wěi)" in Chinese.

#38. "Nine Tails"

Ninetales is "九尾 (Jiǔ wěi)" in Chinese, a direct context translation.

#39. "Fat Puff"

Jigglypuff is "胖丁 (Pàng dīng)." "丁 (dīng)“ can also mean "cube" or "nail." It is translated from the Japanese name, which comes from "pudding."

#40. "Fat Pudding"

Wigglytuff is "胖可丁 (Pàng kē dīng)" in Chinese, and actually sounds a bit like a dessert.

#41. "Supersonic Bat"

Zubat is "超音蝠 (Chāo yīn fú)."

#42. "Big-Mouth Bat"

Golbat is "大嘴蝠 (Dà zuǐ fú.)"

#43. "Walking Grass"

Oddish in Chinese is "走路草 (zǒu lù cǎo.)" Fairly accurate.

#44. "Stinky Stinky Flower"

Gloom is "臭臭花 (Chòuchòuhuā.)"

#45. "Overlord Flower"

"Vileplume is "霸王花 (Bàwánghuā.)" "霸王" can also translate into "King."

#46. "Paras"

Paras is "派拉斯 (Pài lā sī.)" It is a phonetic translation, as you can probably tell.

#47. "Parasite"

Parasect is "派拉斯特 (Pài lā sī tè)" which is also another phonetic translation.

#48. "Hairball"

Venonat is "毛球 (Máoqiú)" which means "hairball" or "fuzzball."

#49. "Moru Moth"

Venomoth is "末入蛾 (Mòrù'é)" in Chinese. "Moru" comes from the sound of the English word "morph."

#50. "Gopher"

Diglett is "地鼠 (Dì shǔ)" which is also the Chinese name for "gopher."

#51. "Three Ground Mice"

Dugtrio is "三地鼠 (Sāndìshǔ)." "三" means "three." Technically it should be translated as "three gophers," but we like the sound of "three ground mice" better.

Related: How To Say Numbers In Chinese

#52. "Meow Meow"

Meowth is "喵喵 (Miāomiāo)." This is the exact sound a cat makes.

#53. "Big Boss Cat"

Persian is “猫老大 (Māo lǎo dà.)” "老大" can also mean "eldest."

#54. "Keda Duck"

Psyduck is "可达鸭 (Kě dá yā)." "Keda" comes from the Japanese name, which means "child."

#55. "Geda Duck"

Golduck is "哥达鸭 (Gē dá yā.)" The name is partially phonetically-translated, but also the Chinese character "哥 (Gē)" is comprised of two "可 (kě)" stacked on top of each other. So Golduck's name is almost like an evolution of the Psyduck's name.

#56. "Monkey Monster"

Mankey is "猴怪 (Hóu guài)" in Chinese. Monkeys are important members of the Chinese zodiac.

#57. "Fire Explosion Monkey"

Primeape is "火爆猴 (Huǒ bào hóu)."

#58. "Kadi Dog"

Growlithe is "卡蒂狗 (Kǎ dì gǒu.)" "Kadi" comes from the Japanese name, which means "guardian."

#59. "wind-Speed Dog"

Arcanine is "风速狗 (Fēng sù gǒu)." The Japanese name is literally "windie," which is why "wind" was incorporated into the Chinese name.

#60. "Mosquito Incense Tadpole"

Poliwag is "蚊香蝌蚪 (Wén xiāng kē dǒu) in Chinese.“"蚊香(wén xiāng)" refers to a type of incense that is used as a mosquito repellent, which is something you should pack before traveling to China. Since the incense is in the shape of a coil, it resembles the swirl on Poliwag's stomach.

#61. "Mosquito Incense Frog"

Poliwhirl is "蚊香蛙 (Wén xiāng wā.)"

#62. "Fast-Swimming Frog"

Poliwrath is "快泳蛙 (Kuài yǒng wā)" in Chinese.

