“译可译,非常译”和“传神达意”是汪榕培提出的中国典籍复译理论和典籍翻译标准,是汪榕培典籍翻译实践的理论总结。从理论渊源上看,“译可译,非常译”来自中国的道家典籍《道德经》,“传神达意”主要来自中国的传统画论和“言意之辨”,是中国传统理论的进一步应用与发展;从理论本质上看,“译可译,非常译”为典籍复译找到了理论依据,“传神达意”则是中国传统画论与传统哲学结合起来产生的新译论;从理论运用角度看,“译可译,非常译”为当下的典籍复译提供了更多的视角,“传神达意”作为典籍翻译的标准,还有模糊之处和进一步拓展的空间。

“Those that can be translated will not be an eternal translation” and “Transmitting spirit and conveying ideas” are translation theories advanced by Wang Rongpei. “Those that can be translated will not be an eternal translation” are retranslation theory of Chinese classics, and “Transmitting spirit and conveying ideas” are translation criterion. In theoretical source, the view that “Those that can be translated will not be an eternal translation” comes from Daodejing of the Taoist thoughts and “Transmitting spirit and conveying ideas” comes from the tradition theories of Chinese painting and Chinese philosophy, enlarging the research scope of translation. In essence, the theoretical principle of re-translation is found in the view that “those that can be translated will not be an eternal translation”, and “Transmitting spirit and conveying ideas” may work as a new theory of translation. In the practice of the theory, “Those that can be translated will not be an eternal translation” can provide more perspectives for retranslation today, and “Transmitting spirit and conveying ideas” has some obscure points to be made clear or further developed.