Author(s): Qingdian Zhao

Abstract: This article reviews the application of foreignization in literary translation, explores the evolution, similarities and differences of foreignization views between the East and the West, and their implications for contemporary translators. This article summarizes the attitudes and contributions of various scholars in the history of China and the West towards foreignization, and compares the differences in the use of foreignization between China and the West. Through a review of the perspectives and applications of foreignization in both China and the West, this article reveals the important role of foreignization in conveying cultural differences and promoting cultural exchange, and provides theoretical guidance and methodological references for translators in literary translation practice.

Keywords: Comparison between China and the West; foreignization; literary translation; translation history.

Article Info: Received: 03 Feb 2026; Received in revised form: 07 Mar 2026; Accepted: 11 Mar 2026; Available online: 15 Mar 2026

DOI: 10.22161/ijels.112.18