Seeking help with a translation

[Levares]

One of my co-workers is retiring this month, and somehow the idea of making a banner in Chinese for her going away party was unanimously agreed upon. This task was pawned off on me, because I'm known to be somewhat artistic. Anyways, I'd really appreciate help with this. It would mean a lot to my co-worker.

It isn't anything too complex. I'm just looking for a translation for "Happy Retirement Maria". Also, is there a specific phrase for wishing someone a happy retirement in Chinese culture?

I've also been considering adding a seal (just an imitation) as a signature in an attempt to make it a look a bit more authentic. Would a seal that said "Your friends/from your friends" be okay? If so, what would be the translation for that?

Anyways, I hope this isn't asking too much. Thanks in advance.

[JVGruat]

Hello ...

I think something like

玛丽亚，我们都祝愿你退休后快乐、长寿 。。。

might do.

For the seal, I would suggest you make use of the services offered by http://www.chine-informations.com/mods/outils/calligraphiechinoise/ or http://www.chineseetymology.org/ and consider adding, as a signature, the famous chengyu on longevity, 延年益寿 - from right to left top to bottom of course.

Yoou will find .an illustration of what I have in mind on http://www.jvgruat.com/Chine/seal/

Wish you nice party !

[Levares]

Wow, I'm really glad I posted here. Thanks a ton for the help JVGruat. I really like your idea for the seal. It's great to have some input from other people about this. The websites you posted are very nice as well.

[Levares]

Okay, one last question.

I wouldn't mind using traditional Chinese characters. I found a converter at: http://www.chinese-tools.com/tools/converter-simptrad.html

Converting: 玛丽亚，我们都祝愿你退休后快乐、长寿 。。。

The result is: 瑪麗亞，我們都祝願你退休后快樂、長壽 。。。

Is that a correct conversion? I'm a bit hesitant about trusting an automated translator, since they're usually not perfect.

[Koneko]

Is that a correct conversion?

Yes, it's correct.

K.

PS: Can you be my cynical touchstone?!

[HashiriKata]

I'm a bit hesitant about trusting an automated translator, since they're usually not perfect.

You're correct!

Koneko isn't!

I am!

The result should be: 瑪麗亞，我們都祝願你退休後快樂、長壽 。。。

[gougou]

As far as I know, you also distinguish female and male in traditional characters, so 你 should be 妳. Please correct me if that's wrong.

[Lu]

You can distinguish if you want to, but I don't think you have to. You can just write the general 你.

[HashiriKata]

I'm with Lu on this. The distinction exists but is a bit overdone.

[roddy]

Moved Koneko's computing issues to the computing forum.

[JVGruat]

Levares: "The result is: 瑪麗亞，我們都祝願你退休后快樂、長壽 。。。"

What makes things a bit complicated, is that not all variants are recognized in all fonts ...

As for the above, I would think 祝 should be written with 示 - which requires for example a Mingliu font to become visible. This font also accepts 妳 - which I think could be used, since although both variants are considered as "rare" you are still in a kind of formal-friendly mixed exercise.

As for 后, definitely should be 後. Otherwise, you are talking to someone like the Retirement Queen - which Maria will be on that very day, of course, but does not correspond to the message you intend to convey.

Incidentally, DimSum - accessible from Mandarin Tools - produced conversion all right. One of my preferred software ...

[Levares]

Thanks for the continued efforts everyone.

DimSum does indeed seem very useful. I love how it gives a breakdown on what everything means. It's a lot better than the web-based converter that I found hehe.

So in the end, "瑪麗亞，我們都示願你退休後快樂、長壽 。。。 " is the accurate conversion?

Any objections?

[Lu]

瑪麗亞，我們都祝願你退休後快樂、長壽

What JVGruat means is that the radical in 祝 should be 示, not that you should replace the entire character. Actually I think that although you can try to change it, it's just fine with this radical.

[Levares]

Thanks Lu, I missed that. Good thing you said something.

[JVGruat]

Lu is perfectly correct - and am sorry for misleading you !

祝 and 你 are OK - and no need to use one "rare" character and not the other. Hereafter what I mean - in image format

[Levares]

Well, the party has come and gone. It went really well. She got a little misty-eyed when she saw the banner. I really don't think she was expecting that at all. Anyways, I just want to say thanks! I couldn't have done it without you all. Also, a special thanks to JVGruat for all the hard work. The initial translation, the idea for the seal, and sample pictures/explanations helped a lot.