Reverse-Identifying Chinese Fanfiction: Guide and Tag Almanac
Chinese fanfiction can be tracked down by understanding the platforms, tags, and terms native to its community. This guide provides a comprehensive
reference and field manual for tracing an English-translated fic back to its Chinese source. We cover major Chinese fanfic platforms, how stories are classified and tagged, Chinese names for popular fandoms, common tropes and subgenres, tell-tale synopsis phrases, naming conventions, and search strategies. Use the copy-paste tag lists and examples below to help pinpoint original Chinese titles.
Major Chinese Fanfiction Platforms
Chinese fanworks are hosted across several platforms, each with its own culture and quirks:
- Jinjiang Literature City (晋江文学城, JJWXC) – The largest webnovel site targeting female audiences. Jinjiang hosts both original web novels and fanfiction (衍生/同人作品) across many genres (Jinjiang Literature City - Fanlore) (). Many popular C-novels (e.g. Guardian, The Untamed) began on JJWXC (Jinjiang Literature City - Fanlore). Fanfiction on Jinjiang is subject to content censorship (no explicit NSFW on-site), but the site provides robust categorization and search filters. Fanfic authors can serialize long fics here, and readers might need an account to view mature chapters or use advanced search. (Note: In 2019 Jinjiang had a crackdown on certain content, briefly suspending new uploads (Jinjiang Literature City - Fanlore), but it remains a primary archive for fanfic.)
- NetEase Lofter (LOFTER) – A blogging platform akin to Tumblr, widely used for fanfiction and fanart. Lofter is less structured: authors post fics as blog entries with tags. There’s no centralized archive or advanced filtering, so finding fics involves browsing tags or following rec lists. Many fan writers (especially for anime, C-drama, C-pop RPF, etc.) use Lofter to share fanfics freely. For example, a search or tag for the pairing or fandom (in Chinese) will lead to numerous posts. Lofter’s informality means content can be scattered, and mature content is sometimes placed off-site due to censorship. Still, it’s a goldmine for short fics, oneshots, and niche fandoms.
- Archive of Our Own (AO3) – Chinese usage: AO3 is an international fanfic site, and some Chinese authors posted works there (especially for unrestricted NSFW content). However, AO3 has been blocked in mainland China since Feb 29, 2020 after a controversy where a fanfic about actor Xiao Zhan was mass-reported to authorities (Blocking of AO3 in China - Fanlore). As of 2024, AO3 remains blocked (Blocking of AO3 in China - Fanlore). Chinese fanfic writers now rarely rely on AO3 (those who do use VPN or mirror access). If you see an English translation from AO3 and suspect a Chinese original, be aware the original might not be on AO3 itself (the translator may have posted it there after translating). Instead, check if the story exists on JJWXC or Lofter under its Chinese title.
- Gongzi Changpei (公子长佩) – Often just “长佩”, an offshoot forum-turned-website founded by Jinjiang users in 2010 aiming for freer expression in danmei (耽美, BL) fiction (Jinjiang Literature City - Fanlore). Changpei hosts many BL fanfics and original BL with somewhat looser moderation than Jinjiang. It became commercialized in 2017. If your target fic is BL and not on Jinjiang, it might reside on Changpei.
- Others: Some writers share fics on Weibo (often in threaded posts or “super topics” for a fandom), especially for real-person fanfiction. There are also smaller mobile apps and forums (e.g. Pixiv Chinese version, Tieba forums, etc.) but these are less common for long-form fics. Doujin/Pixiv: Fanartists sometimes attach fic-like narratives to art on Pixiv or other art sites, but longer text usually lives on the above platforms. Qidian (起点) and other big webnovel sites generally forbid fanfiction due to copyright, focusing only on original fiction.
Tip: If you have an English translation, first identify
where the translator found it. Did they mention JJWXC or provide the Chinese title? If not, use the clues below (fandom tags, synopsis style, etc.) to search likely Chinese sites.
Fanfic Classifications and Tags in Chinese
Chinese fanfiction authors use a combination of
platform-defined categories and
free-form tags to classify their works. Understanding these tags is crucial for reverse-identification:
- 原创 vs. 衍生: All stories are labeled as either 原创 (yuanchuang, original fiction) or 衍生 (derivative work) on major sites (A Handy Guide to JJWXC Tags, Part 1 – @firstchaptertranslations on Tumblr). 衍生 is essentially fanfiction. (The term 同人文 (“tongren” – literally comrades’ literature, from Japanese dōjin) is also used interchangeably to mean fanfic ().) On JJWXC, for instance, authors must select one of these, so you’ll see it in the story info. If a story is tagged 原创, it’s an original novel; if 衍生, it’s fanfic based on an existing IP.
- Orientation (CP倾向): Chinese sites categorize by the romance pairing type:
- 言情 – Heterosexual romance (male/female). Literally means “romance novel,” but on JJWXC it denotes BG (boy-girl) content (A Handy Guide to JJWXC Tags, Part 1 – @firstchaptertranslations on Tumblr).
