Question Preferred translation for Zhèn 朕

Discussion in 'Translator's Corner' started by Tsubaki -, Aug 5, 2022.

?

What do you prefer?

  1. Zhèn

    52.6%
  2. We

    31.6%
  3. I

    10.5%
  4. this Emperor

    5.3%
  5. sth else entirely

    0 vote(s)
    0.0%
  1. Tsubaki -

    Tsubaki - Unknown Member

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    Hello readers, I'd like to know what translation of 朕 you prefer and doesn't disrupt your reading flow.
    Feel free to correct me or give tips!
     
    Last edited: Aug 5, 2022
  2. ToastedRossi

    ToastedRossi Well-Known Member

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    "We". It precisely conveys the proper sentiment, and you can have it so that only emperors and people claiming that title are the only people who use it. It's also distinctive enough that readers won't mistaken it with anything else, and anything that avoids untranslated honorific is a good thing.
     
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  3. Astaroth

    Astaroth empty

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    Lunaix and Tsubaki - like this.
  4. Solus

    Solus 自分のことお嫌いです

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    I accept only Zhen and nothing else :v the rest sounded so wrong (for me, in case anyone wanted to start an unwanted argument).
     
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  5. Esha07

    Esha07 ☄your favorite meanie࿐ྂ

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    I prefer Zhèn for Zhen too...
     
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  6. Tsubaki -

    Tsubaki - Unknown Member

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    Thank you for your answers everyone!
    Personally, I like the royal We because it reduces the amount of pinyin. But I also think that most readers are familiar with Zhen and it's ok to use it, especially if the novel has royal titles and familial addresses that can't be translated. Keep everything consistent, I guess?
     
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  7. Esha07

    Esha07 ☄your favorite meanie࿐ྂ

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    Yes ; for the novels I read till now each everyone of them has used Zhèn but well do as you wish ig^^
     
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  8. nyamachi

    nyamachi [Chaos Twin :3] [Melo fanclub member]

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    You can use a mix of both too!
     
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  9. Eishun

    Eishun Well-Known Member

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    Just follow the protocols of the British royal family? The Queen uses the royal "we" pronoun.
     
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  10. Leier

    Leier Well-Known Member

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    My pick is 'zhen' but I have no problem with 'we', or even 'This Emperor'.
    Something I am still not used to is seeing 'This Loneliness' for a crown prince, it's too long!

    Oh and I don't really like 'This Palace', in my mind she should be an elegant and most likely pretty regal woman, yet 'Palace' makes me think of big, grey, square massive building.
     
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  11. ToastedRossi

    ToastedRossi Well-Known Member

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    "Palace" isn't a title; it's a rank. Empresses, highly ranked Imperial Consorts, and usually the Crown Prince get assigned their own palace inside the Imperial palace complex, and their rank derives from this privilege.