How to handle government services in English?

Absolutely — you have the right to a free interpreter for any court proceeding. What language do you need? Mandarin or Cantonese? I'll need your case number and the date of your hearing to put in the request. We try to have interpreters arranged at least five business days in advance.

当然——你有权在任何法庭程序中获得免费口译。你需要什么语言？普通话还是粤语？我需要你的案件编号和听证日期来提交申请。我们尽量在至少提前5个工作日安排好口译。

That's cutting it close, but we should be able to get a Mandarin interpreter — they're one of our most requested languages. I'm putting in the request right now. You'll get a confirmation by email. On the day of your hearing, arrive at least thirty minutes early and check in at the clerk's window. The interpreter will meet you in the courtroom. If for some reason we can't find an interpreter, we'll notify you and your hearing will be rescheduled — it won't proceed without one.

时间有点紧，但我们应该能安排到普通话口译——这是我们最常被申请的语言之一。我现在就提交申请。你会收到邮件确认。听证当天至少提前30分钟到，在书记官窗口签到。口译会在法庭里和你见面。如果万一找不到口译，我们会通知你并重新安排听证日期——不会在没有口译的情况下进行。

Your friend is welcome to come for moral support, but in the courtroom, all communication must go through the certified court interpreter. That's for accuracy and legal protection — for both you and the court. The interpreter is trained in legal terminology and is bound by confidentiality, so everything you say is protected. Outside the courtroom, your friend can absolutely help you with paperwork or understanding the process.

你的朋友可以来提供精神支持，但在法庭上，所有沟通必须通过认证的法庭口译。这是为了准确性和法律保护——对你和法庭都是。口译经过法律术语培训并受保密义务约束，所以你说的一切都受到保护。在法庭外面，你的朋友完全可以帮你处理文书或理解流程。

All rise. The Honorable Judge Martinez presiding. Case number 2025-CV-3847. Please state your name for the record.

全体起立。马丁内斯法官主持庭审。案件编号 2025-CV-3847。请为记录说出你的名字。

[Judge speaking] Certainly. The court has arranged a Mandarin interpreter for you. Ms. Chen, please come forward. [To you] The interpreter will translate everything I say into Mandarin for you, and everything you say into English for the court. Please speak in short sentences and pause after each one to give the interpreter time. Address the court directly — speak to me, not to the interpreter. Do you understand?

[法官讲话] 当然可以。法庭已经为你安排了普通话口译。陈女士请上前。[对你说] 口译会把我说的所有话翻译成普通话给你，也会把你说的话翻译成英语给法庭。请用短句说话，每句话后停顿一下给口译时间。直接对法庭说——对着我说，不是对着口译说。你明白吗？

[Judge speaking] Of course. A continuance means postponing the hearing to a later date. I'm asking if you would agree to postpone this hearing to give both sides more time to prepare. The interpreter can take a moment to explain any other terms you're unsure about. The court wants to make sure you fully understand what's happening. Take your time.

[法官讲话] 当然。Continuance 的意思是把听证推迟到以后的日期。我在问你是否同意推迟这次听证，给双方更多时间准备。口译可以花一点时间解释其他你不确定的术语。法庭希望确保你完全理解正在发生什么。慢慢来。