Romance of the Three Kingdoms is one of the classic Chinese novels, and there have been several translations of it into English. Below I go through each one and note the differences between them, and then I provide an excerpt of the same section from each translation for comparison.

Romance of the Three Kingdoms, 1925, trans. C.H. Brewitt-Taylor. UNABRIDGED

Brewitt-Taylor’s translation is the oldest one here and is written in an older, higher-register style. The Wade-Giles romanization of names might be less familiar to younger readers and might be harder to get the hang than the standard pinyin used now. The online version listed below changes the Wade-Giles to pinyin. A decent translation, though there are some mistranslations here and there, such as calling the dagger Wang Yun gives Cao Cao a “sword” (how could he conceal a sword on his person?) and calling it “seven precious” (七寶, the latter word means jewel here, not precious).

Three Kingdoms, 1991, trans. Moss Roberts. UNABRIDGED

Supplementary Materials: Afterword by Moss Roberts, Character list, terms/titles list, ~100 pages of notes, Chronology of main events. FLP edition also has illustrations for each chapter.
Chinese Romanization: Hanyu Pinyin
Current Edition: Univ. of California Press, 2004, 2 volumes.
Foreign Language Press, 1995, 4-volume box set (mass market paperback size). – includes illustrations for each chapter.

Moss Roberts’ translation is about as “definitive” of a translation as you could want, in my opinion. He has more notes than anyone else, including some which offer comments from Mao Zonggang and Mao Lun, the influential Qing dynasty commentators on the novel. Roberts’ translation also follows the original syntax more closely than any of the other translators. For example, in the excerpt below, his is the only translation that briefly hides Cao Cao’s identity as the one who claps until Wang Yun spots him. This is how it is written in Chinese. Those other translators just come right out and name him, spoiling this little bit of mini suspense.

Still, there are some mistranslations in Roberts’ translation as well. In the excerpt below, he has Cao Cao “rubbing his hands and laughing loudly”. Actually, he’s just clapping. The first character in the Chinese expression, 撫掌, does mean to rub, but in this case, the two characters together just means to clap. Also, in the scene where Cao Cao is about to stab Dong Zhuo with a dagger, Roberts’ translates 衣鏡 as a “metal reflector sewn on his clothing” instead of a dressing mirror. Of course, since Dong Zhuo’s back is turned to Cao Cao, if he looked down at a reflector sewn on his clothing, it would be reflecting the wall, not Cao Cao, who is behind him.

BEWARE of the black cover ebook edition of this on Amazon. It is abridged, not the full novel. Also the ebook edition listed on the 4-volume Foreign Language Press edition on Amazon is some comic book, not the ebook version of Roberts’ translation. There’s also another ebook version with mountains on the cover; that is also abridged (see listing below). Looks like if you want to read Roberts’ full translation, you’ll need to get a paper copy.

Three Kingdoms: Fifteenth Anniversary Abridged Edition, 2014 trans. Moss Roberts. ABRIDGED

Supplementary Materials: Afterword from unabridged edition, character list, Chronology of main events, foreword by Moss Roberts.
Chinese Romanization: Hanyu Pinyin
Current Edition: Univ. of California Press, 2014, 1 volume.
NOTE: There are no footnotes in this edition.

This is the one with the mountains on the cover. It’s also the one with the black cover (see picture at the bottom of this page), published 2020. Note that it is abridged.

The Three Kingdoms, 2014, trans. Yu Sumei. UNABRIDGED

Supplementary Materials: List of main characters, footnotes.
Chinese Romanization: Hanyu Pinyin (two-character names are transcribed incorrectly with a hyphen separating them, ex: Cao Meng-de)
Current Edition: Tuttle Publishing, 2014, 3 volumes.

Yu Sumei’s translation is touted on the publisher’s page as being “more readable than past versions”, though it is never explained why that is. It’s comparable to Roberts’ translation, though there is more condensing and paraphrasing than in Brewitt-Taylor’s and Roberts’ translation. For example, the former two translators translate the letter that Yuan Shao wrote to Wang Yun, while Yu Sumei just tells us the gist of its contents.

The biggest flaw with this translation, in my opinion, is the lack of supplementary materials. There is no introduction explaining the background of the novel or the background of the Three Kingdoms period. There are notes, but not near as many as in Roberts’ translation, and there is curiously not a word from the translator herself. This project is a joint venture in which Yu Sumei translated the work, and then Ronald C. Inverson edited it, but though there is a dedication from Iverson, there’s nothing from Su Yumei. I would have liked to know what edition she translated, how she went about translating, especially how she decided what to condense, etc. Or maybe just her thoughts on the project.

However, this edition is conveniently available as an ebook.

