Language/Mandarin-chinese/Culture/Translations-of-Skyrim

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A minor version, where cities are translated as "堡", "城", "市" according to whether they have a fort and whether they have walls.

The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim is a video game belonging to the role-playing game genre.

On this page, we will make the comparison of different versions of the Chinese translations in the game.

You can learn about the art of translation from it.

Consider broadening your understanding by checking out these related lessons:Internet resources for learning Mandarin ..., China Timeline, Chinese Calligraphy and Painting & Chinese Knots and Paper cutting.

Background[edit | edit source]

The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim is a 2011 role playing game developed by Bethesda Studio. It is about an adventure on the fictional Skyrim Province of Tamriel continent, on the planet Nirn of the realm Mundus. It is widely praised for its designs.

During that time, Chinese versions are often absent in games because the Greater China was not considered as a profitable market, and software piracy there was seen as Prometheus' deed, as the policy of importing foreign games was strict. Fan translation teams had been active on the stage of history for some years. Some of them received great appreciation, an example of which is 左贤王汉化组, which translated some games in Total War series, Anno series and other games with pre-modern and early-modern settings.

Apparently, it is in the gray area of copyright law. They modify the game content, usually without the consent of the copyright holder. It is hard for the copyright holder to sue them because they are not selling the game in this region, so they can hardly say that the copyright violation is unfair and causing damage. In the case of Bethesda, it considers the mods as its own property in its terms of service.

There is a classical mistranslation of the title The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind: 老头滾动条3.

The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim is probably the game with the most versions of Chinese translation. There are four major versions, sorted by the creation date:

The official version is based off 大學漢化. It is not preferred because it doesn't support updated versions of the game. There is a term 正版受害者 to describe users in this situation.

In progress.

Main[edit | edit source]

Provinces[edit | edit source]

大学 ANK 汤镬
Black Marsh 黑沼 黑沼泽 黑沼泽
Cyrodiil 希罗帝尔 赛瑞迪尔 赛瑞迪尔
Elsweyr 艾斯维尔 艾斯维尔 艾斯维尔
Hammerfall 落锤 落锤 落锤
High Rock 高岩 高岩 高岩
Morrowind 尘风 晨风 晨风
Skyrim 天霜 天际 天际
Summerset Isle 夏暮岛 夏暮岛 夏暮岛
Valenwood 威木 威木 威木

"希罗帝尔" is more accurate than "赛瑞迪尔" to the pronunciation.

"尘风" takes “morro” and “wind” with “尘” indicating Red Mountain's ash; “晨风” takes “morrow” and “wind”. Many related things take it as “morro” + “wind”: MorroUI, RobosMorroHomes, Morrodict, MorroHun, MorroCraft II. A more accurate translation is “丘风”. Related article by 大學漢化.

"天霜" takes "rim" as Old English “hrīm”, “天际” takes “Skyrim” as “sky” and “rim” in English. In the game, there are “Hjerim” (“hjem” + “hrím”), which includes an “H” at the beginning for “hrím” as well as an “m” at the end for “hjem”, and “Stalhrim” (“stál” + “hrím”), which doesn't. So “天际” makes more sense. Its official German and French translations “Himmelsrand”, “Bordeciel” support “天际”. Related article by 大學漢化.

The Unofficial Elder Scrolls Page supports “晨风” and ”云霜”, taking “Sky” in “Skyrim” as “ský” in Old Norse.

Holds[edit | edit source]

大学 ANK 汤镬
Eastmarch 东陲领 东陲领 东陲领
Falkreath 佛克瑞斯领 佛克瑞斯领 佛克瑞斯领
Hjaalmarch 雅尔陲领 希雅陲领 希雅陲领
Haafingar 海芬加领 海芬加领 海芬加领
The Pale 苍原领 苍原领 苍原领
The Reach 边峪领 边塞领 河湾地
The Rift 裂痕领 裂痕领 裂痕领
Winterhold 冬驻领 冬堡领 冬堡领
Whiterun 白漫领 白漫领 白漫领

"雅尔陲领" omits the "H", which is not omitted and is pronounced as /ç/ in Nordic languages in that case. "希雅陲领 " omits the "l", which is acceptable.

