Abstract: The early 20th-century China witnessed the replacement of classical Chinese by vernacular Chinese as the written language. Considered as the representation of modernity, vernacular Chinese was highly advocated. During this process, translation played an important role in introducing new words and ways of expression into Chinese language. The selection of language varieties in translation is related to the translator’s cultural attitude toward self and the other. In this period, the first group of indigenous women translators in China demonstrates three stages in their selection of language varieties in translation, which reveals their recognition and active construction of modern identity. Their selection of language varieties in translation contributes to the change of power structure of the different Chinese language varieties and pushes forward the development of Chinese language.