KR ROFAN Butchered By MTL Reviewed by a Human TL

KR ROFAN Butchered By MTL Reviewed by a Human TL
As a non-mtl translator, i have a curiosity when I come across translations of novels I've read. I'd check the chapter (usually just one chapter is plenty to know if its mtl or not, anyways) sentence by sentence against the raws just to see how they do. 

You read, but know what you're getting into. If you're a discernable reader, i hope this helps you. DON'T GET RIPPED OFF PAYING FOR SHODDY MTL
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29 Followers
motokare
Created: Dec 14th, 2023, Updated: Oct 18th, 2024
Created Dec 14th, 2023
Updated Oct 18th, 2024
KR (2.4)
11 Chapters Every 37.6 Day(s) 142 Readers 0 Reviews 02-08-2025
KR (2.9)
239 Chapters Every 7.9 Day(s) 596 Readers 6 Reviews 02-28-2025
prose is okay isn’t it? But if you read it closely, most of it makes no sense. It was a whole slew of mistranslation from... more>>
KR (2.8)
44 Chapters Every 11.5 Day(s) 278 Readers 1 Reviews 02-25-2025
Smells like AI translation prose wise... ... more>>
KR (4.1)
52 Chapters Every 7.7 Day(s) 272 Readers 0 Reviews 04-14-2025
Not exactly butchered but not human translated either. But i don't even have to do much detective work. Its just straight up 98% Google Translate's... more>>
KR (2.1)
40 Chapters Every 5.5 Day(s) 109 Readers 1 Reviews 06-13-2025
The 'translator' can't even differentiate between what is a '저택' (and in this case 대 (dae-meaning grand, huge, big) 저택 (mansion) and a '성' (castle/fortress)...so even the first chapter's subtitle was already wrong. I try to fix the translation and some of the mistranslated/misinterpreted part. Due to character constraints, This is only up to the part before the first jump.... more>>
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  1. seikagojo
    seikagojo· Mar 2, 2024 05:37 PM

    Reading your reviews is interesting... shocked to see some of my fav sites here bc i didn't expect them to use mtl at all. Looking forward to see more reviews clear.png

    Reply · 2 Likes · ·
    • motokare
      motokare· Author · Mar 3, 2024 06:02 AM

      I'm glad this at least maybe will help you in some way towards being able to discern better. While this list is only limited to the stuff I've personally read, the scope of how much MTL has proliferated into fan translation scene is scarier and larger than you think (real human translators like me are now a very small niche in this community). And also, even though MTL itself offends my sensibilities as a obsessive language learner, it's kind of alarming how many people are falling into the trap of paying to read shoddy stuff like this (DON'T GET RIPPED OFF BY MTL!).

      Like,it's one thing if you're a reader that only cares to read something and don't care if what you're reading is accurate or what the author intended to present or not... but I certainly do as a translatorclear.png

      Reply · 2 Likes · ·
    • seikagojo
      seikagojo· Mar 3, 2024 10:12 AM

      @motokare personally, i don't mind mtl as long as it's not google and it actually makes sense haha. Figured a lot are using mtl because a bunch of "TL" groups popped and sometimes i check the raws. Back then it was so hard to find fantranslations due to limited ppl clear.png and yes! I dont get where are they getting the audacity to ask money from readers when they're not even exerting an ounce of energy as a "translator" 

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    • motokare
      motokare· Author · Mar 3, 2024 12:18 PM

      @seikagojo yes… some of the so called translations on this list are required to be unlocked with currency… or seeking easy donation money like novellatte, who seems to get all their raws from the pirated site so they aren’t even paying, and simply put the raws through google translate, but is like, donate me for my ‘effort’ 

      Something is inherently wrong with this culture 

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  2. cookie.monnie
    cookie.monnie· Sep 18, 2024 10:31 AM
    Hi, I came across your list and was wondering if you could review "Grand Duke, I Like You, But Please Die!"? I think it's being translated by a new group, so I was wondering if it was done by a human translator or by Google Translate? Especially with all the books they have on their website... I'm not too sure. Also, if I'm bugging you, I apologize! Please ignore this if I am, and thank you in advance. 
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    • motokare
      motokare· Author · Sep 20, 2024 03:19 AM

      Hi, sure (luckily the novel available on Naver) so I can check it for you. I'll get back to you on it. 

