Translator and writer Yu Zeymin discussed his three decades of cross-cultural literary work and the impact of artificial intelligence on translation at the sixth Greater Bay Area Literature Week. According to event reports, Yu spoke at the Greater Bay Area Literature High-Quality Development Forum, engaging with writers, translators, and sinologists from APEC member economies to share insights on connecting regional literature to global audiences.
Three Decades of Bridging Cultures
Yu's path to literary translation began in Europe. Originally bound for Austria, a visa policy change left him stranded in Hungary.
During a difficult period in Hungary, local acquaintances provided vital support, allowing him to build a life abroad. In April 1993, a casual dinner meeting introduced him to Hungarian author László Krasznahorkai. Bonded by a shared appreciation for classical Chinese poetry, particularly the works of Li Bai, the two formed a lasting friendship. According to historical accounts of their meeting, Yu later accompanied Krasznahorkai on a month-long journey in 1998, tracing the historical footsteps of Li Bai from Chongqing through the Three Gorges to Wuhan and other places.
Literary Career and Translation Work
That initial journey sparked Yu’s deep curiosity for Krasznahorkai’s complex prose, prompting him to begin translating the author’s work. Following the 2002 Nobel Prize win by Hungarian writer Imre Kertész, publishing houses approached Yu to translate Kertész’s four representative works.
Alongside his translations of prominent Hungarian authors—including works by Krasznahorkai and Kertész—Yu has translated roughly 30 Chinese literary works, spanning classical poetry, contemporary novels, and theoretical monographs. In May, he published a collection titled The Cage (天笼), featuring five stories written over twenty years that explore human nature, fate, and mortality.
The Role of Translation in the Age of AI
Addressing technological shifts in the literary community, Yu maintained that top-tier translators possess distinct human insights that automated tools cannot replace. According to recent award citations, such as those from the 11th Single-Aisle Bookstore Literary Awards recognizing him as Best Translator, his long-term practice reaffirms that translation stems from a human desire to understand unfamiliar cultures, ultimately aiming for mutual understanding between people rather than between humans and machines.
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