Translation in Chinese Web Novels
Understanding translation helps you find better reads and appreciate the work that goes into bringing these stories to English readers.
Translation Types
1. Official Translations
- Done by professional translators
- Paid by publishers (Qidian, etc.)
- High quality, consistent style
- Available on official platforms
Platforms: Webnovel, Qidian International, Seven Seas
2. Fan Translations
- Done by volunteer translators
- No pay, labor of love
- Varying quality
- Available on fan sites
Sites: WuxiaWorld, Gravity Tales, Royal Road
3. MTL (Machine Translation)
- Auto-translated by AI/software
- Poor quality, often hilarious
- Better than nothing for rare novels
- Requires heavy editing to understand
Tools: Google Translate, DeepL
4. Proofread MTL
- MTL with human cleanup
- Better than raw MTL
- Some meaning preserved
- Often marked as “MTLed”
Translation Quality Indicators
| Label | Meaning | Quality |
|---|---|---|
| Professional | Paid translator | High |
| Experienced Fan | Years of practice | Good |
| Hired Gun | Paid fan translator | Good-Medium |
| New Translator | Learning as they go | Medium |
| MTL | Machine translated | Low |
| Proofread MTL | MTL + cleanup | Medium-Low |
Common Translation Terms
| Term | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Raw | Original Chinese text |
| TL | Translation |
| CL | Cleaned translation |
| GL | Gold translation (polished) |
| NGL | Next Gen Level (advanced) |
| GG | ”Good Game” — dropping project |
| Resume | Another translator picked it up |
Challenges in Translation
1. Cultivation Terms
- Chinese concepts have no English equivalents
- Translators must decide: pinyin or translation?
- Dao vs The Way, Dantian vs Energy Center
2. Honorifics
- Chinese has complex social hierarchy terms
- Senior Brother, Elder, Young Master
- Translators handle these differently
3. Names
- Family name + given name
- Sometimes changed for Western readers
- Often kept as pinyin
4. Cultural References
- Chinese historical/mythological references
- Translator notes help explain these
- Some concepts just don’t translate
Helping Translators
If You Enjoy Fan Translations
- Donate via Ko-fi, Patreon, PayPal
- Thank them in comments
- Share the novel with friends
- Report errors politely
If You Want Better Content
- Support official translations
- Buy ebooks from publishers
- Encourage others to pay for quality
Related Terms
- Legal Translations — official reading options
- Chinese Web Novels — the source material
- Reading Guide — where to find novels