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    • motokare
      motokare· Author · Sep 20, 2024 03:57 AM
      I've read and compare three chapters of it, and i think the translator's quite legit. IMO the prose could use with some improvement, but other than that, the translation is pretty spot on. :)
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    • cookie.monnie
      cookie.monnie· Sep 25, 2024 04:52 AM
      @motokare Hi, thank you so much for the reply! I appreciate it :)
      Also, I really enjoy the little comments you put in each of your reviews, it's always super funny to look at! I'm looking forward to seeing more of in the future. Thank you for your hard work!
      Reply · ·
    • motokare
      motokare· Author · Sep 25, 2024 08:34 AM
      @cookie.monnie haha, thank you for seeing the humour. Though the past few months i've been tremendously busy with work, so i've been slacking in updating this list. Oh btw, I do want to state, for your question regarding that specific novel, I think the translator is at least legit for now, but since its a site with various translators, do tread with caution... don't simply waste your money unlocking mtl! 
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  3. myichiaa
    myichiaa· Apr 14, 2024 12:35 PM
    Hello, if it's okay with you, would you like to read "regrets of a second male lead" please? Just to check if they're mtl or not (since i really can't differentiate between an MTL or not) I read your reviews here and there's your review on rain of snow tl, since the novel i just suggested you are my favs and they're being tl by rainofsnow i would like to check if they're mtl or not before deciding to pay them. And thus why i feel the need to ask for your help in this, but of course only if you mind it, feel free to refuse this if you don't want to, thank you!
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    • motokare
      motokare· Author · Apr 14, 2024 07:39 PM

      @myichiaa
      I have to split my reply because it exceeded word length.

      https://www.novelupdates.info/series/regrets-of-a-second-male-lead/

      Is this the one? Luckily it's on Naver (because I don't use Kakao since I cannot purchase chapters as a foreigner).

      Well, first off in the prologue:

      RainofSnow:

      “Is that so? It seems that father was mistaken. The Empire’s sword isn’t able to reach an ostrich, much less my leg*.”

      [*E/N: he’s calling him short :P]

      Source:

      “그래? 아빠가 잘못 봤나 보다. 제국의 검이 타조한테 가까이 못 다가가고 내 다리에 매달릴 리가 없지.”

      How it should at least be:

      "Is that so? Dad must've been mistaken. An Imperial Sword would never cower near an ostrich or cling to my leg."

      There wasn't anything to hint at someone being short... The dad was saying if Abel really wasn't scared, then why was he clinging to his legs rather than getting close to the ostrich.

      Right after the first *** in the prologue, they missed a sentence. It wasn't translated, but that could just simply mean either they didn't check thoroughly or they don't know the source language and any MTL they uses didn't translate it so they didn't notice.

      RainofSnow:

      As the end of the social season approached, the whole family moved from the estate to the Capital due to the Marquis’ busy schedule.

      Source:

      가을 사교 시즌이 다가오면 바빠지는 남편 때문에 온 가족은 이맘때쯤 영지의 후작 성에서 수도의 후작저로 넘어오곤 했다.

      How it should at least be:

      As the autumn social season approached, burdening the husband with busyness, the family would typically relocate from their territory to the Marquis residence in the capital around this time.

      This '다가오면' the conjugation of the verb '다가오다' and ~면 is "when/if" There wasn't anything in the source to indicate anything ending. It's such simple language structure with simple nouns and verb '가을(autumn) 사교(socialising) 시즌(season)이 다가오면(approaching)' even putting it into MTL churns out the correct translation, I cannot even comprehend now the RainofSnow version veers off so far away. I mean if you read the next sentence from RainofSnow, it doesn't even make sense. first they claim social season is ending, then the next, "there's still plenty of time until the social season". 

      Reply · ·
    • motokare
      motokare· Author · Apr 14, 2024 07:39 PM
      Also their next sentence phrasing was awkward and looks like it was copied from papago with some editing.
      RainofSnow:
      This year, they moved earlier than usual, so there was still plenty of time until the social season. During that time, the Marquis’ wife decided to repair a few things.
      PAPAGO:
      This year, I came up earlier than usual, so I had a lot of time left until the social season. My wife decided to renovate everywhere during that time.
      Source: 올해는 평소보다 일찍 올라온 참이라 사교 시즌까지 시간이 많이 남아 있었다. 아내는 그 시간 동안 후작저 곳곳을 보수하기로 마음먹었다.
      How the TL should at least be:

      Having arrived earlier than usual this year, ample time remained before the social season commenced. The Marchioness resolved to oversee renovations throughout the residence during this period.

