Abstract: With the development of translation, more and more translation strategies are selected, especially literal translation and free translation. As two important methods of translation methods, they have been debated for a long time. Some people figure that literal translation should be mainly applied, while others suggest that free translation ought to be used frequently. In fact, it is of little significance to debate between literal translation and free translation. Translators need to combine more influential factors such as translation standards, language development, similarities and differences between English and Chinese, types of the translated texts, the translators and the readers themselves etc. 

　　The purpose of this paper is to explore the various factors that have an influence on the choice of translation methods—literal translation, free translation and a combination of both as well as their specific roles in translation. Finally the author figures that translators need to combine them together and pay much attention to various influential factors.

Key Words: Factors; Literal Translation; Free Translation

摘要:随着翻译事业的发展，译者选择的翻译方法也越来越多，尤其是直译和意译。作为翻译的两种方法，它们一直以来是翻译界争论不休的问题。有人认为应以直译为主，也有人认为应以意译为主：其实，单纯地谈直译、意译之争是没有多大意义的。译者应更多地结合翻译标准、语言发展、英汉差异、译文文体、译者以及读者本身等影响因素。

本文的目的主要是探索影响译者直译与意译方法选择的因素以及它们在翻译界中各自的角色。最后作者着重指出译者应综合考虑译文方法的选择以及其影响因素。

关键词：直译；意译；影响因素