The Romance of the Three Kingdoms, 2018, trans. Martin Palmer. ABRIDGED

Supplementary Materials: Map, list of main characters, introduction, footnotes (very few), chronology.
Chinese Romanization: Hanyu Pinyin
Current Edition: Penguin, 2018, 1 volume.
NOTE: Written in present-tense.

Oh boy. Don’t get this one. Palmer translated 1/3 of the original novel, according to his introduction, and because he chose to translate it in present-tense, it reads like a plot summary (see excerpt below). It does have a nice introduction explaining the work, and he states that major scenes are translated in full, but the rest is just a summary of what happens. Just look at the excerpt below and you will see what I mean. There are like 30 footnotes.

Romance of Three Kingdoms, online, trans. C.H. Brewitt-Taylor, ed. Khang Nguyen. UNABRIDGED

Update: This website is no longer available.

Supplementary Materials: Reader notes, maps, introduction, commentary by sinologist Rafe de Crespigny.
Chinese Romanization: Hanyu Pinyin
Current Edition: 5th edition, http://threekingdoms.com/

This free online edition takes Brewitt-Taylor’s translation and changes the Wade-Giles names to pinyin. The text has also been edited from Brewitt-Taylor’s original, but not always for the better. Some of the edits have resulted in typos or stilted English. But it’s free and you can download it to read offline if you want. There’s a lot of other background info on the site that readers will find helpful.

Which One Should I Get:

I recommend the Moss Roberts’ version, specifically the mass-market sized 4-volume box set edition from Foreign Language Press. It is compact and convenient to read, and it costs as much as just one volume of the University of California Press edition.

Yu Sumei’s 3-volume translation is good if you want to read it on your Kindle or other device. It does condense a bit more than Roberts’ though, and it is lacking in supplementary materials. Also, it’s about $10 USD more for the three print volumes compared to Roberts’ 4-volume box set edition, and the Kindle prices are not much less.

On the whole, although Yu Sumei holds up well, it still does not supercede Roberts. More expensive with less supplementary materials, there is really nothing to recommend it over Roberts unless you just have to read it on a mobile device.

Avoid the Martin Palmer Penguin paperback like the plague.

EXCERPTS

C.H. Brewitt-Taylor:

Thereafter Tung Cho always went well guarded. At Pohai Yuan Shao heard of Tung Cho’s misuse of power and sent a secret letter to Wang Yu.

“That rebel Cho outrages Heaven and has deposed his ruler. Men cannot bear to speak of him. Yet you suffer his aggressions as if you knew naught of them. How then are you a dutiful and loyal minister? I have assembled an army and desire to sweep clean the royal habitation, but I dare not lightly begin the task. If you are willing, then find an opportunity to plot against this man. If you would use force I am at your command.”

The letter arrived but Wang Yun could see no chance. One day while among the throng in attendance, mostly men of long service, he said to his colleagues,”This is my birthday, I pray you come to a little party in my humble cot this evening.”

“We certainly will,” they cried,”and wish you long life.”

That night the tables were spread in an inner room and his friends gathered there. When the wine had made a few rounds the host suddenly covered his face and began to weep.

The guests were aghast.

“Sir, on your birthday too, why do you weep?” said they.

“It is not my birthday,” replied he.”But I wished to call you together and I feared lest Tung Cho should suspect, so I made that the excuse. This man insults the Emperor and does as he wishes so that the imperial prerogatives are in imminent peril. I think of the days when our illustrious founder destroyed Ts’in, annihilated Ch’u and obtained the Empire. Who could have foreseen this day when that Tung Cho has subjugated all to his will? That is why I weep.”

Then they all wept with him.

Seated among the guests, however, was Ts’ao Ts’ao, who did not join in the weeping but clapped his hands and laughed aloud.

“If all the officers of the government weep till dawn, and from dawn weep till dark, will that slay Tung Cho?” said he.

His host turned on him angrily.

“Your forbears ate of the bounty of the Hans; do you feel no gratitude? You can laugh?”

“I laughed at the absurdity of an assembly like this being unable to compass the death of one man. Foolish and incapable as I am I will cut off his head and hang it at the gate as an offering to the people.”

The host left his seat and went over to Ts’ao Ts’ao.

“These later days,” Ts’ao continued,”I have bowed my head to Tung Cho with the sole desire of finding a chance to destroy him. Now he begins to trust me and so I can approach him sometimes. You have a ‘seven precious’ sword which I would borrow and I will go into his palace and kill him. I care not if I die for it.”

“What good fortune for the world that this is so!” said the host.

With this he himself poured out a goblet for his guest who drained it and swore an oath. After this the sword was brought out and given to Ts’ao Ts’ao who hid it under his dress. He finished his wine, took leave of the guests and left the hall. Before long the others dispersed.