#63. "Cayce"

Abra is "凯西 (Kǎi xī)" in Chinese. Its name comes from an American psychic of the 1900s, Edgar Cayce, who was otherwise known as "The Sleeping Prophet."

#64. "Geller"

Kadabra is "勇吉拉 (Yǒngjílā)" in Chinese. Its name comes from the Israeli psychic, illusionist, television personality Uri Geller, who was famous for his psychokinesis trick of spoon-bending.

#65. "Houdini"

Alakazam is "胡地 (Húdì)." It is named after the famous illusionist and magician, Harry Houdini.

#66. "Wrist Power"

Machop is named "腕力 (Wàn lì.)" "力" is "Power" or "force" in Chinese.

#67. "Splendid Power"

Machoke is "豪力 (Háolì.)"

#68。 “Monster Power"

Machamp is"怪力 (Guài lì)."

#69. "Trumpet Sprout"

Bellsprout is "喇叭芽 (Lǎbāyá)."

#70. "Blank-Mouth Flower"

Weepinbel is "口呆花 (Kǒu dāi huā)." "呆 (dāi)" means "blank" or "foolish" in Chinese.

#71. "Big Eating Flower"

Victreebel is "大食花 (Dàshíhuā)."

#72. "Agate Jellyfish"

Tentacool is "玛瑙水母 (Mǎ nǎo shuǐ mǔ)" in Chinese. "玛瑙" is "Agate," a very valuable red stone in Chinese culture.

#73. "Poison Spine Jellyfish"

Tentacruel is "毒刺水母 (dú cì shuǐ mǔ)."

#74. "Little Fist Stone"

Geodude is "小拳石 (Xiǎoquánshí)."

#75. "Bang Bang Stone"

Graveler is "隆隆石 (Lóng lóng shí)" in Chinese. "隆隆" is a sound word for loud noises, such as thunder or drums beating.

#76. "Bang Bang Rock"

Golem is "隆隆岩 (Lóng lóng yán.)"

#77. "Little Fire Horse"

Ponyta is "小火马 (Xiǎohuǒmǎ.)" Horses are also part of the Chinese zodiac.

#78. "Fierce Flame Horse"

Rapidash is "烈焰马 (Liè yàn mǎ.)"

#79. "Dumb Dumb Beast"

Slowpoke is "呆呆兽 (Dāidāishòu)." As previously mentioned "呆 (dāi)" means "blank" or "dumb" or "foolish."

#80. "Dumb Hippo"

Slowbro is "呆河马 (Dāihémǎ)" in Chinese. The name has also been translated to "呆壳兽“ which means "dumb shell beast."

#81. "Little Magnet Monster"

Magnemite is "小磁怪 (Xiǎo cí guài.)

#82. "3-in-1 Magnet Monster"

Magneton is "三合一磁怪 (Sān hé yī cí guài)." The phrase "3-in-1", or "三合一" in Chinese, is used a lot in consumer-based product marketing. For example, "三合一" instant coffee is very popular in China. (It's instant coffee that already has cream and sugar added.)

#83. ”BiG Onion Duck"

Farfetch'd is "大葱鸭 (Dà cōng yā)" in Chinese. Duck is a very popular dish in Chinese cuisine, and is often served with leeks or onions.

#84. "Dodo"

Doduo is "嘟嘟 (Dū dū)" which is also the Chinese name for the extinct dodo bird.

#85. "Dodo Three"

Dodrio is "嘟嘟利 (Dū dū lì)." It comes from the Chinese name for dodo as well as the Japanese translation for "trio."

#86. "Little Sea Lion"

Seel is "小海狮 (Xiǎohǎishī)" in Chinese. It is just as uninventive as its English name.

#87. "White Sea Lion"

Dewgong is "白海狮 (Bái hǎi shī)."

#88. "Stinky Mud"

Grimer is "臭泥 (Chòu ní)" in Chinese.

