yì zhě: 译者 - Translator

• Keywords: yizhe, 译者, Chinese for translator, how to say translator in Chinese, fanyi vs yizhe, Chinese translation, literary translator, professional translator in China.
• Summary: Discover the precise meaning of 译者 (yì zhě), the Chinese word for a “translator” of written text. This comprehensive guide breaks down the characters 译 and 者, explores the profound cultural respect for translators in China, and clarifies its practical use in professional and literary contexts. Learn the key differences between 译者 (yì zhě), 翻译 (fānyì), and 口译员 (kǒuyìyuán) with clear examples to master this essential term for anyone interested in language and cross-cultural communication.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): yì zhě
• Part of Speech: Noun
• HSK Level: HSK 5
• Concise Definition: A person who translates written material from one language to another.
• In a Nutshell: 译者 (yì zhě) specifically refers to the person who performs written translation. It's formed by combining 译 (yì), meaning “to translate,” with the suffix 者 (zhě), which acts like “-er” or “-ist” in English to denote a person who does something. Think of it as “translate-person,” a clear and formal term for the profession.

• 译 (yì): This character means “to translate” or “to interpret.” It is composed of the speech radical 讠(yán) on the left, which signifies something related to language or speaking. The right side, 睪 (yì), primarily serves as the phonetic component. The combination points to the act of rendering speech or text from one language into another.
• 者 (zhě): This is a very common and useful character that acts as a suffix to indicate “one who does…” or “the person who is…”. It transforms a verb or an adjective into a noun representing a person. For example, 学 (xué, to study) + 者 = 学者 (xuézhě, scholar), and 记 (jì, to record) + 者 = 记者 (jìzhě, journalist).
• Together: The logic is straightforward: 译 (translate) + 者 (person) = 译者 (a person who translates).

In Chinese culture, the role of a 译者 has historically been held in high esteem, far beyond that of a mere technician who swaps words. Great translators are seen as crucial cultural bridges and artists in their own right. For centuries, translators were responsible for introducing vital foreign concepts into China, from Buddhist scriptures in ancient times to Western science, philosophy, and literature in the modern era. A famous Qing dynasty scholar and translator, Yan Fu (严复), proposed the three cardinal principles of translation: 信 (xìn) - fidelity, 达 (dá) - expressiveness, and 雅 (yǎ) - elegance. These principles are still influential today and highlight the expectation that a good translation should not only be accurate but also beautifully written and accessible. This contrasts with some Western perspectives where translation can be viewed as a more secondary or derivative act. In China, a celebrated 译者 who translates a major literary work is often given prominent credit, sometimes appearing on the book cover with the original author. They are revered for their deep understanding of both cultures and their ability to recreate the original's artistic spirit.

译者 (yì zhě) is a formal and precise term used most often in written and professional contexts.

• Literary and Academic Fields: This is the standard term used on the covers of translated books, in academic papers, and in literary reviews. It carries a sense of professionalism and respect for the craft. For example, the credit line on a translated novel would read: `[Original Author's Name] 著，[Translator's Name] 译`. The translator is the 译者.
• Professional Titles: While 翻译 (fānyì) can be used colloquially for a translator, 译者 is more common in formal job titles, contracts, and descriptions for roles focused on written translation, such as “技术译者” (jìshù yìzhě - technical translator) or “文学译者” (wénxué yìzhě - literary translator).
• Distinguishing from Interpretation: 译者 almost exclusively refers to a translator of written text. For someone who translates spoken language (an interpreter), the correct term is 口译员 (kǒuyìyuán).