- 纯爱 – Literally “pure love,” this is a euphemism for BL (boy’s love) content (A Handy Guide to JJWXC Tags, Part 1 – @firstchaptertranslations on Tumblr). (Another common term for BL is 耽美 (danmei), often used in general discussion, but 纯爱 is the official tag on Jinjiang.)
- 百合 – “Lily,” meaning GL (girl’s love) or lesbian romance (A Handy Guide to JJWXC Tags, Part 1 – @firstchaptertranslations on Tumblr).
- 女尊 – Female-dominated heterosexual stories (A Handy Guide to JJWXC Tags, Part 1 – @firstchaptertranslations on Tumblr). In these, matriarchal settings or role reversals are common (e.g. women have multiple male consorts, etc.).
- 无CP – No CP (no central romantic pairing) (A Handy Guide to JJWXC Tags, Part 1 – @firstchaptertranslations on Tumblr). This tag is for gen fic or stories focusing on plot/friendship rather than romance.
- Why it matters: If the English translation clearly features a gay couple, the original likely had 纯爱 or 耽美 tags. If it’s straight romance, look for 言情. These terms often appear on the title page or tags of the Chinese fic.
- Genre and Setting Tags: Authors indicate setting and genre through tags:
- 时代/背景: e.g. 近代现代 (modern), 古色古香 (historical fiction in a real dynasty), 架空历史 (alternate-history), 幻想未来 (futuristic) (A Handy Guide to JJWXC Tags, Part 1 – @firstchaptertranslations on Tumblr). A fanfic set in ancient times or a xianxia world might be tagged 古代 or 架空; a sci-fi AU might be 幻想未来.
- Primary genre: Chinese sites have a range of genre tags. For example, Jinjiang allows a primary genre selection such as 爱情 (romance), 武侠 (wuxia), 奇幻 (fantasy), 仙侠 (xianxia cultivation), 惊悚 (horror), 悬疑 (mystery), etc (A Handy Guide to JJWXC Tags, Part 1 – @firstchaptertranslations on Tumblr). For fanfiction specifically, there are special genre tags:
- 古典衍生 – fanfic of classic literature or historical texts (A Handy Guide to JJWXC Tags, Part 1 – @firstchaptertranslations on Tumblr).
- 东方衍生 – fanfic of Eastern works (e.g. anime, C-dramas, manhua, mythology) (A Handy Guide to JJWXC Tags, Part 1 – @firstchaptertranslations on Tumblr).
- 西方衍生 – fanfic of Western works (Hollywood movies, Western TV, books, etc.) (A Handy Guide to JJWXC Tags, Part 1 – @firstchaptertranslations on Tumblr).
- 其他衍生 – other fanfic not in above categories (A Handy Guide to JJWXC Tags, Part 1 – @firstchaptertranslations on Tumblr).
- How to use: If you know the fandom is a Western show (say Harry Potter), a Jinjiang fic would likely be categorized under 西方衍生. A Naruto or other anime fanfic would be 东方衍生. This can narrow your search on sites like JJWXC by browsing those subcategories.
- POV and Character Role tags: In BL/GL, authors tag the coupling dynamic:
- Freeform Tags and Metadata: Beyond structured categories, authors include additional tags in summaries or introductions. For example: 角色 names (to indicate the main CP or characters), fandom name if it’s a crossover, and various trope keywords (see next section). On Lofter, posts are tagged with hashtags (e.g. a Genshin Impact fic might be tagged #原神# and #CPName#). On Weibo, a post might include supertopic tags like #某某同人文#.
Classification structure example: A Jinjiang fanfic listing might show something like: “衍生-纯爱-东方衍生-近代现代-轻松” – which would mean “Fanfic (derivative) – BL – based on an Eastern fandom – modern setting – lighthearted tone.” This kind of structured label is a big hint when you find a candidate Chinese fic.
For reverse-identification,
copy and use these key Chinese terms in your searches:
- 原创 (original), 衍生 or 同人 (fanfic)
- 言情 (BG), 纯爱 or 耽美 (BL), 百合 (GL), 无CP (gen)
- 东方衍生, 西方衍生 (Eastern/Western fandom category)
- If known, the Chinese name of the fandom or characters (next section).
Combining these in a search query (on Google or Baidu) can zero in on Chinese pages.
Example: Searching 火影 同人 纯爱 晋江 would seek Naruto fanfics in BL category on Jinjiang.
Chinese Names for Popular Fandoms (Anime, Games, Shows)
One of the most important steps is recognizing the
Chinese name of the fandom. English titles are almost never used in Chinese fic listings; instead, the official or colloquial Chinese title is used. Below is a list of popular franchises with their Chinese names (you can copy-paste these for searching):
- Naruto – 火影忍者 (Huǒyǐng Rěnzhě). Often abbreviated as 火影 (火影忍者 - 维基百科，自由的百科全书).
- Bleach – 死神 (Sǐshén, means “Grim Reaper”). (Note: Official Mainland translation was 境界, but nearly all fans just call it 死神.)
- One Piece – 海贼王 (Hǎizéi Wáng, “Pirate King”).