#89. "Stinky Stinky Mud"

Muk is "臭臭泥 (Chòu chòu ní)." It is basically mud that is twice as stinky as Grimer.

#90. "Big Tongue Shell"

Shellder is "大舌贝 (Dàshébèi)" in Chinese.

#91. "Steel Armor Shell"

Cloyster is "铁甲贝 (Tiějiǎbèi.)"

#92. "Ghost"

Gastly is "鬼斯 (Guǐsī)" which means "ghost." It comes from the Japanese name, "Gosu."

#93. "Ghost"

No, that's not a typo. Haunter and Gastly have the same name, with slightly varying characters. Their names are based on the sound of the word "ghost."

#94. "Geng Ghost"

Gengar is "耿鬼 (Gěngguǐ)." It is phonetically translated.

#95. "Big Rock Snake"

Onix is "大岩蛇 (Dàyánshé)."

#96. "Sleep"

Drowzee's name is "素利普 (Sùlìpǔ)" in Chinese, a phonetic translation from the word "sleep."

#97. "Sleepy"

Hypno is "素利拍 (Sùlìpāi)," a phonetic translation of "sleepy."

#98. "Big Claw Crab"

Krabby in Chinese is "大钳蟹 (Dà qián xiè)." "钳" is also the Chinese word for pliers.

#99. "Giant Claw Crab"

Kingler is "巨钳蟹 (Jù qián xiè)."

#100. "Thunder Electricity Ball"

Voltorb is "雷电球 (Léidiànqiú.)"

#101. "Michevious Bomb"

Electrode is "顽皮弹 (Wánpídàn.)" "顽皮" means "michevious" or "playful," and is often used to describe children.

#102. "Egg Egg"

Exeggcute is "蛋蛋 (Dàndàn.)" This is probably a more unfortunate name, as this is also Chinese slang for a certain part of the male anatomy.

#103. "Coconut Egg Tree"

Exeggutor is "椰蛋树 (Yédànshù.)"

#104. "Kela Kela"

Cubone is "可拉可拉 (Kě lā kě lā.)" Its name is mimicking the sound of the earth moving.

#105. "Gala Gala"

Marowak is "嘎拉嘎拉 (Gā lā gā lā)" which is to mimic the sound of a cackle.

#106. "Sawa Youth"

Hitmonlee is "沙瓦郎 (Shā wǎ láng.) It is named after Sawamura Tadashi, a famous Japanese kickboxer. "郎" is a word for "youth" or "young man."

#107. "Ebi Youth"

Hitmochan is "艾比郎 (Àibǐláng)" in Chinese. It is named after the world-champion Japanese flyweight boxer, Ebihara Hiroyuki.

#108. "Big Tongue"

Lickitung is "大舌头 (Dàshétóu)." Sometimes straightforward and simple is the way to go.

#109. "Gas Bomb"

Koffing is "瓦斯弹 (Wǎsīdàn)."

#110. "Two Bomb Gas"

Weezing is "双弹瓦斯 (Shuāngdànwǎsī.)"

#111. "Steel armor Rhino"

Rhyhorn is "铁甲犀牛 (Tiě jiǎ xī niú)."

#112. "Steel Armor Explosive Dragon"

Rhydon is "铁甲暴龙 (Tiě jiǎ bào lóng.)"

#113. "Lucky Egg"

Chansey is "吉利蛋 (Jí lì dàn.)" "吉利" means "lucky" or "auspicious." Funnily enough, "lucky eggs" are an item that you can use in Pokemon Go.

#114. "Viney Monster"

Tangela is "蔓藤怪 (Màn téng guài.)"

#115. "Pouch Dragon"

Kanghaskhan is "袋龙 (Dài lóng.)" "袋“ means "pouch." It is also part of the Chinese word for "kangaroo" which is "袋鼠 (dài shǔ.)"

