Based on the theory of translator behavior criticism, this paper compares two Chinese translations of Feng Youlan’s A Short History of Chinese Philosophy in different eras by Tu Youguang and Zhao Fusan, exploring the linguistic features of the two translated texts and the social motivations underlying the translators’ behaviors. The findings reveal that: 1) The two versions exhibit notable distinctions in “intra-translation” linguistic features: Tu’s translation leans towards truth-seeking, whereas Zhao’s emphasizes utility-attaining and maintaining truth-seeking. 2) The linguistic distinctions reflect different “extra-translation” social motivations: Tu Youguang’s translator identity as “a linguistic being” is highlighted, and his linguistic truth-seeking for the original text is maximized; In contrast, Zhao Fusan as “a social being” is prominent, and his translator’s behavior is significantly influenced by patronage and readers, prioritizing utility-attaining while still adhering to the premise of truth-seeking.