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The Art of Transcreation: Bringing Chinese Idio Life
As a mixed-blood Chinese-American rsed in an English-speaking environment, the Chinese language became somewhat distant from me as I grew older. Despite my ability to carry on conversations in Cantonese, there are times when my vocabulary and understanding of the language falter due to exposure to American culture and language.
When playing Genshin Impact with Mandarin audio, I find myself relying heavily on subtitles for much of the dialogue since I only understand about 30 of it. The issue lies in the complexity and archc nature of certn phrases that are common within the game's world-building and lore. Translating these idiomatic expressions without considering their cultural context can lead to a loss of meaning or unintentionally altering the inted message.
The Importance of Transcreation
Genshin Impact employs Chinese idioms known as 成語 chengyu, which are four-character phrases that often summarize stories, historical events, or convey moral values in classical literature. There are over 20,000 different 成語 avlable, each condensing a significant concept into just four characters.
These idioms often take on metaphors and lessons based on traditional Chinese philosophy or cultural practices, making direct translation challenging for foreign speakers unfamiliar with the context. Translating them literally would result in phrases that are either meaningless or lack the depth of meaning behind their original counterparts.
Let's use from Zhongli, one of Genshin Impact's playable characters whose combat lines frequently include 成語 to add flavor and cultural richness to his personality:
技能 Combat Line: 壁立千仞 bili qian ren - Translated in the English version as Rise.
破译原文：
海納百川，有容乃大；
H na bchuan, you rong n da;
壁立千仞，無欲則剛
Bili qian ren, wu yu ze gang.
The above is the first half of a famous couplet Lin Zexu, a Qing Dynasty philosopher and politician:
Heaven can embrace thousands of rivers; its vastness comes from its indiscriminate acceptance of every river.
Cliffs stand upright, because having no desires leads to strength.
The Chinese phrase 壁立千仞 translates into the English version as Rise, which misses the depth of meaning behind the original 成語. This particular 成語 is used metaphorically in traditional Chinese culture to indicate a person who is self-controlled and mntns their own order, especially under pressure or adversity.
As you can see, interpreting 成語 requires understanding not just of the words themselves but also cultural context, history, and philosophya challenge for speakers like me who are missing out on these nuances due to lack of exposure and language skills.
But that's where games like Genshin Impact come in. They offer a gateway into Chinese culture through interactive storytelling, character development, and world-building. As someone who is part of the Chinese diaspora but misses out on traditional cultural education, this game serves as an avenue for learning and connection.
Each piece of lore, each character's background story, offers insights into a part of Chinese history, mythology, or folktales that might be new to me despite being steeped in them. The use of 成語 enriches the narrative while allowing me to fill gaps in my knowledge through research and additional learning sources.
The takeaway from this experience is not only an appreciation for Genshin Impact as a game but also how it bridges cultural divides, making rich Chinese traditions accessible and understandable to those outside its immediate cultural context. Through transcreation, the game allows players like myself to connect with our roots while preserving their authenticity and meaning within the game's narrative.
The beauty of 成語 in Genshin Impact lies not only in their complexity but also in their ability to convey profound lessons through simple language. They are a testament to the power of four little words and how they can encapsulate centuries of cultural knowledge, philosophy, and experience.
Read next: 6 Reasons to Consider Localization from Early Development Stages
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