Tired of 'Translating in Your Head'? You've Probably Been Doing It Wrong All Along

Have you ever experienced this: You're chatting with someone from another country, and the moment they start speaking, your brain immediately switches into 'simultaneous translation' mode, frantically translating their words into Chinese, then painstakingly trying to translate your own Chinese thoughts back into English.

The result? Stilted conversations, awkward expressions. You can't keep up with the pace, and you end up feeling clumsy and incompetent.

We all thought the ultimate goal of learning a foreign language was to "stop translating in your head and start thinking in the foreign language." So, we desperately tell ourselves, "Don't translate! Don't translate!" But what we often find is, the more we try to suppress it, the stronger the urge to translate becomes.

So, what's the real problem here?

Today, I want to share with you a method that might completely change your perspective. The key to the problem isn't "translation" itself, but that the things we're trying to translate are simply too complex.

Your Thoughts Are a Complex Lego Model

Picture this: your native language thinking is like a beautifully crafted 'Temple of Heaven model' you've built with Lego bricks. It's complex in structure, rich in detail, with every single brick perfectly placed.

Now, you start learning a new language, like English. This is like being given a brand new box of Lego bricks, with different rules for assembly.

So, what's the first mistake you make?

You look at that magnificent 'Temple of Heaven' in your mind's eye, and try to use the new bricks in your hand to replicate it exactly, in one go.

Is this possible? Of course not.

You're not familiar with how these new bricks connect, and the pieces in your hand might not even perfectly match. So you fumble around, repeatedly assembling and disassembling, only to end up with a messy pile of disorganized parts.

This is exactly what's happening in your brain when you're "translating in your head." What's causing you pain isn't the act of 'translating' itself, but that you're trying to translate an overly complex 'native language model'.

The Real Secret: Start with a Single Brick

So, how do the pros do it? They don't start by trying to build the 'Temple of Heaven' right away. They break down grand goals into the most basic, simplest steps.

Step One: Deconstruct Your 'Temple of Heaven' and Find the Core Brick

Forget about fancy words and complex clauses. When you want to express an idea, first ask yourself: What's the simplest, most essential version of this idea?

For instance, let's say your 'Temple of Heaven model' in your mind is: "If the weather is this good today, why don't we go for a walk by the beach? Let's not waste this rare sunshine."

Don't rush to translate the whole thing! Break it down into the simplest 'Lego bricks':

• 积木1: 天气很好。(The weather is good.)
• 积木2: 我想去海边。(I want to go to the sea.)

See? When you simplify complex thoughts into core 'subject-verb-object' structured sentences, the difficulty of translation instantly drops by 90%. You can easily say these two simple sentences in your new language.

Step Two: Learn Simple Connections

Once you can skillfully assemble these 'small bricks,' then learn to combine them using the simplest connecting words (like and, but, so, because).

• The weather is good, so I want to go to the sea.

While this sentence may not be as eloquent as your original thought, it's clear, accurate, and perfectly sufficient! The essence of communication is to effectively convey information, not to showcase literary flair.

Step Three: Immerse Yourself in the 'Lego World' Until You Forget the Blueprint

Once you get used to communicating with 'brick thinking,' you'll find the burden of 'translating in your head' becomes smaller and smaller.

Next, comes the most crucial step: extensive exposure to this new language. Watch, listen, read. Watch movies you enjoy, listen to podcasts you like, read articles that interest you.

This process is like a Lego enthusiast who spends all day immersed in the Lego world. They constantly look at others' creations, learn new building techniques, and over time, they no longer need blueprints. They can create their own models freely, relying on intuition and muscle memory.

This is the true state of 'thinking in a foreign language.' It doesn't happen magically; it's naturally achieved through these three steps: "simplify—combine—immerse."

Simplify Communication

So, please stop blaming yourself for 'translating in your head.' It's not your enemy; it's a necessary stepping stone on your learning journey.

What you really need to change is to stop trying to build 'complex models' and instead learn to enjoy the fun of 'assembling simple bricks.'

1. When you want to express something, simplify first.
2. When you speak, use short sentences.
3. Whenever you have time, immerse yourself.

Of course, immersion and practice require companions. If you want to find a safe environment to practice communicating with people from around the world using 'simple bricks,' you can try Intent. It's a chat app with built-in AI translation. When you get stuck, it can give you prompts like Lego instructions, helping you complete conversations smoothly. You can easily practice your 'brick thinking' in real interactions.

Remember, language isn't a tool for showing off; it's a bridge for connection. From today, let go of your obsession with perfection, and like a child, start with the simplest brick to build your own language world.