Much thanks to @noobinall for popping in to do the Chinese translation. I've taken the liberty of tweaking the English a bit, but it's much appreciated.
I think I see the kanji for "niang niang" in the first bubble. Any views on how to translate it, other than her name?
Much thanks to @noobinall for popping in to do the Chinese translation. I've taken the liberty of tweaking the English a bit, but it's much appreciated.
I think I see the kanji for "niang niang" in the first bubble. Any views on how to translate it, other than her name?
It's basically a respectful way of addressing elderly high social class female, "madame" would be sufficient.
I was conflicted on that phrase, mostly since Seiga's been referred to as Seiga Niang Niang (i.e. Madame Seiga), but given her status as a wicked hermit I interpreted it as half-sarcastic take on a nickname, since from my understanding, only household servants, eunuchs, and other similar close subordinates would use Niang Niang as a pronoun, which Meiling isn't and is therefore just calling Seiga without any titles.
I was conflicted on that phrase, mostly since Seiga's been referred to as Seiga Niang Niang (i.e. Madame Seiga), but given her status as a wicked hermit I interpreted it as half-sarcastic take on a nickname, since from my understanding, only household servants, eunuchs, and other similar close subordinates would use Niang Niang as a pronoun, which Meiling isn't and is therefore just calling Seiga without any titles.
I see... I don't really know anything about Chinese conversational culture, so you may well be right, but it just felt odd for Meiling to addr ss her so directly by her first name while otherwise acting so noticeably polite. Personally, when in doubt on a small question like this I tend to lean towards the more "faithful" translation as long as it doesn't sound dumb in English, but that's just my preference.
Alternatively, we could just literally leave it as "Niang Niang", simultaneously making it a bit clearer to the reader in a way...?
[The medicine your house's master wanted][Madame, I have brought the ingredients you wanted.][Ah, yes. Much thanks to you, girl of the Scarlet Mansion.][has also been completed, I'll get it to you in a moment.]*chuckle*They're speaking Chinese.
*bow*
She must be from Scarlet Devil Mansion by the lake...
*glug*
——Excuse my rudeness, Lady Hermit. I'm the gatekeeper of Scarlet Devil Mansion...Hong Meiling.
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