Communications in Humanities Research ISSN: 2753-7072
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Research Article

The Chinese-English Translation of “Four-character Pattern” from the Perspective of Functional Equivalence Theory

Jingyi XuTranslation, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Xi Yuan Avenue 2006, Pi Du District, Chengdu, Sichuan, 611730, China*

* Corresponding author: [email protected]

Abstract

The four-character pattern is a unique form of Chinese language, whose definition is a word or phrase consisting of four syllables, including four-syllable simple words, compound words, idioms, fixed phrases and free phrases. These words are usually concise, expressive and rich in variations. However, there are no such corresponding expressions in English, which causes a great obstacle to the Chinese-English translation. In translation activities, the translation of idioms is often considered significant, which symbolizes the transmission and expression of culture. However, the four-character patterns in Chinese are simple in form, consisting of only four characters, but they have rich cultural connotations. Because of their complex and diverse structures and hidden meanings, English translations of these are often prone to cause problems such as unclear expressions, missing semantics, and loss of meaning. It is difficult to make simple word-for-word translations based on their literal meanings. Also, the common direct translations have long failed to meet the needs of English translations of idioms, which has become a major problem in translation activities.

Keywords: functional equivalence theory; translation strategies; four-character pattern
Published: May 17, 2023
DOI: 10.54254/2753-7064/3/20220595
Volume: CHR Vol.3
pp. 714-719
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