- Attack on Titan – 进击的巨人 (Jìnjī de Jùrén).
- Jujutsu Kaisen – 咒术回战 (Zhòushù Huízhàn).
- Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – 鬼灭之刃 (Guǐmiè zhī Rèn).
- My Hero Academia – 我的英雄学院 (Wǒde Yīngxióng Xuéyuàn).
- Harry Potter – 哈利·波特 (Hālì Bōtè).
- The Avengers (Marvel) – 复仇者联盟 (Fùchóuzhě Liánméng). Marvel in general is 漫威 (Mànwēi).
- DC Comics – DC漫画 (just “DC” is common; specific heroes: Batman = 蝙蝠侠, Superman = 超人, etc.).
- Game of Thrones – 权力的游戏 (Quánlì de Yóuxì).
- The Untamed / Mo Dao Zu Shi – 陈情令 (Chénqíng Lìng, drama title) / 魔道祖师 (Módào Zǔshī, novel title).
- Genshin Impact – 原神 (Yuánshén) (Genshin Impact | Genshin Impact Wiki | Fandom).
- League of Legends – 英雄联盟 (Yīngxióng Liánméng).
- Final Fantasy – 最终幻想 (Zuìzhōng Huànxiǎng).
- Pokemon – 宝可梦 (Bǎokěmèng) in mainland usage (older name “神奇宝贝” might appear).
- The Lord of the Rings – 魔戒 or 指环王 (Mójiè / Zhǐhuán Wáng).
- Star Wars – 星球大战 (Xīngqiú Dàzhàn).
- (Chinese media worth noting) Guardian – 镇魂 (Zhènhún); Grandmaster of Demonic Cultivation – 魔道祖师 (Módào Zǔshī); etc., though these are originally Chinese so any translation is the original.
Usage: If an English fic translation mentions “Naruto” or “Konoha,” a Chinese original will
not have the English word
Naruto anywhere. It will use “火影” or the characters’ Chinese names (Naruto Uzumaki = 漩涡鸣人, Sasuke Uchiha = 宇智波佐助, etc.). Using the above list, copy the Chinese title and search with it plus keywords. For example, to find a Bleach fic, search for
死神 同人 plus perhaps a character name like
黑崎一护 (Ichigo’s Chinese name).
Many fandoms also have
abbreviations or aliases in Chinese:
- HP is a common shorthand for Harry Potter (though often paired with Chinese tags like HP同人).
- 全职高手 (“Quan Zhi Gaoshou”) refers to The King’s Avatar (an e-sports donghua).
- 盗笔 refers to Daomu Biji (Grave Robbers’ Chronicles).
- 魔戒 for LOTR, 权游 for Game of Thrones, etc.
- 综漫 means a crossover involving multiple anime (综 = “comprehensive”).
- 综英美 means a crossover or collection of Western (UK/US) works, often used for crossover fanfics that span many Western fandoms.
Knowing these names is critical. Use them in site searches or even in Google with quotation marks. For instance, if you suspect a fic is a
Genshin Impact fanfic, searching \"原神 同人\" 小说 could lead you to Chinese discussions or archives of Genshin doujinshi.
Common Tropes and Subgenre Tags in Chinese Fanfic
Chinese webfiction is rife with distinctive tropes and subgenres. Recognizing these in English translations can hint at the Chinese keywords to search. Here’s a list of
commonly used trope tags in Chinese fanfics, with explanations:
- 系统文 – “System novel.” A story where the protagonist is bound to a system that issues tasks or provides game-like stats and rewards. In Chinese summaries you might see “绑定了一个系统” (“bound to a system”). These are very popular in webfiction. If your translated fic has the protagonist getting quests or a HUD interface, it’s a 系统文. (系统文 often overlaps with other genres like quick-transmigration or unlimited flow.) The defining feature: System (系统) as a character or tool guiding the protagonist (一些常見的網路小說用語跟小說類型（含動漫用語）－因為烏鴉就像寫字台｜痞客邦).
- 穿越文 – “Transmigration novel.” Broadly covers any story where someone travels to another world or time. This includes:
- 重生 (chóngshēng) – Rebirth (the same person gets to live again, often in their younger self or after death).
- 穿越/穿越时空 – Time travel or dimensional travel (e.g. modern person goes to ancient times).
- 快穿 – Quick Transmigration: the protagonist hops through many short arcs or worlds, usually completing tasks in each (like an anthology with the same MC).
- 穿书 – Literally “entering a book”: someone from reality wakes up as a character in a novel’s world (common trope: reader or author inserts into their own novel).
- 魂穿 / 身穿 – Soul travel vs. body travel (Chinese fandom distinguishes taking over someone’s body vs. your whole body moving to another world).
- If an English synopsis says “X suddenly found herself in [setting]” or “after a truck accident, he woke up in novel Y,” those are穿越 tropes. Keywords to search: 重生, 穿越, 转生 (transmigration), 附身 (possession) etc. For example, “he died and was reborn” likely comes from “他死后重生到了…” (当过救世主死后重生的我超谨慎).
