A Note on Translation Every culture carries concepts that don't translate perfectly into other languages. Sometimes, when no similar idea exists, we simply borrow the word—like when Coca-Cola entered China and became Kěkǒukělè (可口可乐), or when Chinese táifēng (台风) became English typhoon. Other times, when a similar concept does exist, we reach for the closest word we have, even if it's not an exact match.