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From East to West: Chinese Idioms as a Window into Liyue’s Cultural Identity in Genshin Impact
You’ve finally arrived at Liyue in Genshin Impact and were cruising through the dialogue when you encountered this sentence — “Don’t rush to eat hot tofu, or you’ll burn your tongue,” and you think, “What the heck? That’s random.”
The world of Liyue features an extensive amount of Chinese idioms, skillfully localised into English for you to understand, albeit sounding a bit weird at times. The localisation of Chinese to English is no easy feat, of course, and today I would like to discuss why the game felt the need to reserve these sayings, and how the act of localising idioms contributes to the narrative design of Genshin Impact.
What are Chinese Idioms?
We may already be familiar with idioms in the English language, but we rarely incorporate them into our day-to-day conversations. At least, I know I don’t actually use “raining cats and dogs” when it’s pouring.
However, Chinese idioms are still common in vernacular Chinese writing and spoken language today. The most well-used expressions are usually in the form of 成語 (chéngyǔ), which consists of four characters. That doesn’t apply to all Chinese idioms, however, as we frequently quote idioms with more words as well. One commonality among Chinese idioms is their ability to encapsulate complex concepts, usually a whole scene, concept, or situation, within fewer characters to deliver a wise message.
These sayings are passed down from generation to generation, so they bear stories, sayings, and wisdom from our ancestors, and are lessons we still take to heart today. Therefore, Chinese idioms serve as gateways to understanding the rich history and culture of China, and they offer a profound introduction to the culture of Liyue within Genshin Impact as well.
Idioms in Genshin
The Chinese Idioms of Genshin accomplish two feats: 1) they showcase the world-building and culture of Liyue, and 2) they reflect the personalities and cultural backgrounds of their characters. Let’s tackle this one by one.