- 无限流 – “Unlimited flow.” A subgenre where characters must survive through a series of unlimited different worlds or scenarios, often with game-like or horror elements. The term originates from the novel Infinite Horror (无限恐怖) (一些常見的網路小說用語跟小說類型（含動漫用語）－因為烏鴉就像寫字台｜痞客邦). In fanfiction, this might manifest as the protagonist traversing multiple fandom universes or participating in deadly challenges in various movie/anime settings. Key signs: mention of a “main god” system, clearing instance levels, or going through many crossover worlds. If a translation reads like a mashup of multiple canon worlds or “instances,” it may be 无限流. Search tip: the term 无限流 itself or 副本 (instance), 主神 (Lord God) are giveaway terms.
- 金手指 – “Golden finger.” Slang for a cheat ability. If a character has an overpowered cheat, super-luck, or some modern knowledge giving them an edge, they’re said to “have a golden finger.” Authors sometimes tag their work as 金手指爽文 if the appeal is an OP protagonist. In translations, this might appear as “cheat” or “plugin.” (e.g. “With his cheat ability, the hero…”). In Chinese, 金手指 is often used in descriptions or reader comments to praise the cool hack. E.g. “主角自带金手指” = “The protagonist comes with a cheat.” (一些常見的網路小說用語跟小說類型（含動漫用語）－因為烏鴉就像寫字台｜痞客邦)
- ABO – The Omegaverse gender dynamic setting. ABO (Alpha/Beta/Omega) is borrowed from Western fanfic and hugely popular in Chinese fanfiction circles (一些常見的網路小說用語跟小說類型（含動漫用語）－因為烏鴉就像寫字台｜痞客邦). You’ll often see fics tagged “ABO文.” Hallmarks: society divided into Alphas, Betas, Omegas; secondary genders with heats, ruts, mating, etc. If an English fic has knotting, pheromones, or the terms “Alpha/Omega,” it’s directly from an ABO world, and the Chinese original would be tagged ABO. (Pronounced literally A-B-O in Chinese.) This trope shows up mostly in BL and some BG fanfics. Copy-paste tag: ABO or ABO文 (both widely understood).
- 娱乐圈 – “Entertainment circle.” This refers to stories set in the show business/celebrity industry. Common in both fanfic and original romance, especially modern AU fanfics. Signs include actors, idols, filming crews, talent agencies, paparazzi, etc. If your fic involves a protagonist who is an actor or singer and lots of industry drama, it would be tagged 娱乐圈. This trope is extremely popular for C-pop idol RPF and modern AUs of any fandom where characters are recast as celebrities. (For example, a translated BL fic about two actors falling in love on set is likely from a 娱乐圈耽美 fic.) Search terms: just 娱乐圈 plus the character names could find the original on Lofter or JJWXC.
- 豪门恩怨 – “Wealthy family feuds.” A trope of melodrama involving aristocratic or rich families, full of grudges, inheritance fights, and intrigue. Think scheming relatives, corporate battles, illegitimate children – essentially soap opera among the elite. If a fic’s plot has the protagonist married into a rich family, dealing with scheming in-laws or business wars, it’s 豪门恩怨 genre. (The term comes from the Chinese title of the TV show Dynasty, and it’s now a staple tag in modern romance.) In Chinese sites, you might see it as a sub-genre under modern romance. Usage: Many modern AU fanfics use this, e.g. if you see “CEO” or “young master” in an English fic, the Chinese original might be 豪门总裁文 (CEO-rich-family novel). Use 豪门 or 总裁 as keywords.
- 仙侠 / 修真 – Cultivation fantasy. If the fic involves Daoist magic, immortals, sects, etc., it falls under 仙侠 (xianxia) or 修真 genre. This is more common in original novels, but sometimes fandoms like Mo Dao Zu Shi cross over, or modern characters thrown into a cultivation world. Key Chinese terms: 修真 (cultivate truth), 修仙 (cultivate immortality), 飞升 (ascend). If the translation has “cultivation levels” or mentions “spiritual energy,” it was definitely a 仙侠 setting originally.
- 末世 – Apocalypse. Specifically zombie apocalypse or post-disaster worlds. Many Chinese fanfics (especially crossover ones) use末世 settings. For example, a Naruto characters in a zombie apocalypse AU. Look for terms like 末世, 丧尸 (zombie).
- 快穿 – Quick Transmigration (mentioned above under 穿越文). A fanfic could be a快穿 through multiple fandoms (the MC successively enters different anime worlds for instance). In tags, it will be 快穿 or “综漫快穿” etc.
- Others to note:
- 虐文 / 甜文 – “虐” (虐恋) means angst or hurt/comfort (literally to torture emotionally) and “甜” means sweet fluff. Fics often advertise if they are angst or fluff.
- HE / BE – Happy Ending or Bad Ending. Chinese authors often tag whether it’s HE (happy end) or BE (bad/sad end).
- 强强 / 强弱 – Power dynamics in BL: strong×strong, dominant×submissive pairings, etc., sometimes tagged in summaries.
