AcuDoc Posted March 18, 2011 at 10:40 PM Report Posted March 18, 2011 at 10:40 PM Okay, I'm trying to put together these words in Chinese. So far, I have 平和 for peace, 愛 for love and 喜乐 for joy. I'm stuck on "health" though. All of these are meant to be in the sense of wishes, as in "I wish you peace" "I wish you love" etc. There are several character combinations that equate to "good health" but I'm curious which Chinese word(s) would be commonly used to express the idea. Thoughts? Quote
Hofmann Posted March 19, 2011 at 12:18 AM Report Posted March 19, 2011 at 12:18 AM You can't wish someone 愛 in Chinese without sounding weird. The other things to wish people would be better as 平安, 快樂, 健康. Better yet, turn them all into four-character blessings. Quote
AcuDoc Posted March 19, 2011 at 12:08 PM Author Report Posted March 19, 2011 at 12:08 PM Thanks for the corrections. This is the problem with starting Chinese study with a spoken Chinese only program, like I did. I know what I want to say, at least some of the time, but I'm basically illiterate. I've just seriously began character learning, and I appreciate the occasional help here. Quote
jbradfor Posted March 21, 2011 at 02:21 AM Report Posted March 21, 2011 at 02:21 AM 健康? For "love", what are you actually wishing them? Affection from many friends and family? Or a good marriage? Quote
AcuDoc Posted March 21, 2011 at 12:05 PM Author Report Posted March 21, 2011 at 12:05 PM I meant love in the sense that I'm wishing the reader to have love in their lives. It occurs to me, though, that my idea there is drawn from growing up in the U.S. in the 1960's and 1970's. I'm not sure that this particular use of the word is common in Chinese language or culture. All in all, I'm happy with 平安, 快樂, 健康. It works. Quote
Hofmann Posted March 21, 2011 at 05:57 PM Report Posted March 21, 2011 at 05:57 PM Wishing someone "love" in English is weird as well. Or if it isn't weird, it's an English-specific thing. Quote
jbradfor Posted March 21, 2011 at 09:32 PM Report Posted March 21, 2011 at 09:32 PM @Hofmann, do you mean "American" specific thing? Wishing someone "love" (as in "peace love and happiness") doesn't seem so weird to me at all. Quote
Hofmann Posted March 22, 2011 at 01:54 AM Report Posted March 22, 2011 at 01:54 AM I was talking about the English language. Quote
aristotle1990 Posted March 22, 2011 at 02:03 AM Report Posted March 22, 2011 at 02:03 AM Try these on for size (from Jukuu): Much peace, love, and joy to you in 1999! Happy holidays!愿平安、挚爱和欢愉在1999年伴随着您。假日快乐。 Mercy, peace and love be yours in abundance. 愿怜恤、平安、慈爱,多多地加给你们。 At New Year and always, may peace and love fill your heart, beauty fill your world, and contentment and joy fill your days. 新年的祝福,平日的希冀,愿你心境祥和、满爱意,愿你的世界全是美满,愿你一切称心如意,快乐无比。 Mercy to you and peace and love be multiplied. 愿怜悯、安与爱,繁增地归与你们。 Quote
Glenn Posted March 22, 2011 at 02:27 AM Report Posted March 22, 2011 at 02:27 AM So it can only be used with either "peace" or "peace and joy (or "mercy" or something else similar, I guess)" when you want to wish it. At least that's what I'm seeing. Quote
skylee Posted March 22, 2011 at 02:10 PM Report Posted March 22, 2011 at 02:10 PM Mercy to you and peace and love be multiplied.愿怜悯、安与爱,繁增地归与你们。 This one is just not acceptable. Quote
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