Translation request for several Tattoos.

CanIBeOptimistic · 5 Jan 2009

Hello,

I've been trying to get a few phrases translated, but no luck so far.

I really want them to be read right-to-left, and up-and-down... I guess I want it as traditional as possible.. Also I don't know if I want Katakana or Kanji... both are beautiful, but again whichever is more traditional...

One of the phrases will eventually be broken up into three "English words". One piece of the phrase on my right arm, left arm and chest.

Ok, here are the phrases..

"know thyself"

"nothing in excess"

"you can change"

"You can change" will be the split up phrase... So, I'd like it translated as an entire sentence, and then have the individual parts separated for me. Does that make sense? Or should I have this sentence translated into individual words?

Also, do you guys think there could be anywhere in my City that might have a Japanese Calligraphist? I'd love, love love love LOVE to have genuine calligraphy tattoos... I love calligraphy, even non-Japanese.

Thanks for any help...
Justin

becki_kanou · 5 Jan 2009

You might want to take a look at this thread.
That said, I'm assuming you want the two famous phrases of the Delphic Oracle?
Here they are:
『汝自身を知れ』=Know thyself
『過ぎたるは及ばざるがごとし』= Nothing in excess

I do urge you to reconsider, as tattooing yourself in a language you do not understand is a sure path to regret later in life.

Mike Cash · 5 Jan 2009

CanIBeOptimistic said:
"You can change" will be the split up phrase... So, I'd like it translated as an entire sentence, and then have the individual parts separated for me. Does that make sense? Or should I have this sentence translated into individual words?

Bad news for ya, Justin, old pal......that translates to one word in Japanese.

becki_kanou · 6 Jan 2009

Mike Cash said:
Bad news for ya, Justin, old pal......that translates to one word in Japanese.

That's what I was thinking too. And it doesn't sound very cool or inspirational either. When will they learn? (Answer: Never!)

Mike Cash · 6 Jan 2009

It just struck me how funny it is that somebody asking for a translation for several tattoos wants one of them to be "nothing in excess". I'll be chuckling over that one for years to come.

nice gaijin · 6 Jan 2009

I'm scratching my head over the desire for 'traditional' writing for a tattoo, when traditionally tattoos don't contain writing... And just how traditional can a translated sentence be?

Mike Cash · 6 Jan 2009

He was wondering which is more traditional, kanji or katakana. Another source for a chuckle. Or perhaps he was asking in which Japanese people usually get stupid sentences tattooed on their bodies. Answer is, that's what they use T-shirts for, and it is generally done in English.

Mikawa Ossan · 6 Jan 2009

"you can change"

They are correct when they say that this translates into only one word.
However, if you MUST have three words, I will translate this for you word by word. Just be warned that it is total gobledygook in Japanese.

You: あなた
can: 出来る
change: 変える

Let me restate that if you string these words together it will not mean "You can change". In fact no one would probably even realize that is what you meant to say just by looking at it. In other words you'd have to explain it. Even to a native speaker.

becki_kanou · 6 Jan 2009

Mikawa Ossan said:
They are correct when they say that this translates into only one word.
However, if you MUST have three words, I will translate this for you word by word. Just be warned that it is total gobledygook in Japanese.

You: あなた
can: 出来る
change: 変える

Let me restate that if you string these words together it will not mean "You can change". In fact no one would probably even realize that is what you meant to say just by looking at it. In other words you'd have to explain it. Even to a native speaker.

Ouch!
That's almost painfully bad. It looks like the OP has disappeared anyway though, so....

CanIBeOptimistic · 7 Jan 2009

Holy ****.

The amount of assholes in this thread is epic.

Take note assholes: This is why I came to a ******* Japanese forum for help. I didn't come here for you ****sticks to say "omg stupid white boy want Japanese tattoo hahaha so funny"

Anyways, I got real help on another forum. I'll be getting Japanese idioms done.

Seriously, a person wants help and all they get are stuck up ******* replies?

**** you twats.

Thanks for the help though.

nice gaijin said:
I'm scratching my head over the desire for 'traditional' writing for a tattoo, when traditionally tattoos don't contain writing... And just how traditional can a translated sentence be?

Ummm so traditional Japanese isn't written? dee dee dee!

Obviously I meant traditional writing, I.e. young people in japan write completely different than older generations.

Jesus Christ, I would never expect people to be so fuc'king mean, just because someone wants a tattoo in your language. God damn.

Maybe I'll just get a giant tattoo of Japan being nuked, and have the word "Peace" at the bottom in japanese?

CanIBeOptimistic · 7 Jan 2009

Mike Cash said:
It just struck me how funny it is that somebody asking for a translation for several tattoos wants one of them to be "nothing in excess". I'll be chuckling over that one for years to come.

Three messages to myself is excess? I don't have one ******* tattoo on my body, I want a few phrases as a reminder of where I've come from and that I don't have to go back.

Mike Cash said:
Bad news for ya, Justin, old pal......that translates to one word in Japanese.

Again, being a huge ******* for no reason.

Superior you are, to me.

I'm happy you found a way for you to feel relevant in your life. Insulting people on the internet, or giving them a hard time. All you had to do was reply with an explanation, or not reply at all.

Grandpa Frank · 7 Jan 2009

Maybe we need a new rule ??

No threads or posts on tatoos because they always end the same way. Maybe the way to go is deal with the person who will be actually doing the tatoo and take what he gives you?
Anyway, this thread closed and another tatoo info hunter upset and banned for going off the deep end.

Uncle Frank

Translation request for several Tattoos.

CanIBeOptimistic

Registered

becki_kanou

Sumo Freak

Mike Cash

骨も命も皆此の土地に埋めよう

becki_kanou

Sumo Freak

Mike Cash

骨も命も皆此の土地に埋めよう

nice gaijin

Resident Realist

Mike Cash

骨も命も皆此の土地に埋めよう

Mikawa Ossan

いかんわ！

becki_kanou

Sumo Freak

CanIBeOptimistic

Registered

CanIBeOptimistic

Registered

Grandpa Frank

Sempai

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