#116. "Ink Seahorse"

Horsea is "墨海马 (Mò hǎi mǎ.)"

#117. "Sea Spike Dragon"

Seadra is "海刺龙 (Hǎi cì lóng.)"

#118. "Horn Goldfish"

Goldeen is "角金鱼 (Jiǎo jīn yú.)"

#119. "Goldfish King"

Seaking is "金鱼王 (Jīn yú wáng.)"

#120. "Sea Star Star"

Staryu is "海星星 (Hǎi xīng xīng)."

#121. "Jewel Starfish"

Starmie is "宝石海星 (Bǎo shí hǎi xīng.)"

#122. "Sucker Magic Puppet"

122Mr._Mime.png

Mr. Mime is "吸盘魔偶 (Xīpánmó'ǒu)" in Chinese. Interestingly enough, they did not use the word for "mime" in Chinese, which is "哑剧 (yǎ jù.)"

#123. "Sky-Flying Mantis"

Scyther is "飞天螳螂 (Fēi tiān táng láng) which is one of the more literal name translations.

#124. “Mesmerizing Lip Lady"

Jynx is "迷唇姐 (Mí chún jiě.)" "姐 (jiě)" can refer to "girl" or "lady," but it is most often used to describe an "elder sister."

#125. “Electric Shock Beast"

Electabuzz is "电击兽 (Diàn jí shòu.)"

#126. "Duck-Lipped Fire Dragon"

Magmar is "鸭嘴火龙 (Yā zuǐ huǒ lóng.)" Clearly the Chinese name-makers went with appearance on this one.

#127. "Big Armor"

Pinsir is "大甲 (Dà jiǎ.) "甲 (jiǎ)" is also one-half of the Chinese word for "beetle," which is "甲虫."

#128. "KenTauros"

Tauros is "肯泰罗 (Kěntàiluó)" which is a phonetic translation of the Greek word for "centaur", Kentauros.

#129. "Carp King"

Magikarp in CHinese is "鲤鱼王 (Lǐ yú wáng.)" There's a famous Chinese dish called "糖醋鲤鱼 (táng cù lǐ yú)" or "sweet and sour carp" that comes from the Shandong province.

#130. "Explosive Carp Dragon"

Gyarados is "暴鲤龙 (Bào lǐ lóng)" in Chinese. Gyarados actually looks very similar to a Chinese dragon, which is very different from a Western dragon. One of the key appearance features of a Chinese dragon is they have the scales of a carp.

#131. “Ride Dragon"

Lapras in Chinese is "乘龙 (Chénglóng.)" "乘" comes from "乘坐 (chéng zuò)" which means "ride" or "take."

#132. "Hundred-Changes Monster"

Ditto is "百变怪 (Bǎi biàn guài.)" "百变 (Bǎi biàn)" also translates into "variety."

#133. "Evo"

Eevee is "伊布 (Yī bù.)" The name comes from the phonetic translation of "evolution."

#134. "Water Sprite"

Vaporeon is "水精灵 (Shuǐ jīng líng.)"

#135. "Thunder Sprite"

Jolteon is "雷精灵 (Léi jīng líng.)"

#136. "Fire Sprite"

Flareon is "火精灵 (Huǒ jīng líng.)

#137. "3D Dragon"

Porygon is "3D龙 (3D-Lóng.)" Self-explanatory.

#138. "Ammonite Beast"

Omanyte is "菊石兽 (Jú shí shòu.)" "Ammonite" in Chinese is "菊石," which literally means "chrysanthemum rock."

#139. "Multiple Spine Ammonite Beast"

Omastar is "多刺菊石兽 (Duō cì jú shí shòu.)"

#140. "Fossil Helmet"

Kabuto in Chinese is "化石盔 (Huà shí kuī)." Helmet in Chinese is "头盔 (tóu kuī)" which is something you should wear if you are a driving a motorcycle in China. Or maybe just if you are driving in China.