"The Reach" means an extension of land or water and tends to mean water. Here it means water. "河湾地" comes from the place with the same name in A Song of Ice and Fire and is more accurate than "边峪领" and "边塞领".

“Winterhold” is a portmanteau of “winter” and “stronghold”, instead of the compound of “winter” and “hold” (division in Skyrim). It is also a city's name and there are two texts in the game: “Liberate Winterhold Hold”, “Regain Winterhold Hold”. So if the “hold” in “Winterhold” means a division of Skyrim, it doesn't make sense to write it twice. 冬驻领 takes "hold" as "stay" and means "the place where winter stays", which deviates from the original meaning.

Cities[edit | edit source]

大学 ANK 汤镬
Dawnstar 晨星城 晨星 晨星
Falkreath 佛克瑞斯城 佛克瑞斯 佛克瑞斯
Markarth 马卡斯城 马卡斯城 马卡斯城
Morthal 墨索尔城 墨索尔 墨索尔
Raven Rock 乌石镇 鸦石镇 乌石镇
Riften 裂谷城 裂谷城 裂谷城
Solitude 独孤城 独孤城 独孤城
Windhelm 风舵城 风舵城 风舵城
Winterhold 冬驻城 冬堡 冬堡
Whiterun 白漫城 白漫城 白漫城

In ANK and 汤镬, the cities only with walls are named with "城", Raven Rock is named with "镇" for having partial walls, Winterhold is named with "堡" for having a fort.

"Raven Rock" means the rock in raven colour, instead of the rock where ravens stay. So "乌石镇" is more accurate than "鸦石镇".

Towns[edit | edit source]

大学 ANK 汤镬
Dragon Bridge 龙桥镇 龙桥镇 龙桥镇
Helgen 海尔根 圣地镇 横艮镇
Ivarstead 紫杉镇 紫杉镇 古杉镇
Karthwasten 西卡斯镇 西卡斯镇 西卡斯镇
Riverwood 河木镇 河木镇 河木镇
Rorikstead 洛利克镇 洛利克镇 洛利克镇
Shor's Stone 朔尔之石 朔尔之石 朔尔之石
Skaal Village 斯卡尔村 斯卡尔村 斯卡尔村

"海尔根" and "横艮镇" are transliterations, "圣地镇" is translation by meaning, from Danish “hellige”.

“紫杉镇” takes “ivar” as “Ívarr”, which is a male given name meaning “yew” in Old Norse. “古杉镇” is named without the colour.

Races[edit | edit source]

大学 ANK 汤镬
Argonian 阿尔贡人 亚龙人 阿尔贡人
Breton 布莱顿人 布莱顿人 布莱顿人
Dark Elf 暗精灵 暗精灵 暗精灵
High Elf 高精灵 高精灵 高精灵
Imperial 帝国人 帝国人 帝国人
Khajiit 凯季特猫人 虎人 凯季特人
Nord 诺德人 诺德人 诺德人
Orc 兽人 兽人 兽人
Red Guard 红卫人 红卫人 红卫人
Wood Elf 木精灵 木精灵 木精灵

Songs[edit | edit source]

Ragnar The Red
大学 ANK 汤镬
There once was a hero named Ragnar the Red, who came riding to Whiterun from ole Rorikstead!

And the braggart did swagger and brandish his blade, as he told of bold battles and gold he had made!

But then he went quiet, did Ragnar the Red, when he met the shieldmaiden Matilda who said...

"Oh, you talk and you lie and you drink all our mead! Now I think it's high time that you lie down and bleed!"

And so then came the clashing and slashing of steel, as the brave lass Matilda charged in full of zeal!

And the braggart named Ragnar was boastful no moooooree... when his ugly red head rolled around on the floor!

从前有个英雄,名叫红衣拉格纳,他从洛利克来,骑着马去白漫!

大话精吹嘘他身经百战,炫耀着金币还有他的剑!

后来红衣拉格纳变哑巴,全因盾牌女孩玛提尔达,她说……

“噢、你不停吹牛还喝光我们的酒!现在我要你血流满地!”

刀剑碰撞叮当响,勇敢女孩玛提尔达战意高!

吹牛大王拉格纳无法再嚣张……因为他丑陋的红色头颅已落地!

从前有个英雄,名叫红色拉格纳,骑马从老洛利克镇来,到白漫城去。

不断吹牛他身经百战,炫耀着金币还有他的剑。

但之后红色拉格纳安静了,因为他遇到盾牌少女玛提尔达,她说……

“噢,你不停地吹牛皮还喝光了我们的酒!现在该把你拖出去喂狗!”

随后一阵叮叮当当,勇敢的女孩玛提尔达战意高涨!

然后牛皮拉格纳不能再自夸……他的红脑袋摔成了一堆渣!

从前有个英雄,名叫红色拉格纳,他从洛利克来,骑着马去白漫!

大话精吹嘘他身经百战,炫耀着金币还有他的剑!

但之后红色拉格纳安静了,因为他遇到盾牌少女玛提尔达,她说……

“噢、你不停吹牛还喝光我们的酒!现在我要你血流满地!”

刀剑碰撞叮当响,勇敢女孩玛蒂尔达战意高!

吹牛大王拉格纳无法再嚣张……因为他丑陋的红色头颅已落地!

"红衣拉格纳" takes the "red" in "Ragnar the Red" as "red clothing". It should the red hair according to the lyrics. "红色拉格纳" is unclear on what "red" means. A better name is "红毛拉格纳".

"变哑巴" is more humorous than "安静了"; "安静了" can mislead the listener's imagination into Ragnar falling in love and make the ending more unexpected.

In "盾牌女孩", "盾牌” sounds formal, “女孩” sounds colloquial. It feels unnatural to put these two words together; In "盾牌少女", both are formal.

"拖出去喂狗", "红脑袋摔成了一堆渣" rhyme more and are overexaggerating and changed the original meanings, depicting Matilda as cruel.

"嚣张" is more more aggressive than "自夸", which implies that Ragnar is threatening the people and is less accurate to the original lyrics.

The Dragonborn Comes
大学 ANK 汤镬
Our hero, our hero, claims a warrior's heart.

I tell you, I tell you, the Dragonborn comes.

With a Voice wielding power of the ancient Nord art.

Believe, believe, the Dragonborn comes.

It's an end to the evil, of all Skyrim's foes.

Beware, beware, the Dragonborn comes.

For the darkness has passed, and the legend yet grows.

You'll know, You'll know the Dragonborn's come.

我们的英雄、的英雄,勇者无惧。

我告诉你、告诉你,龙裔降临了。

强大力量的吼声,古老诺德的绝技。

我确信、我确信,龙裔出现了。

终结了邪恶,也终结天霜之敌。

要留心、要留心,龙裔现身了。

当黑暗已褪去,而传奇在书写。

你就会知道,会知道龙裔归来了。

英雄,英雄,勇者无惧。

我告诉你,告诉你,龙裔降临了。

诺德技艺,龙吼回归。

没错,没错,他是龙裔。

终结邪恶,敌人的末日。

当心,当心,龙裔出世。

黑暗消逝,传奇之曲正在编织。

你将会发现,龙裔降临。

盖世英豪,壮志雄心。

听我咏唱,龙裔来临。

诺德古道,龙吼强音。

敬请坚信,龙裔来临。

除恶天际,退敌入侵。

烦请牢记,龙裔来临。

黑暗已逝,传奇方兴。

世人尽知,龙裔来临。

"他是龙裔" does not correspond to "the Dragonborn comes" in other lines "龙裔○○".

"敬请", "烦请" are too formal.

They all don't reflect the difference between "the Dragonborn comes" and "the Dragonborn's come".

The Age of Oppression / The Age of Aggression
大学 ANK 汤镬
We drink to our youth, and to days come and gone. For the age of oppression is now nearly done.

We'll drive out the Empire from this land that we own. With our blood and our steel we will take back our home.

All hail to Ulfric! You are the High King! In your great honor we drink and we sing.

We're the children of Skyrim, and we fight all our lives. And when Sovngarde beckons, every one of us dies!

But this land is ours and we'll see it wiped clean. Of the scourge that has sullied our hopes and our dreams.

我们为青春干杯,也为逝去与将来的日子干杯。因为压迫的年代即将结束。

我们会驱除帝国远离我们的土地。用我们的鲜血与武器夺回这一切。

赞美乌弗瑞克,你就是至高王!在你伟大的荣耀下,我们将痛饮歌唱。

我们是天霜子民,所以我们终生战斗。即便沉睡净土召唤将至,也是我们生命尽头之时!

然而这是我们的土地,我们将见证它被拭净——将玷污我们希望与梦想的祸患给拭净。

为了我们的青春,为了那些逝去的和将来的日子,我们干杯。

驱逐帝国找回自我,用鲜血和护甲重建家国。

向乌弗瑞克欢呼!您是至高王!我们为你的荣耀举杯欢庆。

我们是天际的子民,我们一辈子都在战斗,只要松加德传来召唤,我们就英勇赴义。

这片大地是我们的,洁白而干净。任何灾难只会加强我们的信念跟梦想!

我们为青春和来去的时光畅饮,因为压迫的年代行将平息。

我们将从故乡驱除帝国佬,以鲜血和钢铁夺回家园,

乌弗瑞克万岁,真命至高王!以您之伟名我们普天同庆。

我们天际儿女为自己而战,当安息圣域呼唤之时,我们慨然就义。

这属于我们的土地终将得以清理,玷污我们希望和梦想的灾祸终将荡涤!

We drink to our youth, to days come and gone. For the age of aggression is just about done.

We'll drive out the Stormcloaks and restore what we own. With our blood and our steel we'll take back our home.

Down with Ulfric the killer of kings. On the day of your death we'll drink and we'll sing.

We're the children of Skyrim, and we fight all our lives. And when Sovngarde beckons, every one of us dies!

But this land is ours and we'll see it wiped clean. Of the scourge that has sullied our hopes and our dreams.

我们为青春干杯,也为逝去与将来的日子干杯。因为作乱的年代快要结束。

我们会铲除风暴斗篷回复我们的生活。用我们的鲜血与武器夺回这一切。

铲除乌弗瑞克,你这个弑王者!在你伏诛那天到来,我们将痛饮歌唱。

我们是天霜子民,所以我们终生战斗。即便沉睡净土召唤将至,也是我们生命尽头之时!

然而这是我们的土地,我们将见证它被拭净——将玷污我们希望与梦想的祸患给拭净。

喝酒为了青春,为了我们的自尊,好日子一路狂奔!

我们将会驱赶走风暴斗篷,夺回属于我们自己的一切。用我们的鲜血与刀剑夺回我们的家园。

赶走乌弗瑞克,弑君的凶手!在你死的那天,我们将欢歌载舞。

我们是天际的子民,我们一辈子都在战斗,只要松加德传来召唤,我们就英勇赴义。

这片大地是我们的,洁白而干净。任何灾难只会加强我们的信念跟梦想!

我们为青春和来去的时光畅饮,因为战乱的年代行将平息。

我们将驱除叛贼重整山河,以鲜血和钢铁夺回家园。

打倒乌弗瑞克,弑王的凶手!你丧命之时我们普天同庆。

我们天际儿女为自己而战,当安息圣域呼唤之时,我们慨然就义。

这属于我们的土地终将得以清理,玷污我们希望和梦想的灾祸终将荡涤!

ANK's lines don't correspond to each other.

"即便沉睡净土召唤将至,也是我们生命尽头之时!" uses "即便...,也...". It is a mistake.

"拭净" appears two times in, both at the end of the clause, which is a mistake.

大学 ANK 汤镬

More[edit | edit source]

https://www.gamersky.com/handbook/201112/187507.shtml

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