translate · reason

1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning

• Structure: The on reading is やく, and the kun reading is わけ. It has 11 strokes and relates to translation or reason.
• Basic usage: 訳 is read わけ, and 訳す is read やくす.

2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions

• 訳 and 訳す
  • 訳 means reason or circumstances. It is a noun read わけ for a reason or circumstances, distinct from the act of translating expressed by 訳す.
  • 彼が急に帰った訳を知っていますか。 means “Do you know why he suddenly went home?”
  • 訳す means to translate. It is a verb read やくす for rendering content from one language into another.
  • この手紙を日本語から韓国語に訳した。 means “I translated this Japanese letter into Korean.”