A Study on Subtitle Translation Strategies in the Film Chang’an’s Lychee Based on the Functional Equivalence Theory

Abstract

With Chinese films increasingly entering the global market, subtitle translation has become an important bridge for cross-linguistic and cross-cultural communication. It plays a vital role in helping overseas audiences understand the content and emotions of the films. Based on Nida’s Functional Equivalence Theory, this paper explores the subtitle translation strategies adopted in the film Chang’an’s Lychee, focusing on the practice of formal, semantic, and cultural equivalence. Through an analysis of representative subtitle examples, it finds that the translator, while preserving the original information, employs flexible translation strategies to ensure both semantic accuracy and natural expression in the target language, effectively conveying the cultural connotations. The study demonstrates that Functional Equivalence Theory provides theoretical guidance for subtitle translation, emphasizing that the translated text should consider the target audience’s cultural background and linguistic habits while ensuring accurate information transfer, thereby realizing effective cross-cultural communication. This study offers theoretical and practical insights for optimizing subtitle translation strategies and improving the international dissemination of Chinese films.