Hi, I know you've talked about differences in MDZS translations before so I wanted to ask something. In the exr version of the Yunmeng/Dream Come True chapter, after Wei Wuxian admits that he just wanted to hang out with Lan Wangji back then, they translate one of the lines as "Be honest about whether or not you thought about me in the same way." In the 7s version, they translate it as "Tell me if you felt the same way." However, the exr line seems to have more romantic undertones than the 7s one (i.e. 'did you feel the same about me' vs. 'did you also want to hang out'). Do you possibly know which is more true to the original meaning of the text? Or am I just reading into it too much and there really is no difference between the two??
I can't tell you which translation is closer to the original wording of that section, because I can't understand the raws and there's no third translation to act as tie-breaker. I feel like they both say the same thing, though, it's just that the 7seas version reads weirder because it breaks the rhythm in wangxian's call-and-response by deleting the repetition, which also makes that bit of dialogue sound awkward and clunky.
He turned around to give him a hand, “And so, Lan Zhan, you’re gonna have to be honest too.” Lan WangJi also went back on the boat. He handed him a red ribbon, “Be honest about what?” Wei WuXian held the ribbon in between his lips, using both of his hands to retie the hair that had come loose underwater, “Be honest about whether or not you thought about me in the same way.”
—exr
vs.
“So tell me honestly, Lan Zhan.” Lan Wangji got on the boat and handed him a red cord. “Of what?” Wei Wuxian held the red cord with his mouth as he pulled back his hair, which had come loose in the water. “Tell me if you felt the same way,” he said solemnly.
—7seas
Idk why the 7seas translator went with that choice of diction, but this is why it's good to have a translator who is also a good creative writer translate creative writing.
I'm gonna be pedantic on both sides of this here and say I wasn't a fan of either much, but ExR does get the disgustingly flirtatious vibe of it all more than Sevenseas.
But what I'll throw into the ring for this:
蓝忘机在他腰后一托,魏无羡重新上了船,回 头递出一手去抓他,道:“所以,你也老实交代吧 蓝湛。”
蓝忘机也上了船,将一截红绳递给他,道: “交代什么。”
魏无羡咬住那截红绳,双手把在水中散开的黑 发重新扎起来,道:“交代你是不是也和我想的一 样啊。
Wei Wuxian got back onto the boat, and turned back to lend a hand, "So, you should sincerely confess too, Lan Zhan."
Lan Wangji also boarded the boat and handed him a red cord, "Confess to what?"
Wei Wuxian held the red cord between his teeth, tying up his black hair that had been loosened in the water, saying, "Confess that you thought about me as I thought of you."
And as to why I like the usage of confess than just "tell me" or "be honest" is because the repetition for this 交代 jiāo dài. Which is to justify yourself, explain and confess. And it's the underlying meaning of Wei Wuxian admitting to his own crush and love which Lan Wangji needs to now admit too in reciprocation. And retains the very overt flirting that Wei Wuxian is teasing him with, only to get it times 20 in retaliation from Lan Wangi when he says "You can try to ask me now and see if I will reject you (your confessions to me).
