Understanding the Use of Domestication and Foreignization: A Systematic Literature Review of Translation Strategies in English–Chinese Cultural Contexts

Abstract

Purpose: The aim of this study is to critically examine the application of domestication and foreignization in English–Chinese translation, outlining how the two strategies have been theorized, applied, and debated in scholarly research. It attempts to identify their advantages and disadvantages, as well as cultural implications, and fill theoretical and empirical research gaps.

Method: Systematic review method was employed, reading 28 peer-reviewed articles published between 2015 and 2025. Keyword search was undertaken on databases like Scopus, Web of Science, CNKI, and Google Scholar. Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines were employed to screen the studies, extracting and synthesizing the data for the evaluation of the roles and impacts of each strategy.

Findings: Domestication is favored where readability, access, and acceptability by readers are required, such as in the context of journalism, education, and technical translation. Foreignization is applied more frequently to literary, cultural, and historical writing where authenticity and cultural purity are priorities. Each has advantages and disadvantages, domestication being criticized for cultural dilution and foreignization for alienating readers. Both, however, contribute to the construction of cultural identity and ideological representation.

Originality/Implications: By situating Venuti’s framework within the English–Chinese context, this study provides a comprehensive synthesis of how translation strategies mediate intercultural communication, advance theoretical debates, and inform translators, educators, and policymakers in fostering balanced cultural representation.