(やく)

やく
noun
translation
1. translation; translated version
A rendering of text from one language into another. Used as both a standalone noun and as a suffix indicating the language translated into.
英語(えいご)(やく)()む。
To read the English translation.
この小説(しょうせつ)日本語(にほんご)(やく)()た。
The Japanese translation of this novel was published.
原文(げんぶん)(やく)見比(みくら)べてみた。
I compared the original text with the translation.
この()(やく)(むずか)しい。
Translating this poem is difficult.

Read as やく, this is a Sino-Japanese reading of (わけ) used specifically in the sense of 'translation'. Not to be confused with (わけ) (reason, meaning). Commonly used as a suffix attached to a language name to indicate the target language of a translation.

COMMON COLLOCATIONS:

  • (えい)(やく): English translation
  • ()(やく): Japanese translation (from a foreign language)
  • (ちょく)(やく): literal translation
  • ()(やく): free translation / liberal translation
  • (しん)(やく): new translation
  • (やく)(しゃ): translator
  • (やく)(ぶん): translated text

KANJI READINGS:

  • やく: translation (Sino-Japanese reading used in compounds)
  • わけ: reason, meaning, circumstances — the native Japanese reading; see separate entry

SIMILAR WORDS:

  • 翻訳(ほんやく): translation — the full two-kanji word meaning 'translation' (both the act and the result)
  • 通訳(つうやく): interpretation — oral translation between speakers