White, red, and black: a corpus-based study of translating four-character color expressions in award-winning Chinese literature

Color expressions in Chinese literature often carry profound metaphorical and cultural connotations, which pose significant challenges for both translators and readers. This study explores the strategies employed in translating four-character color expressions from contemporary Chinese literature into English by using a self-compiled parallel corpus. Building on a refined translation model for color expressions, the present study examines the frequency, collocation patterns, and translation strategies of three key color terms: “白” (white), “紅” (red), and “黑” (black). The findings reveal that these color terms convey rich metaphorical and cultural meanings beyond describing chromatic attributes. While the Chinese original texts frequently employ reduplicated color terms and complex collocations, these are usually simplified, paraphrased, or omitted in English translations. In terms of translation strategies, domestication emerges as the predominant approach, followed by neutral translation, whereas foreignization is employed relatively rarely. These findings contribute to existing literature on color expressions and idiom translation, while also offering practical implications for literary translation, translation pedagogy, and intercultural communication.