- 年下 / 年上 – Age gap tropes (年下 = younger seme, 年上 = older seme).
- 先婚后爱 – “Married first, then love” (arranged marriage leads to love).
- 性转 – Gender-swap.
- 生子 – Male pregnancy.
- 校园 – School setting.
- 电竞 – E-sports setting.
- 真人同人 – Real-person fanfic (RPF), often idol band fic.
You might encounter these terms left in pinyin by a translator or described awkwardly in English. For instance, an English text saying “this is a shuangwen” –
爽文 (shuǎngwén) means a feel-good power fantasy story where the protagonist faces no real setbacks (“cool/euphoric text”). Or a character described as “Mary Sue” in Chinese is
苏 (sū) or
万人迷 (“everyone’s enamored with them”). Many such terms exist, but the ones above are most relevant to searching.
When trying to find the source,
include the Chinese trope names in your search if you’ve identified them. Example: a fic described as “quick transmigration system” – search
系统 快穿 同人 plus the fandom name, etc. If it’s an ABO novel with an entertainment setting, search
ABO 娱乐圈 原创 or with the fandom if it’s fanfic.
To illustrate, here are a few trope keywords with Chinese definitions from web literature references:
- 系统文 – 主角可以像玩游戏一样接到某个称为“系统”的任务和奖励 (一些常見的網路小說用語跟小說類型（含動漫用語）－因為烏鴉就像寫字台｜痞客邦) (Protagonist can receive tasks and rewards from a “system” like in a game).
- 金手指 – 外挂的意思，主角拥有不属於这个时代的知识、能力或物品等 (一些常見的網路小說用語跟小說類型（含動漫用語）－因為烏鴉就像寫字台｜痞客邦) (Means “cheat code”; the protagonist has knowledge, abilities or items not normal for that world/time).
- ABO文 – 源于欧美同人圈常见设定，分为最强的Alpha、数量最多的平庸Beta、以及负责生殖的弱小Omega三种，是一种同人世界观 (一些常見的網路小說用語跟小說類型（含動漫用語）－因為烏鴉就像寫字台｜痞客邦) (Originated from Western fan circles, features a social hierarchy of Alphas, Betas, Omegas; a common fanfiction worldsetting).
- 无限流 – 通常指穿越各个世界做任务，有个主神或电脑掌握整个世界…穿越到电影、小说、动漫、游戏里再演绎或颠覆剧情 (一些常見的網路小說用語跟小說類型（含動漫用語）－因為烏鴉就像寫字台｜痞客邦) (Usually refers to doing missions by traveling to various worlds, governed by a “Lord God” or computer; often involves entering movies/novels/anime/games and replaying or overturning their plots).
Citing these tags when searching (and even inputting them on sites like JJWXC’s search bar) will significantly boost your chances of finding the exact fic.
Clues in Synopses: Recognizing Chinese Synopsis Phrases
Chinese fiction summaries have a distinct style. Even after translation, certain patterns in phrasing or content are strong indicators of a Chinese source. Look out for these
typical synopsis lines and structures:
- “He died and was reborn…” – A very common start for rebirth stories. In Chinese often: “他死后重生到了…” (After he died, he was reborn in/into…) (当过救世主死后重生的我超谨慎). If an English summary starts with the protagonist’s death and reincarnation, that’s a hallmark of Chinese chóngshēng plots. Related phrasing: “大难不死，后来…… (survived a disaster then…)” or “死后穿越/重生”.
- “绑定了一个系统” – “Bound to a system.” If the English text mentions a “system” (especially capitalized or in quotes), it’s directly from the Chinese concept of 系统文. Chinese lines: “某某绑定了一个系统，从此开始… (X bound a system and from then on…)”.
- “一觉醒来…” – “One morning, [someone] woke up and found…” (Chinese: “一觉醒来发现…”). A tropey opener for transmigration: e.g. “She fell asleep and woke up in a novel” etc.
- “穿成… / 成为了…” – “Transmigrated into… / became…” For example: “她穿成了反派的妹妹” – “She transmigrated into the villain’s younger sister.” In English you might see “She found herself becoming the villain’s sister…”. The structure “穿成[某身份]” is a sure sign of a Chinese transmigration premise.
- “绑定XX系统后必须…否则…” – Often in system novel summaries: “After binding the ___ system, he must ___ or else ___.” E.g. “绑定扶贫系统，不完成任务就会死！” (“bound a poverty alleviation system, if he doesn’t complete tasks he’ll die!”).
- Level-up or Points Terms: Chinese synopses often mention 积分 (points), 升级 (leveling up), 任务 (missions). If an English summary has something like “completing missions to earn points,” it’s a direct carryover from Chinese gaming vernacular.
- “…从此走上…道路” – “...from then on embarked on the road of …”. For example: “自从捡到一本秘籍，他从此走上了争霸天下的道路。” (“Ever since he picked up a secret manual, he embarked on the road of conquering the world.”) These somewhat cliché constructions might be toned down in translation, but if you sense an oddly worded “embarked on a path of X” it could trace back to this phrasing.
