<p>This study examines the translation in the international dissemination of Chinese science fiction, in which translators negotiate the tension between preserving the cultural resonance of the source text and accommodating the interpretive habits of readers in the target language. Under the global success of <i>The Three-Body Problem</i>, particular attention is given to the interpretive challenges and risks of semantic loss that culture-loaded words encounter in their passage across linguistic and cultural boundaries. Building on Nida’s theory of cultural translation, the paper advances an analytical framework designed to assess the effectiveness of translation strategies for such terms and applies it through a classificatory and comparative reading of the Spanish version of the novel’s first volume. Drawing on both quantitative data and case-based examples, the analysis highlights the translator’s recurring dilemmas: on the one hand, ensuring the transmission of cultural specificity; on the other, facilitating accessibility for a foreign readership. The findings suggest that these strategic choices directly shape the reception and communicative force of the translation. The study contends that a flexible and context-sensitive deployment of diverse cultural translation strategies is essential if Chinese science fiction is to consolidate and expand its visibility within the global literary marketplace.</p>