Xiang Liu and Xiao Yao’s Story and Romance

I meant the wedding for XY-FL before FFB makes his grand entrance. The google version has more descriptive details of the proceedings than Koala. I find TH rarely describes things without a reason.

Now I have the drama scene of XL/FFB and XY in her bedroom in S1 stuck in my head. It plays somewhat differently in the drama vs. the novel where we didn’t have a strong sense of XL’s reactions. Has there been any discussion about this yet? There’s an implication in his response that seems to go beyond XY’s rejection to a neck bite. 

https://www.tiktok.com/@wetv_official/video/7264930692964912392

 Snowcup:

Whether it's the 2013 or 2019 version, it sounds like you're rereading the novel via google translate, which I would definitely recommend doing as a secondary read. Koala's version is a great gift to us all, but ultimately, but with the complexity of the LYF novel, inevitably some details will be missing. While the google version is less immersive, reading it can lead to some intriguing finds. Did you happen to notice anything interesting during the wedding? :-)

 blabla100:

Yes, I kept reading the chinese version using google translator and definetely there are things that I didn't notice în koala's version. However, though google translator does quite a good job, without koala's version as a background it would have been a lot harder for me to get into the story. In a way, I think I have an advantage, because english isn't my first language, so I tend not to notice the mistakes in google translator, which I am not sure if a native english speaker would too. 

I would like to share some of the experience on translation with you.
Luckily for me that there is official translation of Lost you forever from Chinese to my native language - Vietnamese. These two languages also share many common (e.g., some words, idioms etc) thus I aware that the official translation is quite accurate. However, during our discussion between the airing of the two seasons, I also looked up the original novel and found out that there is still some missing hints in the translation version.
As we already discussed, although the Kaola version did a good job on conveying the literature spirit and the content, it sometimes overlooked the "unconnected" or scenery description which was actually  intended by the author for the hints, overshadow writing styles etc.
Lately, I used chatGPT as main tool for translation from Chinese to my native language or english. I also cross check the translation with other tools such as translation with baidu or dictionary online. The advantage of ChatGPT is it is a dynamic tool where you can interact with the "translator". You also can discuss about the content, ask for explanation of complicated sentences etc.
You may give it a try. Give ChatGPT a clear command, style of translation, accuracy etc. The more detail instruction, the better result

 H19279:

Luckily for me that there is official translation of Lost you forever from Chinese to my native language - Vietnamese. These two languages also share many common (e.g., some words, idioms etc) thus I aware that the official translation is quite accurate. However, during our discussion between the airing of the two seasons, I also looked up the original novel and found out that there is still some missing hints in the translation version.

As an official translation, does that mean the translator worked with TH on writing it? Nice to know that the novel actually has been translated in another language – hopefully, that increases the chances of more translations in the future. But you mentioned you still found missing details. Translation is already challenging when it come to keeping the style, content, and tone across languages, but LYF adds an extra layer of complexity, making it even more difficult. I’d hope an official English translation would be a collaborative effort with TH.

 H19279:

Lately, I used chatGPT as main tool for translation from Chinese to my native language or english. I also cross check the translation with other tools such as translation with baidu or dictionary online. The advantage of ChatGPT is it is a dynamic tool where you can interact with the "translator". You also can discuss about the content, ask for explanation of complicated sentences etc.

Yes, chatGPT is useful for answering specific questions and handling short queries, but I find it less reliable for longer-form translations. It tends to randomly summarize sentences or can veer off track. I’ve noticed it prioritizes a smoother writing style over translating individual words, which can be a drawback. On the other hand, google has its own issues, such as errors with pronouns and other things, but it’s convenient as an automated tool. I also find it provides more literal translations, which I appreciate. It’s like a stodgy workhorse, more straightforward, and I prefer having the raw data to interpret myself. As for baidu, I haven’t tried it yet, but I’ll give it a shot.

 Snowcup:

As an official translation, does that mean the translator worked with TH on writing it?

Publisher bought copyright from TH or the copyright owner and had it translated by professional translator then published the hard copies.

