As a translator into Finnish I often need to balance between the strange and the familiar, the exotic and the homely. For Finnish readers, the work of a Chinese writer also provides a glimpse into a distant culture and a different society, but it must be more than that.

Literature must work primarily as literature, and I wouldn’t like anyone to read my translations merely as curiosities or eyewitness reports of the reality in China. A translator must be careful not to let the real message of the writer be hidden under unfamiliar and odd-seeming details. On the other hand, excessive explanations or domestication would be an even greater crime towards the original work.

The best thing about a translator’s work is continuous learning. Naturally knowledge of the source language and culture is of central importance, but the most important tool for a translator into Finnish is the Finnish language. I try to read as much original Finnish and translated literature as possible. One thing that is important for professional development is the training organised by translators into Finnish. I also actively participate in KAOS, which represents the interests of translators and operates under the Union of Journalists in Finland.