Peking University, April 7, 2022: On April 1, 2022, Zhao Zhenjiang, professor of Spanish literature and language at Peking University, was awarded the Chinese Translation Culture Lifetime Achievement Award. This award is the highest honor a translator can receive in China.


Professor Zhao Zhenjiang was born in Beijing in 1940, graduated from the Department of Western Languages , Peking University, and went on to teach at the university in 1964.

Professor Zhao Zhenjiang’s long career of translation has been dedicated to the translation of Spanish literary works. From classic literature to poetry, Professor Zhao has greatly contributed to the understanding of Spanish literature among Chinese readers. Professor Zhao emphasized that “a good translator should have a complete understanding of the original work, and can also use their own language to accurately, clearly, and vividly interpret the content, while also considering the original style and charm of the poem.”

In the late 1980s, Professor Zhao traveled to Spain to translate Dream of the Red Chamber into Spanish. The first 2500 copies of the first volume, the translation of which Professor Zhao participated in, were sold out in one month. Such translations contributed to Chinese-Western cultural exchanges and the promotion of Chinese culture in Western society.

Besides his work in translation, Professor Zhao also contributes to the field of Spanish literature, advancing the development of Chinese-Spanish poetry research.

Professor Zhao Zhenjiang has previously received various honors for his translated works, including medals and awards from countries like Chile, Spain, and Argentina, as well as a certificate and medal of “Prominent Visiting Scholar” fr om Ricardo Palma University in Peru.

Written by: Jessica Xu
Edited by: Ma Yaoli
Source: PKU News (Chinese)