Translating literature work is complicated in term of style, word use, meaning. Sometimes on the surface it is just a simple sentence or word which might have several meaning in which one of its can convey hidden trace for other part of the work. And if the translator did not know this kind of intention, this extra info might be missed in translation. Especially TH used the special writing techniques for LYF which she scattered the hint all over . There are several posts which discussed about her writing style for LYF in this thread and others

 Snowcup:

Yes, chatGPT is useful for answering specific questions and handling short queries, but I find it less reliable for longer-form translations. It tends to randomly summarize sentences or can veer off track.

For me, I don't let it translate long text at once. I usually translate paragraph by paragraph because I also check the same part with other tool. In my case I use online dictionary where keywords can be pointed out (for general meaning) as well as the pinyin is converted into Vietnamese. This helps me a lot since I can recognize many words and meaning (many words in Vietnamese root from Chinese).  Of course for translation into English , it would be more difficult. For quick grasp of general content from any Chinese website, I still let the internet browser do the automatic translation, thus it is done either with google translate or Bing translate. 

 Snowcup:

I have a hunch that XL’s unusually emotive response in this scene has more behind it. Why were you in the minority?

I think most folks didn't like FFB/XL's open emotion, and especially how he took XY's response / rejection.  In the novel, I don't think we any such emotions from him.

 Snowcup:

Speaking of parallels, this nighttime foray from FFB comes shortly after XY and Jing’s reunion and their own overnight rendezvous. As I recall, XY abruptly canceled plans with FFB after Jing arrived – though it was prompted by her promise to CX. There was even a scene afterward showing XL disgruntled at their usual dining spot.

TBH, I don't recall Jing's scenes that much. ;p

Yes, that's another of my favorite scenes.  The expression on FFB's face, when XY cancelled their plans for Jing.  Tan Jian Ci masterfully pulled off going from FFB's easy going pleasantness, to showing XL's glacial displeasure, to FFB's quick recovery.  It was perfect.

 Snowcup:

That night in her workroom, didn’t Jing get poisoned, fall on top of XY, and kiss her? We know from Season 2 that XL would have definitely been aware of the kiss and the prolonged cuddle time. If CX was waiting outside with a knife for Jing to emerge from XY’s room, imagine how XL must have felt. He probably thought it was time to reveal his identity to XY. And I’d also guess he was hoping that his two years as FFB had softened her feelings toward him.

Yes, that was something different from the novel ... or at least something that wasn't revealed directly in the novel, though we did see it happen with CX and XY, so of course it makes sense that it would be the same with XL and XY, or even more.

Hmmmm.  I'm not sure of the sequence of events, though.  I was thinking the reveal of FFB happened earlier than that, but I could be confused.

CX with a knife, standing outside of the room when the lights when out ... hahahaha  another great scene.

 H19279:

No, XY accepted to meet Jing due to CX's request. Thus she declined to go out with FFB. That night she asked Jing to draw butterfly, and lotus flower on some handkerchiefs then Jing got poisoned by the paint. FFB revealed his identity just before XY and CX decided to go to the central plain, Shen nong mountain

Ah, thank you for that clarification.

 Snowcup:

I meant the wedding for XY-FL before FFB makes his grand entrance. The google version has more descriptive details of the proceedings than Koala. I find TH rarely describes things without a reason.

I think the description itself share some similar things to the description of the koy playing with lotus that XY made, but I am not sure if that's what you're thinking too. Could you share your view, I am curious. 

Also, I noticed that the introduction for volume 1 is the ballad that XY sings to lure out fei fei, the one with forgetting and remember each other. To me the fact that the novel starts with the ballad that XY sang when XY and XL first met and ends with Chi You's ballad is more prof that TH's main focus from beginning till the end was YaoLiu. 

Longing for Love.2, Telling the True Love

Why are there joys and sorrows in the world
? Why are there reunions and separations in life? I only wish to stay
with you
forever, never parting . Stay with you
forever, never parting..

The introduction for volume 2...  The crystal ball, 37 years under water, their separation...