Science Fiction with Chinese Characteristics
Is there a problem with "3 Body Problem"? ☀️☀️☀️
Idiom of the week: 东风西渐 (Dōng fēng xī jiàn) - “the Eastern wind flows into the West”
东风西渐是指古老的中国文化以其博大精深渐渐传入西方，如风水，中医，五行学说等等。”东风西渐” refers to the gradual spread of ancient Chinese culture to the West due to its breadth and depth, such as Feng Shui, traditional Chinese medicine, the Five Elements Theory, etc.
It can also be used the other way round: 西风东渐, which means the accepting of Western cultural concepts in China.
Additional idiom: 五湖四海 (Wǔhúsìhǎi) - All over the world. Lit. “five lakes and four seas”
Are you a science-fiction fan? Even if not, you definitely heard about China’s famous “3 Body Problem” series. After the recent release of the more Westernised Netlix adaptation of the series, how do you think: is it 东风西渐 or 西风东渐?
Image source: Marie Claire
《三体》的奈飞改编/ The Netflix adaptation of “The Three-Body Problem”
Let’s see how “The Three-Body Problem” spread from east to west. 看看《三体》如何东风西渐。
中国著名科幻小说《三体》被改编为奈飞影集《3 体》（The Three-Body Problem），全球话题与热度不断。
奈飞 (Nài fēi) - Netflix; in Chinese articles, the original name of the company is also used
改编 (Gǎi biān) - Adaptation, to adapt
许多软件公司已经改编了常用的程序以适应新的操作系统。Many software companies have adapted popular programs to the new operating system.
热度不断 (Rèdù bùduàn) - “the heat continues”; the popularity continues
入境游热度不断增长。 Inbound tourism continues to grow in popularity.
《三体》是北京出生的刘慈欣(Liú Cíxīn)所创作的《地球往事》三部曲的第一部，曾因其令人费解的时间跳跃、哲学困境和对科学理论的密集探索而被认为难以改编 。《三体》不仅曾获小说界最高殊荣「雨果奖」，更深受美国前总统欧巴马等知名人士的喜爱与推崇，是一部广受全球读者追捧的话题巨作！
费解 (Fèijiě) - puzzling, incomprehensible, inexplicably
时间跳跃 (Shíjiān tiàoyuè) - time jumps
曾因其令人费解的时间跳跃而被认为难以改编。 Was once considered difficult to adapt due to its mind-bending time jumps.
密集 (Mìjí) - Dense, concentrated; 密集探索 (Mìjí tànsuǒ) - intense exploration
殊荣 (Shūróng) - an honour
雨果奖 (Yǔ guǒ jiǎng) - Hugo Award, a prestigious literary award
《三体》曾获小说界最高殊荣「雨果奖」。"The 3 Body Problem" won the Hugo Award, the highest honour in the novel world.
总统欧巴马 (Zǒngtǒng Ōubāmǎ) - President Obama
推崇 (Tuīchóng) - to admire, praise highly
追捧 (Zhuīpěng) - sought after, popular; popularity
更深受美国前总统欧巴马等知名人士的喜爱与推崇，是一部广受全球读者追捧的话题巨作！It is also deeply loved and respected by celebrities such as former US President Obama. It is a topical masterpiece that is widely sought after by readers around the world!
本书系列受到越来越多的追捧。The book series are becoming more and more popular.
《三体》作为一部鲜有的由中国文学作品改编而成的海外剧集值得关注，但有腾讯版《三体》珠玉在前，奈飞版《三体》在国内的口碑不尽人意，豆瓣评分只有6.9。
腾讯 (Téngxùn) - Tencent, a China’s large multimedia company
珠玉 (zhūyù) - jewels; here used figuratively:
但有腾讯版《三体》珠玉在前。 However, Tencent's version of "The Three-Body Problem" is ahead of the competition. (lit. it is jeweled ahead of the competition)
口碑 (Kǒubēi) - word of mouth, public praise, reputation
有较好口碑。Have a good reputation.
不尽人意 (Bù jìn rényì) - Unsatisfactory
软件供应商提供的产品不尽人意。Software vendors offer less than satisfactory products.
豆瓣 (Dòubàn) - Douban, a Chinese online database and social networking service
奈飞版《三体》在国内的口碑不尽人意，豆瓣评分只有6.9。Netflix's version of "The Three-Body Problem" has an unsatisfactory reputation in China, with a Douban score of only 6.9.
Image source: Marie Claire
奈飞版对原著中的人物角色进行大量改编。整个故事设定都从中国搬到英国伦敦，原著中的重要角色从单一的中国人，变成来自五湖四海种族各异的国际友人，人物关系也有大量修改。
五湖四海 (Wǔhúsìhǎi) - All over the world. Lit. “five lakes and four seas”
各异 (Gè yì) - different, other
来自五湖四海种族各异的国际友人。International friends from all over the world and of all races.
有观点认为，奈飞版《三体》推动了整个“三体IP”知名度的提升，有助于中国故事的国际化传播；但也有人认为，IP东风西渐本是好事，但奈飞版将背景搬到了现代伦敦，主角也变成“牛津五杰”，成了一出彻头彻尾的西方中心叙事。
传播 (Chuánbò) - spread, disseminate, propagate
有助于 (Yǒu zhù yú) - to contribute, to help
有助于中国故事的国际化传播。 Contribute to the international spread of Chinese stories.
牛津五杰 (Niújīn wǔ jié) - “Oxford Five”, lit. “Five heroes from Oxford”
彻头彻尾 (Chètóuchèwěi) - downright, through and through, out-and-out
叙事 (Xùshì) - a narrative; to narrate, recount
但也有人认为，IP东风西渐本是好事，但奈飞版将背景搬到了现代伦敦，主角也变成“牛津五杰”，成了一出彻头彻尾的西方中心叙事。But some people think that the spread of IP from east to west is a good thing, but the Netflix version moved the setting to modern London, and the protagonists became the "Oxford Five", making it a completely Western-centric narrative.
Let’s practice translation! Since we are talking about science-fiction, it’s time for some… Physics (物理, Wùlǐ)!
What is the “three-body problem”?
The three-body is a basic mechanical model (力学模型, Lìxué móxíng) in celestial mechanics (天体力学, Tiāntǐ lìxué). It refers to the law of movement of three celestial bodies with arbitrary mass (任意质量, Rènyì zhìliàng), initial position (初位置, chū wèizhì) and initial velocity (初速度, Chū sùdù) under the action of universal gravity (万有引力, wànyǒuyǐnlì). It involves (牵涉, Qiānshè) many complex mathematical problems that are difficult to answer: in short, it is impossible to predict (预测, Yùcè) the movement and interaction of the three celestial bodies.
三体是一个在天体力学 (celestial mechanics) 中的基本力学模型，它是指任意质量、初位置、初速度的三个天体在万有引力 (gravity) 作用下的运动规律，由于牵涉 (involves) 到许多复杂数学问题难以解答: 简而言之，无法预测 (predict) 三个天体的运动和相互作用。
How would our life looked like under the three-body situation? What if Earth would revolve around not one, but three suns?
If you want to know, we recommend you read the book, or watch the show. :)
Antoine & Dorota