Abstract:

“Physical infrastructure” and “soft infrastructure” are a pair of political terms. This paper aims to find the position of physical infrastructure and soft infrastructure through the analysis of the origin, development and classification of “infrastructure”, that is, they are the hyponyms of infrastructure. This article also analyzes and discusses the existing translation versions one by one, and finally validates them through pictures, inspections of similar terms, and documents. The following conclusions can be drawn: physical infrastructure can be translated into “wuzhi jichu sheshi” (物质性基础设施) or “ying jichu sheshi” (硬基础设施); soft infrastructure can be translated into “ruan jichu sheshi” (软基础设施).

Key words: physical infrastructure, soft infrastructure, translation