Abstract：Language is not only a tool for people to express their emotions and communicate with each other, but also a part of culture. With the rapid development of science and technology and the fast growing of modern society, interactions and cooperation within various economic activities are expanding and mushrooming and cultural translation is playing a more and more important role in the international cultural exchange. China ,as one of the four ancient civilizations, is famous around the globe for its extensive and profound traditional culture. To introduce China to the world, translating Chinese traditional culture into English will be crucial. However, Chinese traditional culture is the condensed heritage of the nation’s thousand-year-old history. It is a special product growing on this fertile land of China. Each single aspect of Chinese traditional culture, no matter from literature to philosophy, or from customs to languages, all reflects the Chinese unique ways of living and thinking, All these constitute the obstacles  during the translating process.

This thesis focuses on the significance of translating Chinese traditional cultural words, involves with the definition and features of Chinese traditional culture and the reasons why there are obstacles during the translating process, and tries to demonstrate main solutions to the translation difficulties and some relevant problems. 

Key words: traditional cultural word; translation difficulty; solution

CONTENTS

摘要

Abstract

1. Introduction

2. Common difficulties in the process of translating traditional cultural words

2.1 Characteristics of Chinese traditional cultural words

2.1.1 The profound traditional and complex background

2.1.2 Multi-branched and interrelated

2.1.3 Vivid and outstanding in both form and meaning

2.1.4 Variation and rolling changes

2.2. Different kinds of difficulties when translating traditional Chinese cultural words

2.2.1. In the classics:

2.2.1.1. Official posts:

2.2.1.2. Place Names

2.2.2. Words (idioms) containing literary allusions

2.2.3. Cultural words in sects

3. Principles and Methods

3.1. Literal translation

3.2. Free translation

3.3. Transliteration

3.4. Transliteration plus annotation

3.5. Transliteration plus free annotation translation

4. Conclusion

References

Acknowledgements