口译 (kǒu yì) — (noun) oral interpretation, interpreting (as a profession or activity); (verb) to interpret orally

Definition

口译 (kǒuyì) is 'oral interpretation' — translating spoken language in real time, the work itself or the profession. Contrast with 笔译 (bǐyì), the written counterpart.

noun
oral interpretationinterpreting (as a profession or activity)
verb
to interpret orally

Examples

  • 口译。
    Tā shì zuò kǒu yì gōng zuò de.
    He works as an interpreter.
  • 口译。
    Zhè chǎng guó jì huì yì xū yào tóng shēng kǒu yì.
    This international conference requires simultaneous interpretation.
  • 口译。
    Tā zhèng zài wèi wài bīn kǒu yì.
    She is interpreting for the foreign guests.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
偏正piānzhèngModifier + head

The first part narrows down the second: it says what kind of thing the head is.

口kǒumouth
译yìtranslate

口 “mouth” with 译 “translate” gives oral interpretation.

Characters in this word

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

The form 口 looks like an open mouth.

Open 口 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 譯; 译 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
言言yánsay
Sound part声符shēngfú
睪
睪yì譯yì
Same sound today

The traditional form 譯 uses 言 (say) with 睪 for its sound; the simplified 译 is a later shorthand.

Open 译 →

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