gorgi Posted February 3, 2009 at 03:04 PM Report Posted February 3, 2009 at 03:04 PM i was wondering what just "yes" is in chinese and also the word "able" is as well. i want to get it right thanks georgie Quote
renzhe Posted February 3, 2009 at 03:26 PM Report Posted February 3, 2009 at 03:26 PM Honestly, neither word has a direct translation in Chinese. Depending on the context, they would be translated differently. The closest to "able" would probably be 有能力 or 得力. Both would make very strange tattoos, IMHO. Quote
jbradfor Posted February 3, 2009 at 04:04 PM Report Posted February 3, 2009 at 04:04 PM OK, I'll bite. WHY IN THE WORLD would you want "yes" (in any language) tattoo-ed on your skin? Quote
Lu Posted February 3, 2009 at 04:58 PM Report Posted February 3, 2009 at 04:58 PM Because you have a positive attitude to life? I once met a guy with a t-shirt that said NO. Yoko Ono apparently once made an installation that had you climb on a ladder, to see a word on the ceiling. The word was Yes. John Lennon loved it, and then he loved Yoko. But there's no good translation in Chinese for Yes. The Chinese repeat the verb: the answer to 'have you eaten' is 'have eaten' or 'not have eaten'. In this case, I'd just stick to English, so that you and others can actually read it. Quote
Hofmann Posted February 3, 2009 at 05:42 PM Report Posted February 3, 2009 at 05:42 PM Perhaps, if you agree with something said before, "Yes" could be 然. "Able" would be 可, but I'd translate that as "can." Strange tattoo anyway. Quote
randall_flagg Posted February 3, 2009 at 05:57 PM Report Posted February 3, 2009 at 05:57 PM Is this supposed to me "Yes, we can?" Sounds a bit like it. Quote
ABCinChina Posted February 4, 2009 at 02:24 AM Report Posted February 4, 2009 at 02:24 AM Yes = 是, Able = 能 Quote
renzhe Posted February 4, 2009 at 08:52 AM Report Posted February 4, 2009 at 08:52 AM ^^ Only in certain contexts, though. Quote
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