WeChat is China’s biggest app, with over 1.2 billion monthly users.
It’s no surprise then, that it’s the go-to channel for international businesses looking to increase their sales in China.
But how can you use WeChat in English?
In this article we’ll break down exactly how to translate Chinese to English in WeChat on both the mobile app and website.
But first: how to sign up for WeChat outside of China
Before you can use WeChat in English, you’ll need to open an account. For businesses, you’ll ideally want a WeChat Official Account, which is a verified business account that you can use to grow your brand in China.
Check out our guide on opening a WeChat Official Account overseas for a step-by-step breakdown of how to do this. It covers everything you’ll need to know.
How to use WeChat in English — a step-by-step guide
Once your account is up and running, you can then follow these steps and begin using WeChat in English. Thankfully, this is a relatively straightforward process.
There are two separate ways you can translate Chinese to English in WeChat: one for the WeChat app, and one for the desktop website.
How to use WeChat in English via the WeChat app
The WeChat app makes it very easy to use WeChat in English. Here’s what’s involved.
Step 1: Download the WeChat app
If you haven’t already, head over to your app store, type in “WeChat” and download the app. It’s available on both Android and IOS devices.
Once you’ve downloaded the app, sign in to your account. If you don’t yet have an account, remember to check out our guide on opening a WeChat account overseas.
Step 2: Go to your WeChat profile
You can do this by clicking the “Me” tab in the bottom-right corner of the screen. It reads as “我” in Chinese and is represented by an avatar icon.
Step 3: Go to your WeChat “Settings”
On your profile, you’ll see a small cog icon to access your settings. If your app isn’t yet translated to English, you’ll see this as “设置” in Chinese. Click it.
Step 4: Tap “General”
From the settings menu, tap “General” (“通用”). This should be the fourth option down.
Step 5: Tap “Language”
This will be the first option you see. Look out for “多语言”. Tap it, and it’ll take you to a list of different languages to choose from.
Step 6: Select “English”
From that list, scroll down until you see “English”. Click it, and then tap the “Done” button in the top right-hand corner. You’ll then be able to use WeChat in English. Simple!
Translating WeChat messages into English
The above steps will translate text in the WeChat app to English. It won’t, however, translate private messages from users into English. To do that, you’ll need to…
- Go to the “Chats” tab
- Select the chat you want to translate
- Tap on a specific message and hold it down until a menu appears
- Click “Translate”
This will then translate the message into your phone’s selected language. If this isn’t English, you’ll need to change your phone’s settings. Otherwise, you’ll be able to translate messages from your Chinese customers into English right away.
How to use WeChat in English via the WeChat Website
If you’d rather use the WeChat website instead of downloading the app, you can translate that into English too by following the same steps as the app.
Simply go to your profile > settings > general > language > English.
You might also be able to automatically translate the WeChat website into English using your internet browser.
In Google Chrome, for example, you can click on the “translate” icon in the URL bar and select “English”, as pictured below:
How to use WeChat in English via AdChina.io
As an international brand looking to grow in China, you might be interested in posting on your WeChat account through an English language platform. You might also be interested in having someone create your WeChat strategy and actively grow your account.
To do that, you’ll either need to hire a Chinese marketing agency (which can be expensive) or work with a third-party platform, like AdChina.io.
Our teams in Shanghai and Oslo will be able to open a WeChat Official Account for you and post bespoke Chinese content to it — all without you having to worry about any language barriers along the way.
Our all-in-one platform will also let you advertise your WeChat account on each of the biggest marketing channels in China, helping you gain followers and grow your sales.
Click here to learn more about our social media management packages, including for WeChat.
Using WeChat in English — the bottomline
Translating WeChat into English isn’t difficult. You can do it via the WeChat app or website in just a few seconds. But when it comes to creating content for WeChat, things aren’t so straightforward.
Get in touch with us today to find out how we can help.