- “然而天意弄人” / “但是他没想到…” – Phrases like “However, fate had other plans,” “Little did he know…” — Chinese summaries love to set up an initial premise and then twist it. E.g., “他以为自己会…，然而天意弄人，最后…”.
- Third-person self-introduction: Chinese authors often write a synopsis in third person, even if the novel is first-person. If you see a summary that reads like back-cover blurb (He is X, who does Y...), that’s normal for Chinese. Meanwhile, Western fanfic summaries might be more informal or first-person. The presence of an obvious authorial voice describing the setup suggests a Chinese origin.
- List of tags or selling points: Sometimes translators include a line that was originally a tagline or author’s note. For instance: “剧情爽文，金手指粗，HE” might be included by a translator as “Contains face-slapping, OP cheat, and guaranteed HE.” If you see a summary line that reads like tags (e.g. “Rebirth, system, OP MC, sweet romance, HE”), that was likely copied from the author’s original summary or tags.
- Tone and content warnings: Chinese authors often include notes like “不虐，HE” (no angst, happy ending) or “扫雷: 狗血” (Minefield warnings: melodrama ahead) in the synopsis. A translator might integrate these as “Note: HE, no major angst” or similar. If you see such notes, they can be a direct clue—search the Chinese terms in them.
- Examples of visible translations of common phrases:
- “Heaven knows” or “old heaven (老天)” used oddly – Chinese exclamation “老天” for “God!” might slip.
- References to 18th tier small star – in English “D-list celebrity”; Chinese says “十八线小明星”.
- “white lotus” or “green tea” describing a person – these come from 白莲花 (pure on surface, scheming underneath) and 绿茶婊 (green tea b**ch) in Chinese slang.
- “blood vomit in anger” – Chinese idiom气得吐血.
- If the translation retains terms like gong, shou, danmei, xiulian, etc., it’s obviously Chinese.
In practice, if the English summary reads something like:
“After dying at the hands of his closest friend, our MC is reborn ten years earlier. Armed with foreknowledge and a mysterious system, he vows to change his fate. But when a cold, powerful CEO takes an interest in him, he never expected that he would embark on a road of revenge and love…”
This basically screams Chinese webnovel. In Chinese it might have been: “
主角被最信任的挚友所害，含恨而终后重生回十年前，并绑定了神秘系统，从此走上改命复仇的道路。然而，一个冷峻强大的总裁对他产生了兴趣……他从没想到，这一次不仅是复仇之路，也是通往爱情的旅程。”
Armed with these phrases in Chinese (重生, 改命, 复仇, 总裁, etc.), you can search those together with the fandom name to find the original.
To effectively use synopsis clues:
- Identify any unique phrasing or seemingly out-of-place terms in the English.
- Guess the Chinese original phrasing (like the examples above).
- Search for that phrase in Chinese, in quotes if possible, plus a character name or fandom title. Often you might find a Baidu Zhidao question or a repost of the synopsis on some forum.
- Even just searching the Chinese title directly (if you suspect one) along with one unique Chinese phrase from the synopsis can nail it.
Character Naming Conventions and NRTA Guidelines
Naming conventions in Chinese fanfics follow certain cultural and sometimes regulatory patterns. The
National Radio and Television Administration (NRTA) in China has guidelines that discourage unconventional names in media. In practice, authors stick to
realistic, common-sounding names for original characters, unless there’s a reason not to.
Common Chinese Names: Most Chinese contemporary characters will have two or three-character names that are common in real life. For example, some of the most common given names in China for men and women include:
- Male: 张伟 (Zhang Wei), 王伟 (Wang Wei), 李强 (Li Qiang), 刘洋 (Liu Yang), 陈杰 (Chen Jie), etc. In fact Zhang Wei (张伟), Wang Wei (王伟), Li Wei (李伟) are notoriously common (The Ten Most Common Names in China | The Chairman's Bao). Many webnovel protagonists have names that could belong to your neighbor or a classmate. This is partly to pass the “realism” check and avoid censors thinking the name is referencing a sensitive figure.
- Female: 王芳 (Wang Fang), 李秀英 (Li Xiuying), 陈丽 (Chen Li), 张静 (Zhang Jing), 李娜 (Li Na) (The Ten Most Common Names in China | The Chairman's Bao). These are analogous to “Jane Doe” in frequency. Authors often pick pleasant meanings (e.g. “静” means quiet/calm, “娜” implies graceful) but nothing too extraordinary.
Why common names? The NRTA (which also oversees publishing censorship) has unofficial rules that frown upon bizarre or overly foreign names in mass media. While web novels are not always strictly monitored for name choices, if a work gets popular or goes to print, having a normal name avoids trouble. For instance, historical dramas in China have even been forced to change character names to be more orthodox. In one example, Chinese regulations for video games explicitly stated that
“game names must not use any English... must use standard Chinese characters” (
广电总局游戏新规：名称一律不准使用英文，打斗不能有任何液体_时间). This reflects a broader preference for Chinese-language names and terms in published content.
