翻译
fān yìTo convert written or spoken words from one language to another.
他翻译了这本小说。
He translated this novel.
Commonly used for both written and oral translation.
A person who translates written texts or spoken words from one language to another.
她是一位资深翻译。
She is a senior translator.
Related Phrases
💡Pro Tip
Distinguish between 翻译 and 口译
'翻译' refers to written translation, while '口译' (kǒuyì) refers to oral interpretation. For spoken translation, use '口译' to avoid confusion.
⚡Gold Rule
Use context for precision
If the context is unclear, specify whether the translation is written or oral (e.g., '请帮我口头翻译' for oral translation).
📖Word Origin
Composed of 翻 (fān, to turn over) and 译 (yì, to interpret), reflecting the idea of 'turning' words from one language into another.
📝Usage Notes
In Chinese, '翻译' is used for both the action of translating and the person who does it. For the person, it is often preceded by a noun indicating the language pair (e.g., '中文翻译' for Chinese-English translator).