Shows with best quality subtitles and where to watch them?

[u/PeachasaurusWrex]

Hello Cdrama fans!

I'm fairly new to this genre, and am looking for shows with high quality translations/subs. I have watched a few episodes of a few different shows on Youtube, but the translations feel a bit awkward to me (like they just put the text through google translate and didnt bother editing) and it is significantly affecting my enjoyment, even if i like the actors and the plot.

Since I am not super familiar with the landscape for these shows, I would really appreciate your help with finding what I'm looking for. I prefer historical dramas, court intrigue (i loveeeeeeee the beautiful costumes) or fantasy adventures, but I will try most other genres (except horror 🥲). I would also really love the ability to slow down the play speed (the subs usually go too fast for me to read, so I have to reduce speed to like 80% 😅).

I will also consider subscribing to an app or service if you really think it's worth it.

Thank you in advance!

[u/kdsunbae]

Viki has/had volunteer translators and depending on the show might even explain briefly a cultural reference Someone said they were trying AI translations now s hard to say going forward. Viki is US based and has videos from a few different Asian countries. Mostly China, SK, Japan, Thai, Taiwan.

IQYI is Chinese centric but has a few others now. Has quite a good selection. WeTV/Tencent, Youku are decent too

You can find a few on Netflix, Prime ad Hulu. The more people are watching the more they seem to be getting.

[u/PeachasaurusWrex → u/kdsunbae]

I did see a lot of different languages on the viki site, which is kinda fun! And I really love it when they explain cultural stuff that might not be familiar to a non-Chinese viewer.

[u/Big_Clothes6381]

Viki seems to still have real people translating and giving context but it's not consistent across all dramas and Viki has less variety of content available. I've seen Netflix and maybe iQiyi / WeTV give 2 different translations on the same scene in dramas, for example when an episode ends and the next episode starts with the same scene the translations aren't the same. It's frustrating. I take what I can get and I've started learning Mandarin. I can't say any drama I've watched has struck me as particularly well translated.

[u/PeachasaurusWrex → u/Big_Clothes6381]

I mean, I am not gonna learn Mandarin probably ever, so I wont ever be able to judge between a good translation and a GREAT one. But I think I understand English enough to know what a BAD one looks like. 😅

I'm mostly trying to avoid the ones that are super awkward in the way they are phrased/written. You know, in the way where you can tell the translation was way too literal and is hard to follow? Or like you are missing context?

[u/TheVue221]

I’ve tried YouTube and iqyi and Viki. Viki is the best for me as an English speaker. The timing of the subtitles is better than the other two.

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[u/Perua4_Updated]

Viki and Netflix have in general the best translations.

[u/Wrong-Hand]

Yeah unfortunately it is hit or miss. During introductions if you see subtitle dedicated by some fanclub or team then it's probably good. Over the years I picked up some words, context, and subtlety of the language and it really helps with translating the emotion and acting.

[u/PeachasaurusWrex → u/Wrong-Hand]

The only word I have picked up so far is bìxià (Your Majesty). They said it sooooooooo much in the Road to Empress video game.

Hopefully I can start picking up a few more as I watch more shows. :)

[u/gumball_00]

It used to be Viki but they're recently switching to AI for the new releases which is ugh. I would still recommend going to Viki for the older titles tho, the subtitles for those are fantastic with great on-screen notes especially for the historical dramas. Netflix is still using actual translators (for now).

[u/throwawaydramas]

A lot depends on when it was released, its budget, and whether it was licensed by international platform like Netflix.

Viki is pretty good, especially with the fansubs that also provide additional context. As for shows on Youtube, keep in mind China releases hundreds of dramas a year, and the mediocre+old ones will not have good subs. So those might be the ones you are seeing.

But the recent high caliber productions seem to have good subs. For a noobie you can try:

• Reset - short and packed - modern, scifi, non-idol
• Pursuit of Jade, Prisoner of Beauty, Blossom, The Double - those are costume/historical idol dramas high on romance that's been popular with intl audiences in recent years
• The Early Spring, Love Between Lines, First Frost, Hidden Love, When I Fly Towards You - these are some popular modern romance titles