I finished translating 39. :D All of V1! Now that that's done, I'll (finally) work on the last summary of 39 V1 again. :3;; I'm about 1/3 of the way through the summary.
It really makes it much easier to translate when there's an online version of the text because then I don't have to flip back and forth, and I can also easily use online dictionaries. But online versions often have really silly mistakes, and there might be missing text too. I always check my translations against the book versions for accuracy. (The end lesson is, please take the online versions with a grain of salt XD;;)
Here are just a few of the silly typos I've come across in one of the online versions of 39.
Online: 裏頭的擺飾相當簡單,牆上挂著幾幅落地巨花
The decorations inside were rather simple. Gigantic flowers were draped on the walls.
Actual: 裏頭的擺飾相當簡單,牆上挂著幾幅落地巨畫
The decorations inside were rather simple. Gigantic paintings that reached the floors hung on the walls.
Me: Wait, gigantic flowers? That doesn't sound very "simple" Also, no one would use the counter 幅 with flowers.
When I checked the text, I found it was actually supposed to be paintings, which made a lot more sense, especially with what happens later.
Gigantic paintings turned into gigantic flowers... What "simple" decorations!
Online: 推開巨畫後,地下室一條幽黑的階梯
Pushing aside the gigantic painting revealed a basement with a dark, winding staircase.
Actual: 推開巨畫後,底下是一條幽黑的階梯
Pushing aside the gigantic painting revealed a dark, winding staircase below.
(There was no mention of basements!!! And of course, secret staircases hide behind paintings, not flowers :'D;;;)
Online: 老師的聲音……晚了!
It’s Teacher’s voice... We’re too late!
Actual: 老師的聲音……完了!
It’s Teacher’s voice... We’re done for!
I actually automatically corrected this one in my head and didn't notice until later that the online version typo-ed it as 晚了.
Online: 即使身上的白色其實副有點破爛以及焦黑,也絲毫不損他的絕代風華。
Even if the white on his body was actually a bit ragged and burnt, that did not at all detract from his absolute magnificence.
Actual: 即使身上的白色騎士服有點破爛以及焦黑,也絲毫不損他的絕代風華。
Even if the white knight's outfit on his body was a bit ragged and burnt, that did not at all detract from his absolute magnificence.
It made a lot more sense when I realized this was talking about his clothes.
Anyway, there are many instances like this. Some of them make me laugh. :'D;; Chinese is really all homophones. Some online texts are more accurate than others. 39 isn't one of them.