Moss Roberts:

Thereafter armed guards constantly attended Dong Zhuo.

At this time Yuan Shao was governor of Bohai. Informed of Dong Zhuo’s abuses, he wrote secretly to Minister of the Interior Wang Yun:

This traitor wronged Heaven itself when he dethroned the Emperor, more than one can bear to say. Yet you have indulged his outrageous conduct as if you have heard nothing. Does this befit a subject who owes the dynasty his utmost loyalty? I am calling up and training soldiers to clear the royal house of villains, but I am not yet ready to act. If you share my views, be alert for any opportunity. I stand at your beck and call, awaiting your command.

After reading the letter, Wang Yun racked his brains for a plan. One day he came upon a group of former courtiers awaiting audience and said to them, “Today is my birthday. I should like to invite you to a little gathering at my humble home this evening.” “We will come, of course, to wish you long life,” the courtiers replied.

That evening the elder lords and ministers arrived for the banquet Wang Yun had prepared in the rear chamber. The wine had gone round several times when Wang Yun covered his face and burst into tears. “Why this show of sorrow on a day of celebration?” asked the startled guests. “Today is not really my birthday,” answered Wang Yun. “I said so only because I had something to tell you and wanted to avoid suspicion. Dong Zhuo has wronged the Emperor and abused his power. The dynastic shrines stand in peril. When I think how the founder of the Han overthrew the Qin, destroyed Chu, and gathered the empire into his hands, I cannot believe that the succession is to die out at the hands of a Dong Zhuo. That is why I cry!” The officials wept with him.

One of the guests, however, was rubbing his hands and laughing loudly. “This courtful of nobles can weep till morning and round to the next evening, too. But can you weep Dong Zhuo to death?” Wang Yun eyed the speaker, Cao Cao, commandant of the Valiant Cavaliers. In a tone of annoyance, Wang Yun said, “Your ancestors also held office under the Han. Why do you laugh when you should be thinking of how to settle the score for the dynasty?” “What makes me laugh,” Cao went on, “is simply that not one of you gentlemen seems to have any idea how to get rid of Dong Zhuo. Despite my lack of ability, I would like nothing better than to cut off his head and hang it at the gates to the capital—to redeem ourselves in the eyes of the empire.”

Rising from his mat in a gesture of respect, Wang Yun said, “Mengde, what is your worthy plan?” “Recently,” Cao replied, “I demeaned myself and entered Dong Zhuo’s service only for the chance to move against him. Since he has come to trust me, there are times I can get near him. I believe you have a knife with seven jewels. If you let me borrow it, I will go into his chamber and stab him—for I am prepared to die without regret.” “Mengde, if you really mean to do this, the empire will be in your debt,” Wang Yun responded. He personally poured out and offered him wine, which Cao Cao drained as his pledge; then Wang Yun gave him the precious dagger. Cao concealed it on his person. When he had finished drinking, Cao took his leave. The courtiers adjourned soon afterwards.

Yu Sumei:

Dong Zhuo’s misuse of power had also reached Yuan Shao in Bohai. He sent a secret letter to Wang Yun in which he mentioned that he had assembled an army and would sweep clean the royal habitation. He urged Wang Yun to find an opportunity to destroy the wicked man.

One day while waiting in attendance at court he noticed that all the officials of long service were present. So he said to his colleagues, “It is my birthday today. Would you like to come to a little party at my house this evening?”

“Certainly,” they said. “We’ll come to wish you long life.”

That evening a banquet was given in the inner hall and his friends gathered there. When the wine had made a few rounds, the host suddenly covered his face with his sleeves and wept bitterly.

All the guests were aghast. “Why do you cry, sir, and on your birthday, too?” they asked in surprise.

“This isn’t my birthday,” he replied. “But I wanted to call you together and I was afraid lest Dong Zhuo should suspect, so I used that as an excuse. This villain insults the Emperor and dominates the court so that the state is in imminent danger. I think of the days when our illustrious founder destroyed Qin and annihilated Chu to establish the empire. Who could have foreseen this day when it should be lost to Dong Zhuo. That is why I weep.”

Then they all wept with him.

Seated among them, however, was Cao Cao who did not join in the weeping but clapped his hands and laughed. “If all the officials weep from dawn to night and from night to dawn, will the tears kill Dong Zhuo?” he demanded.

His host turned on him angrily. “Your forebears also benefited from the bounty of the Hans—do you feel no gratitude? You can still laugh?”

“I laughed because none of you can think of a way to kill him. Incapable as I am, I will cut off his head and hang it at the city gate to avenge the nation.”

The host left his seat and went over to Cao Cao’s. “What good idea do you have, Meng-de?”

