[General] How to name a limited company correctly?

[rodgers white]

Hello there. One of my friends asked me to translate the name of his company into English several days ago. His company locates in Jinduo County, Zhejiang province, China. I tried to translate it as "Zhejiang Jinduo Hardware Co., Ltd" or "Zhejiang Jin-Duo Hardware Co., LTD." But I am not sure whether "Zhejiang" is necessary here. Also, which one is more natural, "Ltd" or "LTD"? And is it a must to put a dot after "Ltd" or "LTD"? Please help me. Many thanks in advance.

 

[teechar]

Hello there. One of my friends asked me to translate the name of his company into English several days ago. His company [STRIKE]locates[/STRIKE] is located in Jinduo County, Zhejiang province, China.

It depends. Is "Zhejiang" part of the original (Chinese) company name?

Also, use Ltd.

 

[rodgers white]

It depends. Is "Zhejiang" part of the original (Chinese) company name?

Thank you for your time, teechar.

"Zhejiang" is the name of the province I'm living in, just like a state in American or Canada. You mean: If "Zhejiang" is part of my friend's registered company's name, then we need to translate it as "Zhejiang Jinduo Hardware Co., Ltd." Otherwise, we should leave it out. Is that so?
Oh, by the way, can we translate it as "Zhejiang Jin-Duo Hardware Co., Ltd."? Is there any difference between "Jinduo" and "Jin-Duo"?

 

[GoesStation]

You mean: If "Zhejiang" is part of my friend's registered company's name, then we need to translate it as "Zhejiang Jinduo Hardware Co., Ltd." Otherwise, we should leave it out. Is that so?

Yes.

Oh, by the way, can we translate it as "Zhejiang Jin-Duo Hardware Co., Ltd."? Is there any difference between "Jinduo" and "Jin-Duo"?

I think "Jinduo" is the usual Pinyin transliteration.

 

[andrewg927]

To an English native speaker, Jinduo or Jin-Duo makes absolutely no difference. The question is does it make a difference to Chinese speakers. Also whether you want to include Zheijang is totally up to you. Some companies in Colorado (a state in the US) include Colorado in their company names, some don't.

 

[GoesStation]

I disagree on the second point. You have to include "Zhejiang" if that's part of the company's name.

Pinyin has been the standard transliteration method since the seventies. I'd recommend using it and writing the name as "Jinduo".

 

[andrewg927]

I'm personally not familiar with Pinyin so I would refer you to GS. And you are right, if "Zhejiang" is in the original Chinese name then you should include it in your English translation.

 

[rodgers white]

Thank you all for your help. Sometimes I see "LTD." in the name of the company, so can we translate it as "Zhejiang Jinduo Hardware Co., LTD."? Is there any difference between "Ltd." and "LTD."?

 

[GoesStation]

It's just style. Use the mixed-case "Ltd."

 

[GoesStation]

LLC has a specific legal meaning in the United States, though in my state, LLCs can use "Ltd." instead. (I do with my own LLC.) I'd advise avoiding LLC if the corporation is not American, or at least consulting an American lawyer before using it.

 

[rodgers white]

LLC has a specific legal meaning in the United States, though in my state, LLCs can use "Ltd." instead. (I do with my own LLC.) I'd advise avoiding LLC if the corporation is not American, or at least consulting an American lawyer before using it.

As far as I know, there is no difference between "LLC." and "Ltd." in China, either. When you say “LLC has a specific meaning in the United States”, do you mean "Sometimes LLC. is an acronym of Limited Liability Corporations"?

 

[GoesStation]

As far as I know, LLC always means "Limited Liability Company" in the United States. When I set mine up, my lawyer advised me that I always had to represent the company as Company Name, LLC or Company Name, Ltd. or I'd risk losing the protection offered by the legal entity.

 

[rodgers white]

As far as I know, LLC always means "Limited Liability Company" in the United States. When I set mine up, my lawyer advised me that I always had to represent the company as Company Name, LLC or Company Name, Ltd. or I'd risk losing the protection offered by the legal entity.

Got you. So it is not "LLC." but "LLC". What's more, I'm still curious about "a special meaning" of LLC. And In Britain, Is "Ltd." the same as "Inc."?

 

[emsr2d2]

This article might help you.

 

[GoesStation]

This article might help you.

The linked article is about business structures in Canada, where nowadays, corporations can call themselves e.g. "Beaver Industries, Ltd." or "Beaver Industries, Inc." (When I lived in Canada, corporations were always "Ltd." American corporations were always "Inc." Now I myself own an American LLC that uses "Ltd.", and Canadian corporations are often Inc. Plus ça change....)

Do incorporated businesses with names like MegaBusiness, Inc. exist in the UK?