[Commentary] In November 2021, after 13 years of hard work, three Dutch sinologists and translators, Mark Leenhouts, Anne Sytske Keijser and Silvia Marijnissen, collaborated to complete the first Dutch book. The 120th full-language translation of "A Dream of Red Mansions" was officially published.

This full translation consists of four volumes, 2160 pages thick, and is well-bound.

　　[Explanation] Recently, Shu Xisi, one of the translators of the full Dutch translation of "Dream of Red Mansions", said in an exclusive interview with China News Agency "Dongxi Wen" that the full Dutch translation of "Dream of Red Mansions" is very important for spreading Chinese culture to the Dutch public, especially young people. It is of great significance. Even ordinary Dutch people who don't know much about traditional Chinese culture can find a lot of resonance when reading "A Dream of Red Mansions" and become interested in Chinese culture.

　　[Concurrent] Dutch sinologist and translator, one of the translators of the full Dutch translation of "Dream of Red Mansions", Ge Shuxisi

　　Ordinary Dutch people probably don't know much about Chinese traditional culture, they are very unfamiliar.

But when (Dutch readers) start to read "A Dream of Red Mansions", they will feel that these characters can actually be identified with him in many places.

On the one hand, there is the pressure of life. I think young readers may feel the same feeling of being unable to grasp the future; and there is another very important thing, some romantic details, hoping that someone can be with someone, But because of all kinds of situations, all kinds of situations, everything fails, and we all feel that the writing is beautiful and beautiful.

　　[Explanation] Geshu Xisi believes that the realistic details of the scenes in "A Dream of Red Mansions" can give the Dutch public a deeper understanding of traditional Chinese culture.

　　[Concurrent] Dutch sinologist and translator, one of the translators of the full Dutch translation of "Dream of Red Mansions", Ge Shuxisi

　　The details of ordinary life, in the Rong Mansion and the Ning Mansion, are very realistic.

So we can really understand what their lives are like through the descriptions in the house, what they ate and what they wore.

　　[Explanation] During the translation process, Geshu Xisi and other translators found that some items in "A Dream of Red Mansions" did not have corresponding words in Dutch, so they decided to transliterate such words directly, while retaining the original Chinese While pronouncing, let Dutch readers know "new things" from China.

　　[Concurrent] Dutch sinologist and translator, one of the translators of the full Dutch translation of "Dream of Red Mansions", Ge Shuxisi

　　Some of the food and facts in this book (found while translating) may not have a very appropriate word in Dutch.

We are all thinking about which words in Dutch might be more suitable to express this concept, (so) there are some words that we feel that Dutch should accept this word, so there is no translation.

For example, "Kang", when (the word) first appeared, we explained it, and then we thought, OK, we don't translate it, we just use it, because we don't have this thing.

(So ​​readers) will remember that you have to sit in a warmer place and sleep in a warmer place in the northern winter (in China), which is this (Kang).

　　[Explanation] In Geshuxisi's view, the publication of the full Dutch translation of "A Dream of Red Mansions" can not only promote the spread of traditional Chinese culture, but also stimulate Dutch readers' interest in Chinese literary works, which will give the diversified development of Chinese literature in the world. also brought opportunities.

　　[Concurrent] Dutch sinologist and translator, one of the translators of the full Dutch translation of "Dream of Red Mansions", Ge Shuxisi

　　Because of this ("Dream of Red Mansions"), Dutch readers, and not only Dutch readers, Western readers will find this very interesting.

Well, there are probably many other similar books in China. Well, you can translate them. We are waiting here. We are very willing to read them, so I think this is a very interesting and very good phenomenon.

I also know that, for example, we have just mentioned that there is a TV series in "Dream of Red Mansions", so I am actually thinking that if we can see such a TV series here, I believe that many people will want to watch it.

So I think Chinese literature will make a lot of contributions in the future.

　　Reported by De Yongjian and Liu Yinghan

Responsible editor: [Li Yuxin]