音译 (yīn yì) — transliteration; phonetic transcription of a word (especially a foreign word) into Chinese characters based on sound
Definition
A linguistic term for writing a foreign word using Chinese characters that approximate its sound (e.g. 'coffee' → 咖啡). Contrast with 意译, which translates by meaning instead of sound.
noun
transliterationphonetic transcription of a word (especially a foreign word) into Chinese characters based on sound
Examples
- 音译。Zhè zhǒng yǐn liào de míng zì shì yīng yǔ de yīn yì.The name of this beverage is a transliteration from English.
- 音译。Xǔ duō wài lái cí tōng guò yīn yì jìn rù le hàn yǔ.Many loanwords have entered Chinese through transliteration.
- 音译？Zhè ge dì míng de yīn yì shì bu shì gēn jù fā yīn lái de?Is the transliteration of this place name based on pronunciation?
Browse more HSK 7-9 words or search the full 43,000-word dictionary.