      So, I got lazy, what's left at the bottom half of their 'translation' of the prologue is so freaking weird. The chapter prologue ended with "oh, the poor marquis" but the source actually goes, "오(oh), 불쌍한(the poor/pitiful) 후작(marquis) 부인 (wife) aka marchioness."

      Well, i can tell you this is MTL, but it looks like it was translated from korean to some language and then to English mixed with some kor-eng mtl. Because i plugged it into GTL and papago and the result from those two are better than what RainofSnow interpreted.


      How desperate you are to read depends on yourself. If you decides to pay for MTL, well... Unfortunately i checked the "P-free" novel site, and this novel isn't posted there, yet. if not I'd suggest you just mtl it yourself since it might actually be better in a lot of parts (at least as far as i'm concerned comparing prologue and chapter 1 MTL to RainofSnow's edited mtl)

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    • myichiaa
      myichiaa· Apr 15, 2024 02:30 AM

      @motokare ahh i see so it is an MTL, this is exactly why i still deciding whether to donate to them or not, as you said on one of your reply, i too doesn't want to get ripped off by an MTL, now i feel more at ease after reading your detailed reply and explanation on this novel. 

      I thank you really, thank you for taking your time and energy on my request! ♡ may you always find a good novel that is not being MTL-ed. 

      Reply · ·
    • motokare
      motokare· Author · Apr 15, 2024 02:46 AM
      @myichiaa NP! I think it’s one thing to know you’re paying or donating to MTL, it’s another when they presented a false front and tricked you into believing that its real human translation and “hard work” then have you part with your money because then, its dishonesty. 
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  4. PreStone
    PreStone· Feb 26, 2024 03:22 PM

    Fixed 'I Didn't Particularly Want To Farm!', thank you!clear.png


    If you have anything else you noticed, please do share in DMs or somewhere, so I see!

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    • motokare
      motokare· Author · Feb 26, 2024 10:10 PM
      Uhm, As stated, this is a list reviewing novels I HAVE READ that are being butchered by mtl. I have no other reasons to keep reading your mtl beyond the review. but good on you for changing that part out. 
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    • PreStone
      PreStone· Feb 26, 2024 11:44 PM

      @motokare If we were to remove MTL Translated Novels from NU, roughly 80% would be gone. At least we don't purposefully upload unedited novels (unlike some, smh) without care and try our best to make it good. Well, it's still on you if that's something you can't accept though, but what you said still helps, so thanks! clear.png

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    • motokare
      motokare· Author · Feb 27, 2024 01:01 AM
      @PreStone I think you kinda miss the purpose of my list. These are my reviews of Rofan novels that I’ve read or am reading IN KOREAN that were picked up and then ruined by MTL.  My purpose was to educate readers of similar taste who cannot discern between MTL and real translations (the review left on this novel praising your “translation” is a prime example of a reader being unable to discern). 

      As a translator—the real kind—my only curiosity was how other translators (real ones; mtlers aren’t considered translators in my book) translate and their sensibility usage of language and translation methodologies. So, MTL annoys me on that level (and also i care about ACCURACY), but I do not care at all if the novels are on NU or disappeared/removed. I do not have an agenda for that kind of thing. 

      Also, proper (by that, I mean translation by someone who actually knows the language, not with machine help) translations of novels I’ve read obviously weren’t included here. From my experience monitoring the latest series since I started maintaining this list, I’ve only come across one that was properly translated, surprisingly, by Manhwafreak. 

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    • PreStone
      PreStone· Feb 27, 2024 01:41 AM

      Oky I understand all that, I didn't want to stop you, I just said we fixed it and will make sure to do a better quality from now on. Also, please don't be too mad, its not like every actual translator knows the language perfectly either. There are a lot who are still learning and are using MTL too to educate themselves and be better (we have 2 of them like that). Even worse, there are a lot who are not native English speakers, meaning their editing process doesn't even make it better.

      Once again; I understand what you wanted to say, and I don't want to stop you. Most of what you said are true in my opinion as well, but there are a lot of things to be considered and we can't just slap on the "omg its so bad MTL ew be careful if u read!" sticker on everything if there is an actual human trying their best behind it, to bring it to the western audience. (Same could be said about a human translator of course, they do a lot more work, but most either don't care or basically work for hire). This is my final message.~

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    • motokare
      motokare· Author · Feb 27, 2024 01:57 AM
      @PreStone i call it as i see it. at the end of the day, MTL is MTL. Your mtl was a decent effort, i did gave you that in my review, didn’t I. but decent by prose =/= decent by accuracy. its my list, my prerogative. if you think this bothers you, feel free to rate my translations. /shrug 
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