Abstract: The preservation of the “Cultural Characteristics” is a new principle put forward by the China National Committee for Terms in Sciences and Technologies (CNCTST), as a new approach in producing a better standardization for science and technology terms. Consequently, the standardization of English TCM terms also falls under this category. This work discusses the content and the methods used for translating TCM terms, in accordance with the principle of “Preserving the Cultural Characteristics”. The principle of “preserving the cultural characteristics”, although a new one, is vital for maintaining the quality and accuracy of the scientific and cultural intention of the traditional TCM terminology.

Key words: TCM term, English translation, principle of nationality, Pinyin