Profound translation studies call for unequivocal concept of translation. This paper

through reviewing the history of the evolvement of the concept of translation

perceives some uncertainty in the present concept of translation. It is construed in the paper that Jakobson’s classification of translation

the definition of translation in the Modern Chinese Dictionary and Steiner’s proposition of "Understanding is translation" is typical of the modern concept of translation

from which it is inferred that translation

more than a linguistic transference or an "instrument"

is part of human life. To realize this point is paramount to future translation studies.