• Example 1:
  • 这本书的译者是一位非常有名的学者。
  • Pinyin: Zhè běn shū de yì zhě shì yī wèi fēicháng yǒumíng de xuézhě.
  • English: The translator of this book is a very famous scholar.
  • Analysis: This shows the formal usage of 译者, linking the role to the respected status of a “scholar” (学者).
• Example 2:
  • 他的梦想是成为一名优秀的文学译者。
  • Pinyin: Tā de mèngxiǎng shì chéngwéi yī míng yōuxiù de wénxué yì zhě.
  • English: His dream is to become an excellent literary translator.
  • Analysis: Here, 译者 is used to describe a specific career aspiration, modified by “literary” (文学).
• Example 3:
  • 一名合格的译者不仅要懂外语，还要有深厚的母语功底。
  • Pinyin: Yī míng hégé de yì zhě bùjǐn yào dǒng wàiyǔ, hái yào yǒu shēnhòu de mǔyǔ gōngdǐ.
  • English: A qualified translator must not only understand foreign languages but also have a profound command of their native language.
  • Analysis: This sentence describes the professional requirements of a 译者, highlighting the dual linguistic skills needed.
• Example 4:
  • 如果没有这些译者的努力，我们无法读到这么多外国名著。
  • Pinyin: Rúguǒ méiyǒu zhèxiē yì zhě de nǔlì, wǒmen wúfǎ dú dào zhème duō wàiguó míngzhù.
  • English: Without the hard work of these translators, we wouldn't be able to read so many famous foreign literary works.
  • Analysis: This emphasizes the important contribution of translators to cultural exchange.
• Example 5:
  • 该软件的本地化工作需要十名译者。
  • Pinyin: Gāi ruǎnjiàn de běndìhuà gōngzuò xūyào shí míng yì zhě.
  • English: The localization work for this software requires ten translators.
  • Analysis: A modern, technical context. It shows 译者 being used for non-literary, professional translation.
• Example 6:
  • 我正在阅读《哈利·波特》的中文版，译者是马爱农。
  • Pinyin: Wǒ zhèngzài yuèdú “Hālì Bōtè” de Zhōngwén bǎn, yì zhě shì Mǎ Àinóng.
  • English: I am reading the Chinese version of “Harry Potter,” and the translator is Ma Ainong.
  • Analysis: A very common real-world usage, identifying the specific translator of a famous work.
• Example 7:
  • 作者和译者在翻译过程中进行了多次沟通。
  • Pinyin: Zuòzhě hé yì zhě zài fānyì guòchéng zhōng jìnxíng le duō cì gōutōng.
  • English: The author and the translator communicated many times during the translation process.
  • Analysis: This sentence clearly distinguishes between the “author” (作者) and the 译者.
• Example 8:
  • 这篇译文非常流畅，译者的水平很高。
  • Pinyin: Zhè piān yìwén fēicháng liúchàng, yì zhě de shuǐpíng hěn gāo.
  • English: This translation is very fluent; the translator's skill level is very high.
  • Analysis: Used here to praise the skill of the unnamed translator based on the quality of their work (译文).
• Example 9:
  • 招聘一名兼职译者，要求精通法律术语。
  • Pinyin: Zhāopìn yī míng jiānzhí yì zhě, yāoqiú jīngtōng fǎlǜ shùyǔ.
  • English: Hiring a part-time translator; proficiency in legal terminology is required.
  • Analysis: A typical phrase from a job posting, showing its professional application.
• Example 10:
  • 作为译者，最大的挑战是在“信”与“雅”之间找到平衡。
  • Pinyin: Zuòwéi yì zhě, zuìdà de tiǎozhàn shì zài “xìn” yǔ “yǎ” zhī jiān zhǎodào pínghéng.
  • English: As a translator, the biggest challenge is finding a balance between “fidelity” and “elegance.”
  • Analysis: This connects the term back to its deep cultural context and the principles of translation.

The most common point of confusion for learners is the difference between 译者 (yì zhě) and 翻译 (fānyì).

• 译者 (yì zhě) vs. 翻译 (fānyì):
  • 译者 (yì zhě): Noun only. Specifically means “translator” (the person). It is more formal and unambiguous.
  • 翻译 (fānyì): Can be a verb (“to translate”), a noun (“translation,” the concept or product), or a noun (“translator,” the person).
  • When to use which? In casual conversation, you can say “他是个翻译 (tā shì ge fānyì)” to mean “He is a translator.” However, in formal writing, on a business card, or to emphasize the professional role, 译者 is the better, more precise choice. “他是一位专业的译者” sounds more professional than “他是一位专业的翻译”.
• 译者 (yì zhě) vs. 翻译家 (fānyìjiā):
  • 翻译家 (fānyìjiā) is a highly honorific title, equivalent to “master translator” or “great translator.” It is reserved for famous, accomplished translators who have made significant contributions to the field. You would not call yourself a 翻译家 unless you were incredibly well-established and recognized. 译者 is the standard, neutral term for the profession.
• Written vs. Spoken Translation (A common mistake):
  • 译者 (yì zhě) is for written translation. An interpreter is a 口译员 (kǒuyìyuán).
  • Incorrect: 会议的译者说得很快。 (Huìyì de yì zhě shuō de hěn kuài.) → The conference's translator spoke very fast.
  • Correct: 会议的口译员说得很快。 (Huìyì de kǒuyìyuán shuō de hěn kuài.) → The conference's interpreter spoke very fast.

• 翻译 (fānyì) - The general term for “translation” (the act/result) or “translator” (the person); less formal than 译者 when referring to the person.
• 口译 (kǒuyì) - The act of oral interpretation. The direct counterpart to written translation.
• 口译员 (kǒuyìyuán) - An “interpreter,” the person who performs oral translation.
• 笔译 (bǐyì) - “Written translation” (from 笔 bǐ, “pen”). The specific act that a 译者 performs.
• 翻译家 (fānyìjiā) - A highly respected, master translator. An honorific title.
• 作者 (zuòzhě) - “Author.” The person who created the original work that the 译者 translates.
• 原文 (yuánwén) - The “original text” or “source text.”
• 译文 (yìwén) - The “translated text” or “target text.” The product of the 译者's work.
• 编译 (biānyì) - To “translate and edit.” This term implies a greater degree of adaptation, summary, or editing than a direct translation, common in news and technical writing.
• 直译 (zhíyì) - “Direct translation” or “literal translation.” A translation philosophy often contrasted with more liberal approaches.