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泰穆尔-列维廷
泰穆尔-列维廷
翻译系教师。专业认证翻译员,拥有英语和德语翻译和教学经验。我在世界 20 个国家从事教学工作。我的教学和授课原则是摒弃死记硬背规则的做法,而是要学会理解语言的原理,并像说话一样凭感觉正确发音,而不是在脑子里逐一复习所有的规则,因为在实际讲话中没有时间这样做。你总是需要根据情况和舒适度来进行练习。
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Author’s column by 泰穆尔-列维廷
列维廷语言学校创始人兼校长
🔗 开始语言学校》,作者 Tymur Levitin


A word is not just a meaning — it’s a choice

You find a word in the dictionary. It looks right.
You use it. And something feels… off.

The sentence is “correct,” but the meaning — not quite.
That’s because a dictionary shows options, not solutions.
And if you don’t feel the difference, you won’t know which word fits.


Why dictionaries are limited — and always will be

Let’s be clear: dictionaries are useful. But they won’t tell you:

  • Which word people actually use in real life
  • Which word sounds natural in that context
  • Which one carries the right emotion, register, tone

That’s not because they’re bad.
It’s because no dictionary can teach nuance.


So how do you know what to say?

Here’s the uncomfortable truth:

You often don’t. But your intuition might.

Because intuition is not guessing.
It’s the sum of all your listening, reading, thinking, and patterns.

It helps you feel:

  • if a word fits or not
  • if it matches the tone
  • if it says what you actually mean

Dictionary vs. Intuition — side by side

SituationDictionary gives you…Intuition gives you…
“country”nation, land, countrysideOh, you mean rural area, not a political state
“medicine”medication, treatmentIs it a pill or a therapy?
“miss”fail, long for, skipWhich one fits: “I missed you” or “I missed the train”?
“fine”money penalty, OK, elegantWhat tone do I want here?

👉 Intuition doesn’t replace the dictionary.
It filters and interprets.


Where does intuition come from?

From input and awareness.

1. Input:
Listening. Watching. Reading. Real conversations. Real voices.

2. Awareness:
Noticing when something sounds strange or natural.
Asking 为什么 one version feels better than another.

3. Comparison:
How it would be said in your language.
How it changes depending on tone or word order.


What I teach my students

I never say:

“Just memorize the word and move on.”

Instead, I say:

“Feel it. Use it in context. Ask if it works. Try again differently.”

That’s not guessing.
That’s learning like real speakers do — through repetition, observation, adaptation.


Real learning is not translation — it’s recognition

Yes, use dictionaries.
Yes, look for definitions.
But always remember:

A dictionary shows what’s possible.
Only you — through practice and intuition — can decide what’s appropriate.


我们博客的相关阅读

→ The Full Immersion Method: What They Don’t Tell You
→ 语言障碍与语言无关
→ Language, Emotion, and Meaning in Translation


© Tymur Levitin

Author, founder, director, and lead teacher at Levitin Language School
本文是作者专栏的一部分:
🟦 没有幻想的语言Tymur Levitin 关于真正学习的专栏


Next in the series:

“B1 ≠ Mastery of A2: Why Levels Don’t Guarantee Control”

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