Transliterated vs. Western Names: In fanfiction, if the story is set in a Western context (say an ABO story in an imaginary foreign city), authors sometimes use
English names – but usually by transliterating them into Chinese characters. For example:
- Tony Stark might appear as 托尼·史塔克 in a Chinese fic. A translator back to English would call him Tony Stark again.
- If an original BL story is set in the U.S., the characters might have names like “Allen” and “Mike” in the English translation, but the Chinese text could have 艾伦 and 麦克 (phonetic approximations).
- Some authors do leave names in Latin letters, but it’s less common because pure English text can trigger content filters. (On some sites, posting large amounts of non-Chinese text can be auto-flagged.)
Name differences as a clue: If an English translation has characters named in English (especially generic first names) that seem unrelated to the fandom, check if the setting is an AU. Possibly the translator chose to render the Chinese names into English because they were just transliterations. For instance, a CEO in a Chinese novel named “江梓阳 (Jiāng Zǐyáng)” might be given an English name “Jason” by a well-meaning translator to localize it. But more often, fan translators keep the transliterated Chinese names (pinyin). So, if you see names like
Zhang Qian or
Li Mei in the translation, those are already Chinese.
Censorship-related avoidance: Authors avoid using
real celebrity names or political leader names for original characters, as that can get a story in trouble. So you likely won’t see a main character named “Jackie Chan” or “习近平” in a Chinese fic – unless it’s satire (and that would be swiftly deleted online). The NRTA guidelines also discourage glorifying crime or the supernatural via names. For example, a villain likely won’t be named “Satan” in Chinese; an author would pick a normal name that suits a villain.
Naming in historical/cultivation settings: Names may be more flowery (e.g. containing characters like 玄, Immortal-sounding titles, etc.). But they still follow Chinese naming conventions (surname + given name). If the translation has someone called “Murong X” or “Lan WangJi,” those are transliterations of Chinese-style names (慕容X, 蓝忘机). Recognize these as Chinese.
Example common names (for reference or search):
- Male: 张伟 (Zhang Wei), 李明 (Li Ming), 王杰 (Wang Jie), 陈浩 (Chen Hao), 杨洋 (Yang Yang), 赵磊 (Zhao Lei).
- Female: 林静 (Lin Jing), 李婷 (Li Ting), 王雪 (Wang Xue), 周怡 (Zhou Yi), 刘英 (Liu Ying), 陈楠 (Chen Nan).
- These are “safe” names that an author might choose to not distract from the story or invite scrutiny. They don’t carry special meaning or reference.
If you suspect a character’s name in the English version was changed, try to figure out the Chinese. For example,
“Evangeline Garcia” in a modern fic seems oddly Western for a Chinese story – maybe the original name was
伊万杰琳·加西亚, which a translator just converted to an English equivalent. In such cases, search the surname “加西亚 同人” along with other keywords.
Note on initials and aliases: Chinese online writing sometimes uses single letters as shorthand for names (especially to avoid detection). For instance, calling a character just “X先生 (Mr. X)” or using initials like L and W for a pairing (common on forums to talk about CPs without tripping searches). If you see weird usage of letters in what looks like an originally Chinese text, that could be a reason.
Conclusion on naming: The main takeaway is that Chinese fanfiction will use
Chinese names for original characters, and
Chinese versions of canon names for fandom characters. The presence of realistic Chinese names and terminology is a strong sign. When hunting down the fic, use the Chinese names. If you only have pinyin, try both the pinyin and a guess at the characters. (Sites like Baidu or Google Translate can help convert a pinyin name into characters if it’s a common name – e.g. “Zhang Wei” to 张伟).
Search Strategies: Tracking the Original Fic
Combining all the above elements, here are strategies and examples for sleuthing the Chinese source of a translated fic:
- Identify Fandom and Characters in Chinese: Determine the Chinese title of the canon and the key character or ship names. Use the list provided for titles. For character names, a quick Wikipedia lookup can give you the official Chinese name. For example, “Sesshomaru (Inuyasha)” is 杀生丸, “Katniss Everdeen” is 凯妮斯·艾佛丁 in Chinese translations. Copy those.
- Extract Unique Keywords from the Translation: Look for any term that is unlikely to appear in an English-original story:
- Terms like cultivation, golden core, sect, omega, etc.
- Specific proper nouns that might have been transliterated (e.g. a sect “Qinghe Nie” – that’s clearly pinyin for 青河聂 clan from Mo Dao Zu Shi).
- Plot devices like “system,” “main god,” “spiritual energy,” “meridians,” “Nine-tailed Fox” etc.
- Even unusual phrases like “Dao Companion” (道侣) or “face-slapping” (打脸) indicate Chinese tropes.
- Write down a few of these in Chinese if possible (use online dictionaries or translation tools to get the Chinese if the translator already put them in English).
- Use Site-Specific Searches:
- On Google: Try site:jjwxc.net "关键词1 关键词2" to search Jinjiang directly with Chinese keywords. Example: site:jjwxc.net 火影 重生 系统. This might lead you to Jinjiang novel pages that contain those terms (either in title, tags, or synopsis).
