Questionnaire on Audience Reception of the English Subtitles in Seasons of China

Dear Participant,

This questionnaire aims to understand your viewing experience and perceptions of the English subtitles in the documentarySeasons of China. Your feedback will be invaluable to research in cross-cultural communication and translation studies. The survey is anonymous, and data will only be used for academic purposes. It will take approximately 8-10 minutes. Thank you for your participation!尊敬的参与者，您好！本问卷旨在了解您对纪录片《Seasons of China 四季中国》英文字幕的观看体验与感受。您的反馈将对跨文化传播与翻译研究有重要价值。问卷匿名，数据仅用于学术研究，耗时约8-10分钟。感谢您的参与！

If you have not watched the documentary before, we recommend watching a selection of clips (including segments on “Bangbang,” “Spring bamboo shoots after rain,” and “Ghost Festival”) via the link provided before answering based on your experience.如果您尚未观看过该纪录片，建议先观看包含“棒棒”、“雨后春笋”、“中元节”等片段的精选集，再根据体验回答问卷。
*
1. Your native language is 您的母语是
English
Other 其他
*
2. How familiar are you with China's 24 solar terms / traditional culture?
您对中国二十四节气/传统文化的熟悉程度? 
Never heard of it 从未听说过
Heard of it but not familiar 听说过但不了解
Somewhat familiar 有一定了解
Very familiar 非常熟悉
*
3. What are your main reasons for watching this type of Chinese documentary? 
您观看此类中国纪录片的主要原因是? 
【最多选择5项】
Interest in Chinese culture 对中国文化感兴趣
Learning Chinese or understanding Chinese society 学习中文或了解中国社会
Attracted by the natural scenery or documentary theme 被自然风光或纪录片主题吸引
Academic research or work requirements 学术研究或工作需求
Other 其他

Part 2:

Overall Quality of Subtitle Translation 

字幕翻译整体质量评估 

Please indicate your level of agreement (1-Strongly Disagree, 5-Strongly Agree).

请根据您的同意程度选择（1-非常不同意，5-非常同意）


*
4. The English in the subtitles is natural, fluent, and easy to understand. 
字幕的英语表达自然流畅，易于理解。
1
2
3
4
5
*
5. The subtitles accurately convey the core meaning of the original Chinese. 
字幕准确地传达了中文原意的核心信息。
1
2
3
4
5
*
6. Overall, the subtitles helped me understand the cultural content the documentary aims to convey. 
整体而言，字幕帮助我理解了纪录片想传达的文化内涵。
1
2
3
4
5
*
7. The amount of information in the subtitles is “just right”—it provides necessary context without interfering with my enjoyment of the visuals. 
字幕的信息量“刚刚好”，既提供了必要背景，又没干扰我欣赏画面。
1
2
3
4
5

Part 3: 

Evaluation of Key Cultural Concept Translations 

核心文化概念翻译评估

8. Regarding the translation of “Bang Bang” (bamboo pole)”. The documentary used pinyin plus an explanation: “Bangbang (bamboo pole)”.
关于“棒棒”的翻译，片中采用了拼音加解释的方式。
*
a）How helpful was this translation method for your understanding of this occupation?
这种翻译方式对我理解这个职业的帮助程度是?
（1-Not helpful at all, 5-Extremely helpful   1-完全没有帮助，5-非常有帮助）
1
2
3
4
5
*
b) Do you think this “transliteration + explanation” strategy helps you use the term “Bangbang” directly in future cross-cultural communication?
您认为这种“音译+解释”的策略，是否有助于您在未来的跨文化交流中直接使用“棒棒”这个词?
Yes, it acts like a “cultural seed,” helping me remember the Chinese pronunciation and concept.是的，它像一颗“文化种子”，让我记住了中文发音和概念
Neutral; I mainly remember the function of “porter.”一般，主要还是记住了“搬运工”的功能
Not helpful; pinyin is meaningless to me.没有帮助，拼音对我没有意义
9.  Regarding the translation of the idiom “雨后春笋”--The documentary provided both the literal meaning (literal translation) and the figurative meaning (free translation).
关于成语“雨后春笋”的翻译，片中同时提供了字面意思（直译）和比喻义（意译）
*
a) How helpful was this “literal + figurative” approach for your understanding of this idiom?
这种“直译+意译”的处理方式，对我理解这个成语的帮助程度是?  
(1-Not helpful at all, 5-Extremely helpful  1-完全没有帮助，5-非常有帮助)
1
2
3
4
5
b) How helpful were the following elements in understanding the metaphorical connection between “bamboo shoots growing” and “things emerging rapidly”?
在理解“春笋生长”与“事物大量涌现”的比喻关系时，以下元素对您的帮助程度是?
(1-Not helpful at all, 5-Extremely helpful 1-完全没有帮助，5-非常有帮助)
*
Literal translation in subtitles 字幕的翻译 
1
2
3
4
5
*
Visuals (bamboo forest, shoots breaking ground) 画面（竹林、春笋破土镜头）  
1
2
3
4
5
*
Figurative explanation in subtitles  字幕的比喻义解释 
1
2
3
4
5
10. Regarding the translation of “中元节” and “祭祀    关于“中元节”与“祭祀”的翻译 
*

