A Study Of Translation Methods Of Numerals In Mao Zedong’s Poems

Numerals could express not only real meanings and fuzzy meanings, but also cultural meanings, which are particularly obvious in poems. Different translators might use different translation methods to translate numerals in Chinese poems. Some of the cultural meanings of numerals might be lost in translation. As numerals are abundant in Mao Zedong’s poems, we hope that through the analysis of different translation methods in translating numerals in Mao Zedong’s poems, we would find appropriate and applicable translation methods for numerals in Mao Zedong’s poems.From the perspective of cultural translation theory, we make a contrastive study on the nine translation methods adopted to translate numerals in Mao Zedong’s poems, and we find that literal translation, omitting, and transliteration are not suitable for translating numerals in Mao Zedong’s poems. Literal translation plus annotation, and transliteration plus annotation are more suitable for translating numerals expressing exact meanings in Mao Zedong’s poems, while free translation, substitution, free translation plus annotation and substitution plus annotation are more suitable for translating numerals expressing fuzzy meanings in Mao Zedong’s poems.