阐释 (chǎnshì) — to interpret, to explain in depth

阐释 (chǎnshì)

阐释 means to interpret and explain something in depth, especially texts, cultural phenomena, or philosophical concepts. It goes beyond simple explanation to involve the interpreter's understanding and perspective. It is closely related to hermeneutics and is commonly used in literary criticism, cultural studies, and philosophical discourse.

Meanings

1. [v] to interpret; to explain the meaning of
2. [v] to offer an interpretive account of a text, theory, or cultural phenomenon

Example Sentences

文学批评家从后殖民视角阐释了这部小说的深层含义。 Wénxué pīpínjiā cóng hòuzhímín shìjiǎo chǎnshìle zhè bù xiǎoshuō de shēncéng hányì. The literary critic interpreted the deeper meaning of this novel from a postcolonial perspective.

学者们对《道德经》的核心思想提出了不同的阐释。 Xuézhemen duì Dàodéjīng de héxīn sīxiǎng tíchūle bùtóng de chǎnshì. Scholars have put forward different interpretations of the core ideas of the Tao Te Ching.

这篇论文试图从认知语言学的角度阐释隐喻的形成机制。 Zhè piān lùnwén shìtú cóng rènzhī yǔyánxué de jiǎodù chǎnshì yǐnyù de xíngchéng jīzhì. This paper attempts to interpret the formation mechanism of metaphor from the perspective of cognitive linguistics.

博物馆的展品说明对文物背后的历史意义作了详细阐释。 Bówùguǎn de zhǎnpǐn shuōmíng duì wénwù bèihòu de lìshǐ yìyì zuòle xiángxì chǎnshì. The exhibit descriptions in the museum gave a detailed interpretation of the historical significance behind the artifacts.

如何阐释宪法条文是法学界长期争论的核心议题。 Rúhé chǎnshì xiànfǎ tiáowén shì fǎxuéjiè chángqī zhēnglùn de héxīn yìtí. How to interpret constitutional provisions is a core issue that has long been debated in the legal community.

他在讲座中阐释了传统礼仪文化在现代社会的当代价值。 Tā zài jiǎngzuò zhōng chǎnshìle chuántǒng lǐyí wénhuà zài xiàndài shèhuì de dāngdài jiàzhí. He interpreted the contemporary value of traditional ritual culture in modern society in his lecture.

Collocations

Usage Notes

阐释 is the most hermeneutic of the 阐- family: while 阐明 means to clarify and 阐述 means to expound, 阐释 means to interpret — it involves the reader or analyst bringing their perspective to bear on a text or phenomenon. It is therefore common in the humanities and social sciences. The word carries a slight sense of subjectivity inherent in interpretation.

Do not confuse 阐释 with 解释 (jiěshì), which is more general and everyday. 解释 can mean to explain a word's definition or to justify one's actions, while 阐释 is reserved for deeper, analytical interpretation of significant texts or phenomena. 阐释 is rarely used in casual speech.

Memory Hook

阐 (to open up) + 释 (to release, to explain): "releasing the hidden meaning locked inside a text" — deep interpretive explanation.