Translation, from a cultural perspective, is the exchange and communication between two distinct cultures, posing a challenge to the translator to possess not only fluency but also a deep understanding of the history and culture of both languages. This study examined the comprehension abilities for translation strategies of native Chinese English primary learners, and for conveying literal and semantic meanings of Chinese slangs in both source and target languages. A qualitative research design guided this study, with the help of a Chinese English comprehension test on Chinese slang designed, to judge learners' knowledge and understanding of the translation strategies and semantic and linguistic features of the Chinese slangs. The sample comprised 60 Chinese students from Shaoguan University, while the major data source was the Chinese English Dictionary of Modern Chinese Slang. The findings revealed learners' weak metaphorical competence hampering their translation skills, and the teachers' failure to effect long-term teaching and translation practices of Chinese slangs. It is recommended that teaching should be more focused on understanding the difference between the thinking model and language expression between Chinese and English. Training courses for translators should be organized to prioritize cultural proficiency and innovative translation techniques.