Abstract: Abstract：Compared with print media，early Chinese film subtitling has a unique internal operation mechanism when the classical Chinese is replaced by the vernacular. In addition to the stylistic concerns of the May Fourth intellectual elites，the choice of style for film subtitles is also constrained by technical conditions and media characteristics such as film production costs，audience acceptance，and film narrative paradigms. It follows a more pragmatic approach and focuses more on the effect of mass communication. Early film subtitles have deeply contributed to the modernization process of the Chinese language. The research on it not only helps to re-examine the process of Chinese language modernization，but also provides historical references for language practice in the digital age. Thereby，it can promote the construction of a modern Chinese language system that is open，standardized，diverse，inclusive，and clear in expression.

Key words: replacement of classical Chinese by the vernacular, film subtitle, early Chinese film, style, technology