继电器是什么？又被翻译带歪了，直到看到英文 Relay 才恍然大悟|relay|回路|电磁铁|继电器|翻译

继电器，第一眼看到就感觉很懵逼，“继”是什么意思？将Relay翻译成继电器有点莫名其妙，Relay本质上是一个传达信号的装置，但从中文字面看不出任何跟Relay相关的意思。随着科技的发展，外来语越来越多，很难有和适合的词汇与此对应，因此，还是看英文原版才能更好地理解这些专业词汇。

1 英语原意

继电器：Relay

2 英文解释

2.1 词语解释

relay verb [ T ]

to repeat something you have heard, or to broadcast a signal, message, or programme on television or radio传达，转发；播放；转播

I was told the news first and then I relayed it to the others.
我是第一个被告知这消息的人，接着我又转告了其他人。

relay noun [C] (TEAM)

a group of people who continue an activity that others from the same team or organization have been doing previously接替的一组人；轮换的一队人

Relays of workers kept the machines going through the night.
工人们轮班工作，机器彻夜运转。

(also relay race)

a running or swimming race between two or more teams in which each person in the team runs or swims part of the race（跑步或游泳的）接力赛

relay noun [C] (EQUIPMENT)

a device that reacts to a small change in an electrical current by moving switches or other devices in an electrical circuit （通过移动电路中的开关或其他设备对电流的微小变化做出反应的设备）中继设备

2.2 名词解释

A relay is an electrically operated switch that uses an electromagnet to open or close any electrical circuit. In other words, We can say that A Relay is an electromechanical switch that has the ability to turn ON or OFF any electrical circuit. It consists of a flexible moving mechanical part that can be controlled electrically through an electromagnet.继电器是一种电动开关，它使用电磁铁打开或关闭任何电路。换句话说，我们可以说继电器是一种机电开关，能够打开或关闭任何电路。它由一个灵活的移动机械部件组成，可以通过电磁铁进行电气控制。

While we use normal switches to open and close any electrical circuit manually, Relay is also a Switch that connects and disconnects circuits. But instead of manual operation, the Relay uses an electrical signal to control the circuit’s ON-OFF operation. Relays are used to controle a high-powered circuit using a low-power signal.我们使用普通开关手动打开和关闭任何电路，但继电器也是一种连接和断开电路的开关。但是，继电器不是手动操作，而是使用电信号来控制电路的ON-OFF操作。继电器用于使用低功率信号控制高功率电路。

3 中文解释

继，是连续、接着的意思。相关词语：继续、继任、继承、继武（足迹前后相接，喻后人接续前人的事业）、继往开来、前仆后继。

继电器（英文名称：relay）是一种电控制器件，是当输入量（激励量）的变化达到规定要求时，在电气输出电路中使被控量发生预定的阶跃变化的一种电器。它具有控制系统（又称输入回路）和被控制系统（又称输出回路）之间的互动关系。通常应用于自动化的控制电路中，它实际上是用小电流去控制大电流运作的一种“自动开关”。故在电路中起着自动调节、安全保护、转换电路等作用。