English Translation of Chinese Micro-Drama Titles Going Global and the Self-Construction of National Image from the Perspective of Translation Studies

Connie Wang

doi:10.47297/wsprolaadWSP2634-786516.20260703

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English Translation of Chinese Micro-Drama Titles Going Global and the Self-Construction of National Image from the Perspective of Translation Studies

Volume 7, Issue 3

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English Translation of Chinese Micro-Drama Titles Going Global and the Self-Construction of National Image from the Perspective of Translation Studies
English Translation of Chinese Micro-Drama Titles Going Global and the Self-Construction of National Image from the Perspective of Translation Studies
Zhejiang Shuren University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310015, China
Vol. 7, Issue 3, Pages: 71-77(2026)
Online First：04 August 2026，

Published：30 June 2026
DOI：10.47297/wsprolaadWSP2634-786516.20260703
Accepted：

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Wang Connie.English Translation of Chinese Micro-Drama Titles Going Global and the Self-Construction of National Image from the Perspective of Translation Studies[J].Research on Literary and Art Development,2026,07(03):71-77.
DOI：

Wang Connie.English Translation of Chinese Micro-Drama Titles Going Global and the Self-Construction of National Image from the Perspective of Translation Studies[J].Research on Literary and Art Development,2026,07(03):71-77. DOI： 10.47297/wsprolaadWSP2634-786516.20260703.

摘要

Abstract

In recent years

China's micro-drama industry going global has flourished

with a large number of dramas entering overseas markets

and the English translation of their titles has become a crucial link in cross-cultural communication. This paper focuses on the English translation practice of titles of Chinese micro-dramas going global. Through systematic analysis of translation cases across multiple genres—such as the bossy CEO genre

culturally distinctive genre

and male-oriented genre—this study identifies four strategy types: literal translation

free translation combined with domestication

creative translation

and genre-formulaic translation. The research reveals three prominent problems in current title translation: verbosity caused by literal translation stacking

loss of cultural connotations

and the domestication-driven erasure of Chinese narrative genre markers. The formulaic translation pattern of CEO/Billionaire/Heiress

as exemplified by bossy CEO drama titles

facilitates market recognition but results in the homogenizing erasure of distinctive Chinese narrative genre markers such as "counterattack" (逆袭)

"hiding strength and biding one's time" (扮猪吃虎)

and "underdog son-in-law" (赘婿). Drawing on Skopos Theory

functional equivalence theory

and national image communication theory as its framework

this paper proposes an analytical pathway of "translation strategy—title perception—image construction

" arguing that title translation is essentially a cultural practice of the self-construction of national image. It also puts forward optimization strategies from the dimensions of differentiated translation

cultural marker retention

and genre innovation.

关键词

Keywords

references

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