This paper explores the relationship between the original and its translation by interpreting Benjamin's three metaphors from his The Translator's Task. The exploration starts with the metaphor of"the tangent of a circle",where it is interpreted that although the translated version should be faithful to its original in terms of meaning,yet it is a deviation due to different internal and external factors. Then,in the metaphor of"afterlife",the discussion demonstrates that the translated version proceeds from the original,but the original depends on it for its survival and afterlife in different eras. Later,based on the metaphor of"fragments of a vessel",the author states that the original and its translation are equal and complementary,just like the fragments of a vessel,responsible for the development and renewal of each other through translation. Finally,it is concluded that a better understanding of their relationship can offer us a new perspective in translation studies and practice.
