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直译 (zhí yì) — to translate literally (preserving the original wording)

Definition

Literal translation: rendering a text word-for-word rather than capturing its meaning. Contrast with 意译 (yìyì), which translates the sense and reads naturally even if the wording differs.

verb
to translate literally (preserving the original wording)

Examples

  • 直译。
    Qǐng nǐ bǎ zhè duàn wén zì zhí yì chéng yīng wén.
    Please translate this passage literally into English.
  • 直译，。
    Tā xí guàn bǎ měi gè shù yǔ dōu zhí yì chū lái, bù guǎn shì fǒu zì rán.
    He habitually translates every term literally, whether it sounds natural or not.
  • ，直译。
    Duì yú zhè ge wén huà cí, zhí yì kě néng huì ràng dú zhě kùn huò.
    For this cultural word, a literal translation might confuse readers.

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.

直zhídirect
译yìtranslate

直译 joins 直, direct, with 译, translate, to mean translate in a direct way.

Characters in this word

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

The earliest form of 直 pairs 目, an eye, with an unclear stroke 丨.

Open 直 →

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 →
Appears in
Language

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