Cover news reporter Zhang Jie Intern Jiang Ruiyao
Because of the self-report article "Hangzhou man calls from the funeral home: can you write about our genius son", Jin Xiaoyu, the son of the author of the article, Jin Shengyong and the literary translator, became a hot search figure on the whole network a few months ago. Due to serious eye injuries in his youth and later mental illness, Jin Xiaoyu failed to complete his university studies, but he translated more than 20 works in English, Japanese and German through self-taught foreign languages, becoming a literary translator who is highly acclaimed in the industry. This story of a difficult struggle with fate has touched countless people.
Literary translation is a kind of work that requires sufficient humanistic accomplishment, literary acumen, and creativity. What kind of reading world does the acclaimed "translator of the world" Jin Xiaoyu have? What books does he like to read? How's he doing?
Translated by Jin Xiaoyu
On the afternoon of April 21, just before World Book Day, the cover reporter dialed the phone of Jin Xiaoyu's father, Kim Seung-yong. It was Kim Xiao-woo who answered the phone, and he said that Dad had just gone out and was not there at this time. The reporter relayed to him the manuscript of the interview with his father in late January this year, "After the "genius translator" Jin Xiaoyu became popular overnight, the most worrying thing about Jin Xiaoyu was solved" was published on the cover news and the West China Metropolis Daily, and received good feedback from readers across the country. Many people are relieved that hot news can push things in a good direction. He said "thank you", said "I know West China Metropolis Daily", and was willing to chat with reporters for a while to share some recent information about translation, reading, and life.
Teenager Jin Xiaoyu took a group photo with his father
When I was a teenager, I loved to read "Grimm's Fairy Tales" and "Hans Christian Andersen's Fairy Tales"
Eat through the original before translating a book
After receiving much attention, Jin Xiaoyu's work has increased.
Jin Sex Yong also revealed that Jin Xiaoyu has liked to read books since he was a child, and his reading hobbies are very extensive, and he reads all kinds of books. Including Mencius, Zhuangzi, Lao Tzu, the Four Books and Five Classics, he had bought and read them himself. "The money he bought books, we were always free to give him, he bought whatever he liked. He would also say that some books do not need to be bought, just go to the library to borrow them and look at them. Xiaoyu often went to the library to borrow books, borrowing four or five books at a time. For example, when he starts translating a book, he checks to see if the book already has a Chinese translation. If there is, he will borrow it and take a hard look. Xiaoyu's translation of benjamin's collected letters is very large, with more than 1,000 pages, a very large one, and the translated book is almost equivalent to three or four books in general. He was very serious. Before translating, he read the original in German and then looked at the English version translated by someone else. Repeat this comparison. He felt that Benjamin wrote very well, and the English translation was not all very accurate. ”
Translated by Jin Xiaoyu
After receiving much attention, some publishing houses took the initiative to invite them to write books
Specialists are willing to operate on his injured eye
Literary translation actually needs a lot of literary skills, and to some extent it is also a kind of literary creation. Many people can see from Jin Xiaoyu's translation that his writing skills are profound and his aesthetic is very good.
On January 17, 2022, after "Genius Translator" Jin Xiaoyu became popular overnight, the most worrying thing about Jin Xiaoyu was released on the cover news, and the relevant person in charge of the publishing house entrusted the cover news reporter to convey to Jin Sexyong that he was willing to invite Jin Xiaoyu to write his own works and publish books for him, and the manuscript fee was much higher than the translation fee. But Mr. Kim said, "He's not too willing to write at the moment." Previously, there was also a newspaper editor who came to ask him to talk about the translation, and he did not agree to the delivery time without giving him a deadline. ”
Translated by Jin Xiaoyu
Why? He probably felt that his writing and translation were two different things. He was afraid of opening his mouth to write, and the things he wrote were very poor. Sometimes, I write something that he can't read. I was ready to wait until he had completed the task he needed to translate, and then I advised him that he could write and write his own things while translating. Jin Saidyong.
