Chinese ↔ English real-time voice translation for Google Meet and Teams
Short answer: Yes. SottMeet translates Google Meet and Microsoft Teams (web) calls between Chinese (Mandarin) and English in real time, by voice and in both directions, with live subtitles for both sides. Only you install it, and it works with free Gmail.
For Chinese-speaking teams working with English-speaking clients, suppliers or colleagues. You speak Mandarin and the other side hears natural English about a second later, and you hear their English in Chinese, with subtitles for both sides. It works in Google Meet and Microsoft Teams on the web, and only you install it.
What Google Meet and Teams offer for Chinese ↔ English
Google Meet can't speak Chinese: its speech translation doesn't include Chinese at all, so Meet only offers text captions on Workspace plans. Teams Interpreter does cover Mandarin ↔ English, but only with a Microsoft Copilot license.
| Option | Chinese ↔ English? | Details | What you need |
|---|---|---|---|
| Google Meet speech translation | No | Chinese isn't one of the six languages Meet pairs with English. | Google AI Pro or Ultra, or Workspace Business Standard and above. One pair per meeting, up to 90 minutes. |
| Google Meet translated captions | Text only | Chinese (Simplified and Traditional) captions, shown as text under the video. | Workspace Business Standard and above. Not on free Gmail. |
| Teams Interpreter agent | Yes, voice | Chinese (Mandarin) and English are both supported. | Microsoft Copilot license; listeners need a Microsoft 365 license. Not in Teams free. |
| Teams live translated captions | Text only | Chinese Simplified and Traditional are caption translation languages. | Teams Premium or Microsoft Copilot (the organizer's license covers everyone). |
| SottMeet | Yes, voice + subtitles | Two-way voice about a second after each phrase, plus live subtitles for both sides. Google Meet and Teams on the web; not Zoom or the Teams desktop app. | Any Google account in Chrome. Only you install it; pay per minute. |
Tips for Chinese ↔ English meetings
- Mixed Chinese and English is fine. Many Chinese speakers drop English terms into sentences (“這個 project 的 deadline”). SottMeet follows mixed speech, but say product names, model numbers and acronyms clearly once so they come through intact.
- Double-check 萬 and 億. Chinese counts in units of 10,000 (三萬五 = 35,000) and 100 million (兩億 = 200 million), while English counts in thousands and millions. For prices and quantities, repeat the figure or type it in the meeting chat.
- Speak in full phrases. Mandarin has many words that sound alike; the translation picks the right one from context. Full sentences with a short pause work much better than single words.
- Names: surname first. Chinese names put the surname first (林志明 = Lin Zhiming, “Mr. Lin”). Say how you'd like to be addressed at the start, especially if you use an English name.
- Mandarin, Traditional characters. SottMeet speaks Mandarin. Chinese subtitles are currently shown in Traditional characters with Taiwan wording, whether the speaker is from Taiwan, mainland China, Singapore or Malaysia.
Example: what each side hears
A Taiwanese supplier and a US buyer confirm a shipment. An illustrative exchange. Each bubble shows what was said and, below it, what the other side hears and reads.
這批貨我們下週三可以出，但要先收到三成訂金。
We can ship this batch next Wednesday, but we need the 30% deposit first.
Understood. Can you send the proforma invoice today?
了解。你們今天可以寄形式發票過來嗎？
可以，我下午三點前寄給你。
Sure, I'll send it to you before 3 p.m.
Set it up in four steps
Add SottMeet to Chrome
Install it from the Chrome Web Store and sign in with your Google account. Only you install it; the other side joins as usual.
Join the call in Chrome
Open your Google Meet call, or Microsoft Teams on the web. On Teams, click “Allow on Teams” in the SottMeet popup once before you join.
Pick the two languages
Click the SottMeet icon and set “I speak” to English and “They speak” to Chinese.
Press “Enable Translation” and talk
About a second after each phrase, they hear you in Chinese and you hear them in English, with subtitles for both sides.
Price: start with 5 free minutes, up to 30 free minutes in total, then from US$10 for about 65 minutes. No subscription; you pay only while translation is on.
FAQ
Can Google Meet translate Chinese to English by voice?
No. Meet's built-in speech translation only pairs English with French, German, Hindi, Italian, Portuguese or Spanish. For Chinese, Meet offers translated captions (text only) on Workspace Business Standard and above. SottMeet speaks both Chinese and English, on any Google account.
Is Teams Interpreter an option for Chinese?
Yes, if your organization pays for it. Interpreter supports Mandarin ↔ English but needs a Microsoft Copilot license, and listeners need a Microsoft 365 license. SottMeet works on Teams for the web without any Microsoft license.
Does it understand Cantonese or Taiwanese?
SottMeet is built for Mandarin. Cantonese and Taiwanese Hokkien aren't supported languages, so speak Mandarin for reliable results.
Are the Chinese subtitles Simplified or Traditional?
Traditional characters (Taiwan wording) for now. The spoken translation is Mandarin either way, so it's understood across Taiwan, mainland China and Southeast Asia.
Does the English-speaking side need to install anything?
No. Only you install SottMeet. They join Google Meet or Teams as usual and hear you in English.
Try it in your next Chinese ↔ English call
Add SottMeet to Chrome. 5 free minutes, no card needed.
Add to ChromeYou're using Microsoft EdgeBraveOperaFirefoxSafari. SottMeet works in Google Chrome only for now — open this page in Chrome to install it.