- On Baidu: Baidu is the Chinese search engine and might yield results Google misses (especially from Lofter or closed forums). Input the Chinese fandom name + one distinguishing term. E.g. 原神 ABO 同人文 or 哈利波特 穿越 同人 – you may find forum threads discussing such fics, which often mention the title or provide a link.
- Lofter tag search: Go to lofter.com and try searching the fandom tag. The URL format for a tag is usually https://www.lofter.com/tag/火影忍者 (for Naruto, as example). Once on a tag page, you can use the Lofter interface (though it’s somewhat hit-or-miss without an account).
- Weibo supertopic: If it’s a very popular fandom and especially RPF, Weibo’s supertopics (超话) might have people recommending fics. Searching [偶像名字] 同人文 推荐 on Baidu could lead to Weibo or Zhihu pages with recommendations, from which you get titles.
- Leverage Title Structure: Chinese fanfic titles often follow certain patterns:
- Many are very direct/descriptive: e.g. “[Fandom]之[Subtitle]” or “[Character]同人—[Subtitle]”. If you suspect a title, search it. For instance, a Naruto fanfic might literally be named “火影之XX” (Naruto: XX).
- Crossovers often have titles like “综漫” or “综英美” in them (meaning multi-fandom). If your translated fic crosses universes, try searching 综漫 [some character name].
- “我[怎么样]了[怎么办]” patterns (common in webnovel titles like “我成了XX以后…” meaning “After I became X…”). If an English title seems like a sentence (e.g. “After Becoming the Villain’s Brother”), try translating that to Chinese (“变成反派的哥哥后”) and search.
- Use Novel-Updates or Fanlore: For well-known Chinese webnovels (especially danmei), the English fandom might have entries on sites like Novel Updates or Fanlore. They often list the original Chinese title. For fanfiction specifically, this is less likely unless the fic became infamous. But if the translator posted on Archive of Our Own, check the notes – sometimes they credit the original title in Chinese.
- Look for Onomatopoeia or slang: Chinese fics sometimes include onomatopoeia or internet slang that translators might leave in or awkwardly render:
- e.g. “2333” (laughing), “orz” (kneeling in admiration emoji), “呵呵” (sneer laughter). If by any chance such things remain, it’s a dead giveaway and you can search the Chinese dialogues around it.
- Words like “gege” or “jiejie” (哥哥, 姐姐 for brother/sister) left untranslated are obvious Chinese kinship terms.
- Consult Chinese readers’ forums: If you have partial info (like you know the basic plot and fandom), you can search in Chinese: “[description] 同人 文 求助”. For example: “求 火影同人，主角重生佐助” (Looking for a Naruto fanfic, MC is Sasuke reborn). There are Q&A threads where people ask for fic recs by describing them. You might stumble on someone asking about the very fic you have, and another user naming it.
- Once you find a likely Chinese title or link: Verify by comparing the content (if you can read some Chinese or through machine translate) with the English chapters you have. Sometimes the translator might change names or terms, but the overall plot will match. Also check the chapter count and arc structure.
Example Search Walkthrough:
Imagine you read an English fic “Full Bloom in the Night” about Lan Wangji from
MDZS who time-travels and has a system. You suspect it’s Chinese. Using the above:
- Chinese fandom: 魔道祖师 (MDZS) or characters 蓝忘机 (Lan Wangji).
- Tropes: time-travel = 重生 or 穿越; system = 系统.
- Search query: 蓝忘机 重生 系统 文. This might lead to a JJWXC page or a Lofter post.
- Alternatively, search 魔道祖师 系统文.
- If too broad, add something unique from plot, e.g. does he collect items? Search with “积分” or a specific event if any.
- Suppose search yields a title “《[魔道祖师]含光君重生绑定系统》” – bingo, that looks plausible (“[MDZS] Hanguang-jun Reborn with a System”). Open it; check if summary matches.
Using raw Chinese sites: If you find a JJWXC link:
- The URL usually is http://www.jjwxc.net/onebook.php?novelid=XXXX. The page will show title, author, and tags. You might need to scroll or click the 章节列表 (chapter list) to see contents. Some chapters might be VIP locked (require purchase) if the fic went paid.
- If it’s Lofter, it could be a user blog. Lofter URLs often have the format username.lofter.com/post/... If you find one, scroll; you might see the text or images containing text.
Note on Machine Translation: If you locate the Chinese text but can’t read fluently, using Google Translate or DeepL on a snippet can confirm it’s the same story. Many Chinese fan terms won’t translate cleanly (like names, sects), but you’ll recognize the storyline.
Finally, verifying via credits: If the English translation was posted somewhere like AO3 or Wattpad, check the author’s notes. Sometimes they credit the original author (e.g. a Chinese username or a mention of JJWXC). Searching that username on Baidu can directly find the source.
With perseverance, the combination of
correct Chinese tags, fandom names, and unique phrases will lead you to the motherlode. Chinese internet fandom is vast but also well-indexed if you speak its language. Now, with this guide, you do!
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