HARRY POTTER PROJECT
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"Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets"

Simplified Chinese (Mandarin: China)
哈利・波特与密室
Hālì Bōtè yǔ mì-shì
哈利・波特 Hālì Bōtè = phonetic transcription
= 'and' (written Chinese)
密室 mì-shì = 'secret room'.
Harry Potter and the Secret Room
Traditional Chinese (Mandarin: Taiwan)
哈利波特 消失的密室
Hālì Pōtè — Xiāoshī de mìshì
哈利波特 Hālì Pōtè = phonetic transcription
消失 xiāoshī = 'vanish'.
de = connecting particle (equivalent here to English 'which')
密室 mì-shì = 'secret room'.
Harry Potter and the Secret Room Which Vanished
Japanese
ハリー・ポッターと秘密の部屋
Harii Pottā to Himitsu no Heya
ハリー・ポッター Harii Pottā = Harry Potter in katakana.
to = 'and'.
秘密の himitsu no = 'secret'.
部屋 heya = 'room'.
Harry Potter and the Secret Room
or
Harry Potter and the Room of Secrets
Korean
해리포터와 비밀의 방
Haeli Poteo-wa Bimil-ui Bang
해리포터 Haeli Poteo = phonetic transcription.
wa = 'and'.
비밀 (秘密) bimil = 'secret'.
-ui = 'connecting particle'.
방 (房) bang = 'room'.
Harry Potter and the Secret Room
or
Harry Potter and the Room of Secrets
Vietnamese (Chinese characters show etymology)
Harry Potter và phòng chứa bí mật Harry Potter (pronunciation footnote: Ha-ri Pốt-tơ).
= 'and'.
phòng () = 'room'.
chứa = 'contain, hold'.
bí mật (秘密) = 'secret'.
Harry Potter and the Room Holding Secrets
Mongolian (previous)
Харри Поттер ба нууцат өрөө
Harri Potter ba nuutsat öröö
Харри Поттер kharri potter = 'Harry Potter'.
ба ba = 'and'.
нууцат nuutsat = 'secret, mysterious'.
өрөө öröö = 'room'.
Harry Potter and the Room of Secrets
Mongolian (new)
Харри Поттер ба нууцат өрөө
Harri Potter ba nuutsat öröö
Харри Поттер kharri potter = 'Harry Potter'.
ба ba = 'and'.
нууцат nuutsat = 'secret, mysterious'.
өрөө öröö = 'room'.
Harry Potter and the Room of Secrets

All translations follow their respective formats for titles in the series. In keeping with the practice of adding something extra to the title, the Chinese-language translation from Taiwan adds the words 消失的 xiāoshī de 'which vanishes, vanished'. This refers to the fact that the secret room had vanished until the events recounted in the story.

How is 'The Chamber of Secrets' translated?

This expression is also found at the chapter title 'The Chamber of Secrets'.

The Chamber of Secrets is a room deep under Hogwarts that has been sealed off for many years. Access is by a secret entrance. Looking at each word:

How is 'chamber' translated?

Not all languages have suitable words to convey the sense of 'chamber' as used in English. Even French chambre (used in the French translation) is just the ordinary word for 'room'. Likewise, all the languages covered here use a form that means simply 'room'.

How is 'of secrets' translated?

Interestingly, while all of the translations use words meaning 'secret' or something akin to it, not all of them convey the sense that the room contains secrets.

Book 1 Chapter 17
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