Jin Xiaoyu's seriously injured eye disease in his youth may also usher in some turnaround. "During a recent visit, the doctor said that there were surgical conditions for intraocular lens injection, or that a small part of the vision of the left eye could be restored." Jin Said that there is a senior medical expert who is ranked well in the country and is willing to operate on Xiaoyu personally, which is a rare opportunity. But Xiaoyu still had some concerns in his thinking: he was worried that after that eye was operated on, the two eyes would not cooperate well and would not be able to focus on a single point. He was afraid that he might not fit in. Now, the secretary of the community where we live is very concerned about this matter and joins me in persuading Xiaoyu to do this operation. After all, even if it is only a little improvement in vision, it is good for Xiaoyu. Now when he translates, he encounters some books with small words, and it seems to be more difficult. ”
The special wish of the 87-year-old father
I hope xiaoyu will have a partner who supports each other in the second half of his life
Jin Zhiyong said that it is Xiaoyu's business to buy vegetables every day, and when he cooks for himself, Xiaoyu translates and should seize the time. Jin Sexyong also specifically mentioned one of his wishes, "I hope he can have a partner who supports each other in the second half of his life." His mom is gone and I'm 87 years old. I tried to live as long as I could for a few years, and I was relieved to see that he could make a family. And now the economic conditions at home are also better than before. On the one hand, Xiaoyu's translation fee has increased, and on the other hand, after his mother fell ill and died, there is still some money left. I kept it for him. ”
For the matter of finding a life partner, Jin Zhiyong said, "Xiaoyu did not reject my idea, he said that this depends on fate. ”
Jin Saidong said that usually his son's job is to translate books at home, the circle of friends is relatively narrow, and there are very few people who come and go every day in life, "Except for me, I am the secretary of our community." ”
According to Hangzhou media reports, on April 8, in the Party and Group Activity Room of Shuangdang Lane Community in Hushu Street, Gongshu District, Hangzhou, students of Zhejiang University University College taught English, Japanese and sign language related to the Asian Games and the Asian Paralympic Games to the "Shu Xiaohong" volunteers in the district. In the teaching team, there is a translator who is proficient in many Chinese words- Jin Xiaoyu. This is the first time since he put on his red vest and become an Asian Games volunteer that he has shared his foreign language learning experience in front of everyone.
His son is willing to be a volunteer at the Asian Games, which makes Jin Zhiyong very happy, "In addition to doing something for the Asian Games, he can also have more contact with the outside world." ”
Jin Xiaoyu >> in an interview with the cover news
"Every morning, when there is sunshine and birds chirping, I get up and start translating after buying vegetables."
Although Jin Xiaoyu's voice on the phone is low and the speed of speech is slower, his thinking logic is clear and his attitude is gentle. Especially when it comes to translation and reading, show a humble and serious character.
Jin Xiaoyu's father, Jin Sexyong, also went on to talk in detail about some recent developments about Xiaoyu. He mentioned, "Xiaoyu is not good at words, especially when there are strangers on the scene, it is very shy. On the phone, when he doesn't meet, he's less shy. ”
Cover News: I heard you volunteered at the Hangzhou Asian Games? What is the main work at present?
Jinyu Jin: Yes. Mainly I want to do some translation as much as I can, and publicize the Asian Games, canal culture and other related things.
Cover News: What are you translating right now?
Jin Xiaoyu: I am translating a Japanese work for a young reader of a detective novel.
Cover News: Since the beginning of this year, everyone has paid more attention to you, and there have been more jobs to translate you, right?
Jinyu Jin: Yes. But the point is, too much can't translate.
Cover News: Can we say that this selectivity has become greater? Are there any books that you refuse to translate?
Jin Xiaoyu: Basically, I didn't refuse, I will read it carefully when I get it. Because without reading, you don't know what it is about. After reading it carefully, it is a pity not to translate it. The foreign language works brought by the publishing house are all screened, and the level will not be too bad.
Cover News: Generally speaking, what is the daily work and life arrangement?
Jin Xiaoyu: Every morning, there is sunshine and birds chirping, and I get up. Then go grocery shopping and come back and start translating. Take a break at noon and continue translating in the afternoon. When I don't work at night, I will listen to the broadcast of the Central Radio Station, learn about some hot news, and go to sleep after 8 o'clock.
Cover News: Literary translation is actually a kind of deep intensive reading. But apart from translated books, what books do you usually like to read?
Jin Xiaoyu: Now it's mainly because there are more books that need to be translated, and my eyesight is not good, I can't use my eyes too much, so I basically don't read other books (other than the translated books), so I listen to the radio or something. I used to love reading.
Cover News: On World Book Day on April 23, would you like to share a book that you have read before that has impressed you in particular?
Jin Xiaoyu: I remember when I was very young, my mother bought me "Grimm's Fairy Tales" and "Andersen's Fairy Tales", and I remember them very deeply, and I still remember them very clearly. In addition, when learning a foreign language, I read more novels.
Cover News: Your translation is universally recognized as being particularly well translated, authentic, appropriate, accurate, and the language is gentle and clean. Do you know these reader feedback? Will you go online to see it?
Jin Xiaoyu: Usually after translating a book and publishing it, I will go to Douban to read it. Usually, I don't have time to read it when I translate. There are good reviews. But there is a douban with a very low score, I don't know why.
Cover News: Are there any foreign language works that you particularly like, but haven't translated yet?
Jin Xiaoyu: If it is in English, for example, the annual annuity of British and American short stories, I would like to read it, but I have not translated this.
Cover News: Isn't it fun to be a translator every day?
Jinyu Jin: Yes. Translated works are the crystallization of spiritual labor. Moreover, translation is very suitable for me, if I go to work in society, I am not suitable. Translation gave me a way out of my life.