翻訳

• Reading: ほんやく
• Romaji: honyaku
• Kanji breakdown: 翻 (hon) — turn over, flip; 訳 (yaku/wake) — translate, reason
• Pronunciation: /hoɴ.ja.kɯ/

Meaning

Translation. The process of converting text or speech from one language to another.

A noun that functions as a transitive suru-verb (翻訳する = to translate). Refers specifically to written translation, as opposed to 通訳 (tsuuyaku), which means oral interpretation. The person who translates is 翻訳者 (honyakusha) or 翻訳家 (honyakuka). Increasingly common in discussions about machine translation and AI.

Examples

1. この小説は英語から日本語に翻訳されました。 This novel was translated from English into Japanese.
2. 翻訳の仕事はとても大変だと聞きました。 I've heard that translation work is very demanding.
3. アプリを使って外国語のメニューを翻訳した。 I used an app to translate the menu in a foreign language.

Usage Guide

Context: languages, work, technology

Tone: neutral

Origin & History

Compound of 翻 (hon, to turn over/flip) and 訳 (yaku, meaning/translate). Depicts turning over meaning from one language to another — flipping words into a new tongue.

Cultural Context

Era: Ancient

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal