直译

直译 emphasizes fidelity to the original text's structure and words, often resulting in unnatural phrasing in the target language. It is commonly contrasted with 意译 (idiomatic translation), which adapts the meaning to sound natural in the target language.

When to use 直译 vs. 意译

Use 直译 when the goal is to study the original text's structure or when the literal meaning is required (e.g., slogans, brand names). Use 意译 when the goal is to convey the meaning naturally in the target language, especially for idiomatic expressions or creative works.

Avoid unnatural phrasing in target language

直译 often produces awkward or unnatural phrasing in the target language. Always check if the translation sounds natural to native speakers. For example, the Chinese phrase "我吃了三个苹果" should not be translated literally as "I ate three apples" in English if the context implies a habitual action (e.g., "I eat three apples [every day]").