Title: Translating Chinese Culinary Culture: an Investigation into the Subtitle
Translation in Docuseries Flavorful Origins: Chaoshan
Authors:
Qiu Yu
Journal:
International Journal of Social Science and Economic Research (IJSSER)
ISSN: 2455-8834
Volume:
10
Issue:
11
Publication Date:
November 2025
DOI: 10.46609/IJSSER.2025.v10i11.024
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Qiu Yu
Southwest Jiaotong University, China
MLA 8 Yu, Qiu. "Translating Chinese Culinary Culture: an Investigation into the Subtitle Translation in Docuseries Flavorful Origins: Chaoshan." Int. j. of Social Science and Economic Research, vol. 10, no. 11, Nov. 2025, pp. 6006-6022, doi.org/10.46609/IJSSER.2025.v10i11.024. Accessed Nov. 2025.
APA 6 Yu, Q. (2025, November). Translating Chinese Culinary Culture: an Investigation into the Subtitle Translation in Docuseries Flavorful Origins: Chaoshan. Int. j. of Social Science and Economic Research, 10(11), 6006-6022. Retrieved from https://doi.org/10.46609/IJSSER.2025.v10i11.024
Chicago Yu, Qiu. "Translating Chinese Culinary Culture: an Investigation into the Subtitle Translation in Docuseries Flavorful Origins: Chaoshan." Int. j. of Social Science and Economic Research 10, no. 11 (November 2025), 6006-6022. Accessed November, 2025. https://doi.org/10.46609/IJSSER.2025.v10i11.024.
References
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ABSTRACT:
This study, from the perspective of cultural translation, investigates the efficacy of translating the
regional food culture of Chaoshan as depicted in the food docuseries Flavorful Origins:
Chaoshan. As China’s cultural influence expands globally, food, serving as a significant cultural
symbol, plays a crucial role in cross-cultural communication. Comprising twenty episodes,
Flavorful Origins: Chaoshan offers an in-depth exploration of the region’s distinctive cuisine
and culinary culture, providing viewers with a rich audiovisual experience. Through its
subtitling, the series conveys regional cultural elements to a global audience. This study argues
that translation in this context transcends linguistic transfer, acting as a channel for cultural
exchanges by interpreting ingredients and dishes, cooking techniques, and sensory experiences.
This approach not only facilitates cross-cultural exchanges and comprehension but also provides
access for international audiences to appreciate authentic Chinese culture. Consequently, this
study examines the transmission of distinctive Chinese culinary culture through the tripartite lens
of ingredients and dishes, culinary procedures, and four-character gustatory descriptions,
analyzing how these elements are rendered for a global viewership.
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