The Titles of Magical Books in Harry Potter

 

The Dark Arts Outsmarted

 

Chinese (Mainland)	智胜黑魔法 Zhì-shèng heixī-mó-fà	智胜 zhì-shèng = 'wisdom-defeat' = 'to outwit'. 黑 hēi = 'black' 魔法 mó-fà = 'magic'	Outwitting black magic
Chinese (Taiwan)	智勝黑魔法 Zhì-shèng heixī-mó-fà	智勝zhì-shèng = 'wisdom-defeat' = 'to outwit'. 黑 hēi = 'black'. 魔法 mó-fà = 'magic'.	Outwitting black magic
Japanese	闇の魔術の裏をかく Yami no majutsu no ura o kaku	闇 yami = 'dark'. の no = connecting particle 魔術 majutsu = 'magic'. の no = connecting particle 裏 ura = 'rear'. 裏をかく ura o kaku = 'to go around the rear' = 'to outwit, thwart someone's plans'.	Outwitting dark magic
Vietnamese	Cao Tay Ấn Hơn Nghệ Thuật Hắc Ám	cao tay hơn = 'to gain the upper hand over'. tay ấn = 'to perform charms'. nghệ thuật (藝術) = 'arts'. hắc ám (黑暗) = 'dark'.	Charms to gain the upper hand over the dark arts

Rather interestingly, both Mainland and Taiwanese translators come to the same Chinese title using 智勝 / 智胜 zhì-shèng, meaning 'wisdom-defeat' or 'to outwit'.

The Japanese translator also uses an idiomatic Japanese expression meaning 'to outwit'.

In the Vietnamese title, cao tay hơn means 'to gain the upper hand over...'. The expression tay ấn means 'to perform charms'. Together, the expression means 'Using charms to gain the upper hand over...'.

Category: Dark Arts