“These days I have bowed my head to Dong Zhuo,” replied Cao Cao. “In fact, I have been waiting for a chance to destroy him. Now he trusts me greatly and I can often approach him. I hear you have a seven-treasure dagger which I would like to borrow and I will take it with me to go to his house and kill him even though I may die for it.”

“What good fortune for the whole country if you are willing to do that!” exclaimed his host. And he himself filled a goblet with wine for his guest, who held it in hand and swore an oath. Then the precious dagger was brought out and given to Cao Cao, who hid it under his robe. Then he finished his wine, took leave of the others, and left. Before long they all dispersed.

Martin Palmer:

Word of these brutalities travels as far as Yuan Shao, who is in the provinces. Writing to his friend the minister of the home office, Wang Yun, he urges him to organize the overthrow of Dong Zhuo. When he receives the letter, Wang Yun invites a group of men whom he suspects also want the removal of the corrupt Dong Zhuo. Under cover of a birthday party they discuss the terrible state of affairs. It is at this point that Cao Cao steps forward. If he could be given Wang Yun’s seven-jewelled dagger as the implement and inducement, he says he will stab Dong Zhuo to death. The jewelled dagger is handed over, and everyone present nervously but hopefully drinks to the success of Cao Cao’s plan.

Armed with the precious dagger, Cao Cao makes his way to Dong Zhuo’s palace, where he finds Dong Zhuo. He is now so fat he has to lie reclining on a couch. Asked why he is so late, Cao Cao replies that his horse is unfit for travel, whereupon Dong Zhuo orders Lü Bu – his golden recruit from Ding Yuan’s army, and the new owner of Red Hare – to go and find him a fine new one. Now that he is left alone with Dong Zhuo, Cao Cao draws his dagger and moves towards him. But Dong Zhuo catches sight of him in a mirror and turns. ‘What are you doing?’ he calls out. In terror, Cao Cao drops to his knees. Thinking quickly, he offers up the beautiful dagger with both hands.

Edited Brewitt-Taylor (threekingdoms.com):

Thereafter Dong Zhuo always went well guarded.

At Bohai, Yuan Shao heard of Dong Zhuo’s misuse of power and sent a secret letter to Minister of the Interior Wang Yun:

“That rebel Dong Zhuo outrages Heaven and has deposed his ruler. Common people dare not speak of him: That is understandable. Yet you suffer his aggressions as if you knew naught of them. How then are you a dutiful and loyal minister? I have assembled an army and desire to sweep clean the royal habitation, but I dare not lightly begin the task. If you are willing, then find an opportunity to plot against this man. If you would use force, I am at your command.”

The letter arrived but Wang Yun could see no chance to plot against Dong Zhuo.

One day while among the throng in attendance, mostly people of long service, Wang Yun said to his colleagues, “This is my birthday, I pray you come to a little party in my humble cot this evening.”

“We certainly will,” they cried, “and wish you long life.”

That night the tables were spread in an inner room, and his friends gathered there. When the wine had made a few rounds, the host suddenly covered his face and began to weep.

The guests were aghast.

“Sir, on your birthday too, why do you weep?” said they.

“It is not my birthday,” replied Wang Yun. “But I wished to call you together, and I feared lest Dong Zhuo should suspect, so I made that the excuse. This man insults the Emperor and does as he wishes so that the imperial prerogatives are in imminent peril. I think of the days when our illustrious founder destroyed the Qin, annihilated Chu, and obtained the empire. Who could have foreseen this day when that Dong Zhuo has subjugated all to his will? That is why I weep.”

Then they all wept with him.

Seated among the guests, however, was Cao Cao, who did not join in the weeping but clapped his hands and laughed aloud.

“If all the officers of the government weep till dawn, and from dawn weep till dark, will that slay Dong Zhuo?” said Cao Cao.

Wang Yun turned on him angrily.

“Your forbears ate the bounty of the Hans. Do you feel no gratitude? You can laugh?”

“I laughed at the absurdity of an assembly like this being unable to compass the death of one man. Foolish and incapable as I am, I will cut off his head and hang it at the gate as an offering to the people.”

Wang Yun left his seat and went over to Cao Cao.

“These later days,” Cao Cao continued, “I have bowed my head to Dong Zhuo with the sole desire of finding a chance to destroy him. Now he begins to trust me, and so I can approach him sometimes. You have a sword with seven precious jewels which I would borrow, and I will go into his palace and kill him. I care not if I die for it.”

“What good fortune for the world that this is so!” said Wang Yun.

With this Wang Yun himself poured out a goblet for Cao Cao who drained it and swore an oath. After this the treasured sword was brought out and given to Cao Cao who hid it under his dress. He finished his wine, took leave of the guests, and left the hall. Before long the others dispersed.