This study examines translation errors and their cultural implications in the English translations of Dream of the Red Chamber using House’s Revised Translation Quality Assessment (TQA) model. Based on 200 culture-specific items (CSIs) identified via Newmark’s (1988) framework, the analysis compares two prominent versions translated by Yang Hsien-yi and Gladys Yang (TT1) and David Hawkes (TT2). The CSIs were purposively sampled from across the five volumes of the original novel to ensure balanced coverage, and analyzed through a qualitative, product-oriented approach. It investigates how lexical, syntactic, textual, and pragmatic mismatches across Field, Tenor, and Mode impact cultural representation and target readers’ perception. The findings reveal that errors often arise from inadequate handling of CSIs, leading to distortions in cultural authenticity and shifts in narrative tone. By framing translation as intercultural communication, the study highlights how translation errors hinder the transfer of cultural meanings and cross-cultural understanding. It contributes to translation quality research by offering a detailed categorization of translation errors and demonstrating the applicability of House’s model to culturally rich literary texts. In addition, it provides practical insights for translators, educators, and publishers on minimizing cultural distortion and enhancing cross-cultural intelligibility in literary translation. Ultimately, this study underscores the importance of functional-pragmatic evaluation in preserving cultural fidelity and promoting more effective intercultural communication.
