Need help with a phrase

[RobShu]

Hello!

I've had this sentence, and I tried to translate it to mandarin. I'm not sure if it's right, so I'd like to ask for your help. I'd like a ring made with it, so it would be good if it's not a complete nonsense ^^

Here is the sentence in three forms just to be sure:

xī shēng gěi chéng shēng huó yú yì dài lǐng zì jǐ xīn

trad: 犧生給誠生活於義帶領自己心

simp: 牺生给诚生活于义带领自己心

The original sentence would be something like:

By living for justice you sacrifice yourself for the sake of truth which act(way of living) leads to salvation (but I like the word "soul" here better)

I'd like to have it carved in the traditional form of course.

Thank you for your help!

[skylee]

living for justice ~ 為公義而活

you sacrifice yourself for the sake of truth ~ 為真理而犧牲你自己

leads to salvation ~ 達至救贖

soul ~ 靈魂

[RobShu]

Thank you for your reply.

I only have a few questions:P

Where is the character for truth in this one? 為真理而犧牲你自己

And where is "leads to" in this one? 達至救贖

I mean could you please help me get it how it works, because I just got really confused by this:P

[RobShu]

Oh an what about 心 as for soul? I like that character, and as far as I know it means the same. Heart, spirit, mind. So basically soul, but I just like it more^^

[HashiriKata]

Where is the character for truth in this one? 為真理而犧牲你自己

And where is "leads to" in this one? 達至救贖

Truth = 真理

Leads to = 達至

[skylee]

By living for justice you sacrifice yourself for the sake of truth which act(way of living) leads to salvation (but I like the word "soul" here better)

I think this message is confusing, which is why I find it difficult to translate. Whose salvation is it? Is it the salvation of the people or the "you"?

IMHO your original chinese version is not acceptable. You could consider these versions (I've spent half an hour on them, and they still seem very inadequate) -

你獻身公義，為真理而犧牲你自己，這種精神讓你(or 世人/the people)得到救贖。

(You devote yourself to justice, sacrifice yourself for truth. This sprite lets you/the people attain salvation.)

OR

追尋公義 (in pursuit of justice)

獻身真理 (devoted to truth)

救渡世人 (salvation of the people) / 以得救贖 (to attain salvation)

It's in present tense so I guess it is not for a tombstone, right?

[RobShu]

"You devote yourself to justice, sacrifice yourself for the truth"

That's right.

Then your actions lead your soul to satisfaction/salvation. Well, actually you don't act because you gain salvation by it, but because you just can't stand by. But still it leads you to salvation... so it's an act of self sacrificing selflessness.

But I thought it could be expressed by simply like: This(your selfless acts) leads you to your heart(self salvation).

I hope it's not too confusing now ^^ I just thought it would be easy to get through in chinese, since it's a so rich language.

So, by the way it should be written in three columns normally, right? Which means on a ring the three sections would be separated by some space, since it would be like a one column scroll rolled up

[RobShu]

Oh, and yes, it's not for a tombstone. I'd like to wear it, because I believe in this. It's just a bit difficult to express the whole philosophy in one sentence. And since it will be on a ring, the space is limited ^^

[RobShu]

Ehm, I was looking at your versions, and I think you use "you" too specific. It would be better in a general way, like instead of "you", "one" does this.

Hope I'm not confusing you again

[RobShu]

"By devoting oneself to justice in a way that they sacrifice themselves for the truth leads them to their heart/salvation/inner peace/their own truth."

That should be a final version...

Okay I won't complicate it even more, I've been posting too much now. Just thinking

Sorry if this is starting to bother you.

[RobShu]

Okay, one last try from me with a simplified, but maybe better version:

忠

義

自

犧

實

心

Just tell me if it makes sense or not. Look at them as watchwords, not as sentences.

Guess I'll need to start learning chinese ^^