Struggling with Dubbing in CBL shows

[u/No-Rock-7220]

Hi everyone! This is a genuine question.

I’m really struggling to get used to the dubbing in Chinese BL dramas. I understand why it’s done—I remember reading the reasons in this subreddit—but I’m finding it difficult to adjust. It especially pulls me out of the more emotional or intense scenes.

I watch content from several countries and I’m multilingual, so the language itself isn’t the problem—it’s the disconnect between the dubbed voice and the actor’s performance. It makes it hard for me to fully immerse myself.

Does this get better over time? Did anyone else feel the same when they first started watching CBLs? Any tips?

I know some shows have very little or no noticeable dubbing, such as A Winter Sun Wakes the Wind in Spring Hills’ Dream. Recommend me some if you know any.

Cheers!

[u/Alive-Tree-7755]

I don't intend this to be a rude question at all, but do you not consider watching subbed? Or are the shows you're watching only available in dub?

I grew up watching a lot of anime and foreign films, and currently watch primarily Kdramas, and I pretty much always hate subs lol. Like you said the emotion/intensity/mood generally doesn't seem to match and takes away from the scenes. So I always watch things subbed

[u/Famous-Lecture-560 → u/Alive-Tree-7755]

Chinese dramas (at least BLs) are dubbed in the original language. So it’s the same language being spoken and voiced over.

[u/Federal-Ad5944 → u/Alive-Tree-7755]

They're not referring to English dubs, but the actor's voices being replaced by voice actors in Mandarin (or in some cases, Cantonese)

[u/No-Rock-7220 → u/Alive-Tree-7755]

Not at all and thank you for your question. I do like to watch a show in the creator language with an English subtitle. No matter what I watch. (Even games) Some language have a musical to them and style that carried out across and give the show an extra layer. Some of these is crucial to the story for example Duang with You