翻译

• Pinyin: fān yì
• Hanzi breakdown: 翻 = 番 + 羽 (to turn over); 译 = 讠(speech) + 睪 (phonetic) — speech turned into another form

Meaning

To translate; to interpret. Also used as a noun meaning translator or interpreter.

Covers both written translation and oral interpretation. As a noun, it refers to a person who translates or interprets professionally. Common in academic, business, and international contexts. Can be modified to specify direction: 翻译成中文 (translate into Chinese).

Examples

1. 请你帮我把这段话翻译成英文。 Please help me translate this passage into English.
2. 她在一家公司当翻译。 She works as a translator at a company.
3. 这本小说已经被翻译成了二十多种语言。 This novel has already been translated into more than twenty languages.

Usage Guide

Context: academic, professional, everyday

Tone: informative

Do Say

• 你能翻译一下这句话吗？(Can you translate this sentence?)
• 他是一位很有经验的翻译。(He is a very experienced translator.)

Don't Say

• 我翻译了他的意思 (Don't use 翻译 for paraphrasing within the same language — use 解释 instead)

Origin & History

A compound of 翻 (to turn/flip) and 译 (to interpret), together expressing the idea of turning words from one language into another.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal