An Analysis of the Accuracy of Chengyu Translation in the Novel Jia [Family] into Malay

This paper discusses the translation of chengyu meanings into Malay. Chengyu is a subcategory of Chinese proverbs with a form and meaning that is simple, fixed and compact. Research data includes 208 data collected manually from the novel Jia (Family). For the purpose of data collection and analysis, this study utilises the definition of translation and the text comparison method proposed by Larson as well as the definition and categorisation of chengyu proposed by Wu Zhan Kun and Wang Qin. The results of the data analysis show that there are occurrences of equivalent meaning, reduced meaning, added meaning, zero meaning and different meaning. In fact, more than one condition may be present simultaneously. Accurate translation is achieved because there are similarities or near-similarities in thinking concepts between the source language and the target language. Chengyu with missing meaning, exaggerated meaning, zero meaning or meaning different from the original occurs due to linguistic and extralinguistic constraints as well as human negligence. There must be a strong grasp of the two main processes leading the translation activities, the derivation and conveyance of meaning from the source text.