Zhong Jikun (1938–2020) was a renowned professor and doctoral supervisor at the Department of Arabic Language and Literature, School of Foreign Languages, Peking University. He was a senior translator and one of China's most distinguished experts in Arabic studies. Zhong Jikun was awarded the highest honor in China's translation field, the "Lifetime Achievement Award in Translation Culture," and was widely recognized as a leading scholar in Arabic literature research in China.

Born: February 12, 1938, in Dalian, Liaoning Province, China.

Education: Attended Dalian No. 14 Elementary School, Dalian No. 7 Elementary School, Dalian No. 5 Middle School, and Dalian No. 1 Middle School from 1945 to 1956.

Studied Arabic at the Department of Eastern Languages, Peking University, from 1956 to 1961, and remained at the university as a faculty member after graduation.

Career Highlights: Served as an aid translator in Sudan from 1972 to 1974.

Pursued advanced studies at the Faculty of Arts, Cairo University, from October 1978 to July 1980.

Taught at Sana'a Technical School in Yemen from 1983 to 1985.

Held various positions at Peking University, including Director of the Arabic Language Teaching and Research Office, Director of the Hebrew Language Teaching and Research Office, and served as a professor and doctoral supervisor.

Served as Vice President and later President of the Arabic Literature Research Association under the Chinese Foreign Literature Society.

Frequently traveled abroad for academic visits and lectures.

Membership: Joined the China Writers Association in 1996.

President of the Arabic Literature Research Branch of the Chinese Foreign Literature Society.

Council Member and Deputy Director of the Literature and Art Committee of the Chinese Translators Association.

Deputy Director of the Cultural Committee of the China-Arab Friendship Association.

Honorary President of the Chinese Arabic Literature Research Association.

Council Member of the Chinese Middle East Society.

Member of the China Writers Association.

Honorary Member of the Arab Writers Association.

Academic Papers:

"The People's Poet, Revolutionary Poetry: A Discussion on Iraqi Poet Al-Rusafi."

"A Long History: The Relationship Between Pre-Islamic Arabic Literature and World Culture."

"Well-Deserved: A Discussion on Naguib Mahfouz and His Literary Works."

"Pioneering the Path of Arabic Literature Research in China."

"On the Translation of Arabic Literature."

"Literature of the Arab Gulf States."

Translated Works:

Novels: My Family Has a Man, Desert-My Paradise, Selected Short Stories by Nuayman, Selected Egyptian Short Stories, The Mir Marra Apartment.

Poetry and Prose Collections: Originally Female, Tears and Laughter.

Collaborative Works:

Contributed to the compilation of Chinese-Arabic Dictionary, Encyclopedia of China: Foreign Literature Volume, Encyclopedia of Literature, Dictionary of Oriental Culture, Dictionary of World Poetry Appreciation, A Concise History of Eastern Literature, and A Comparative History of Literature.

Zhong Jikun's extensive contributions to Arabic literature research and translation have left a lasting legacy in the field of Chinese-Arab cultural exchange. His works continue to inspire scholars and readers alike.