a) When you first saw the translation “Ghost Festival,” what was your immediate association?
当您看到“Ghost Festival”这个译名时，您第一印象联想到的是? 
It completely reminded me of Halloween—a lively, spooky festival.完全就是万圣节那种热闹、惊悚的节日
Mainly Halloween, but I sensed it might be different. 主要联想到万圣节，但也觉得可能有些不同
I could tell it’s a serious festival related to the deceased. 能感觉到是一个与“亡灵”相关的严肃节日
No particular association. 没有任何特别联想
*
b) Do you think the translation “Ghost Festival” matches the solemn, commemorative atmosphere of the ritual shown in the clip?
您认为“Ghost Festival”这个译名，与片中庄重、缅怀的仪式氛围匹配吗?
(1-Not at all matching, misleading → 5-Very well matched   1-完全不匹配，有误导性 → 5-非常匹配)
1
2
3
4
5
*
c) Regarding the translation of “祭祀逝者，为生者祈福” as “the deceased are remembered whilst the living are blessed,” do you agree that the word “remembered” weakens the sense of solemn ritual and family bonds contained in the Chinese word “祭祀”?
对于“祭祀逝者，为生者祈福”翻译成 “the deceased are remembered whilst the living are blessed”，您是否同意“remembered（怀念）”这个词弱化了中文里“祭祀”一词所包含的庄重仪式感和家族纽带感? 

1-Strongly disagree (translation is adequate) → 5-Strongly agree (it weakens the connotation)
1-非常不同意（翻译很到位） → 5-非常同意（确实弱化了内涵）
1
2
3
4
5
Part 4: 
Viewing Experience and Cultural Distance 
观看体验与文化距离感
*
11. To what extent did the visuals, sound effects, and other audiovisual elements compensate for any gaps in understanding left by the subtitles?
观看过程中，画面、音效等视听元素在多大程度上弥补了字幕可能存在的理解空白? 
(1-Not at all → 5-Greatly compensated   1-完全没有弥补 → 5-极大地弥补了)
1
2
3
4
5
*
12. After watching these clips, has your understanding of the “24 solar terms” changed?
看完这些片段后，您对“二十四节气”的理解是否发生了变化? 
Yes, it has transformed from a simple temporal concept into a comprehensive cultural system closely linked to occupations, language, and beliefs. 是的，它从一个简单的时间概念，转变为与职业、语言、信仰紧密相连的综合性文化体系
Somewhat changed; I now see it as related to ordinary Chinese people's lives. 有一些变化，开始觉得它和普通中国人的生活有关
No change; it remains just a climatic term. 没有变化，依然只是一个气候术语
*
13. 基于本次观看体验，您觉得这部纪录片是拉近了您与中国文化的距离，还是让您觉得仍有隔阂?  Based on this viewing experience, do you feel the documentary has brought you closer to Chinese culture or still leaves a sense of distance?
(1-Feel more distant → 5-Feel much closer    1-感到更有隔阂了 → 5-感到更亲近了)
○ 1
○ 2
○ 3
○ 4
○ 5
Part 5:
Open-ended Questions 
简答题
*
14. Among the three cases (“Bangbang,” “Spring bamboo shoots after rain,” “Ghost Festival”), which translation left the deepest impression on you? Why? (e.g., it was cleverly handled, or it left you confused)
“棒棒”、“雨后春笋”、“中元节”这三个案例中，哪个案例的翻译给您留下的印象最深刻?为什么?（例如:处理得很巧妙，或者让您感到很困惑）
*
15. If you were a subtitle consultant for this documentary, what is the one thing you would most like to improve? (e.g., add a note to a certain term, change a translation, adjust subtitle speed, etc.)
如果您是这部纪录片的字幕顾问，您认为需要改进的是什么?（例如: 在某个词上加注释，改变某个译法，调整字幕速度等）
*
16. Overall, what do you think is the most important task of subtitles in a good cultural documentary?总体而言，您认为一部好的文化纪录片字幕，最重要的是什么?
End of questionnaire. Thank you sincerely for your time and valuable feedback!
问卷结束，衷心感谢您的时间和宝贵意见！
问卷星提供技术支持
举报