Help with Translation

[simontaylor7]

Hi all

 

I, like many people am planning to get my children's names tattooed shortly, I have had a friend translate for me and I wanted to double check what I have had sent back to me

 

My children's names are Braedon and Dali

 

The message I had back is attached as I can't paste it for some reason

 

Could anyone out there validate what I have had back for me?

 

I am pretty sure the Dali one is correct as it works in Google translate but can't seem to get Braedon to work

 

Of course if anyone else can offer a better translation it would be welcomed!

 

Thanks in advance

 

Simon

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Here is the direct translate from pronunciation.docx

[陳德聰]

Did your kids already have these names? I'm confused. This feels a bit like tattooing "Alfredo" on your arm and saying "it's my son Braedon's Italian name".

Is there some special connection to Chinese that you have as a family? 巴莱敦 is ba-lai-dun, and 妲丽 is da-li, but these are the equivalent of saying your children's English names with a Chinese accent.

[simontaylor7]

Hi thank you for your reply, my reasoning is that I love the ornate nature of Chinese lettering hence my choice for what I want, I take on board your Italian reference but am keen to have the proper names of my children out of respect for the Chinese language as I am seeking accuracy, I thank you for confirming the translations for me and take it that these are as close as I can expect to get? Thanks again

[Shelley]

I have to agree 100% with post #2. Why do you want the names of 2 people you want to share with your world i.e. English speaker in  a language that you will keep having to explain what it means.

 

Why not pick a really nice font and have it in English so there is no confusion and no explaining. Writing in Chinese characters does not impart any kind or magic or special meanings.

 

Have you checked the individual meanings of these characters you may or may not be pleasantly surprised. Without trying to sound mean, if your level of Chinese is not up to researching these characters then I strongly advise you not to go ahead with this.

 

Won't your kids think its odd that you have as it were "disguised" their names.

 

As I always say Think before you ink and then think again and again.

[imron]

From the sticky:

 

3) Chinese names - often for a tattoo, so see 1) as well. Could be either a traditional style two or three character Chinese name, or a transliteration of an English name. Please have a read of this and this and this to familiarize yourself with the issues involved in converting non-Chinese names into Chinese characters.

 

If as you say you are interested in accuracy and you have respect for the Chinese language, then you more or less can't get English names translated into Chinese.

 

Getting these done in Chinese is the equivalent of picking random words that when put together sound similar (but not really) to the English pronunciation.

 

Imagine you decided to get the words:

 

Bull

Ray

Den

 

Dare

Leaf

 

tattooed on you in English, because when put together they sound sort of like the names of your Children.  That is more or less what you would be doing if you got their 'names' tattooed in Chinese.  There is no real way to translate English names to Chinese.

 

That might not be the answer you want to hear, but it's the reality of the situation.

[simontaylor7]

Ok I understand and thank you for your guidance, this has really helped me understand that I would be better making a statement rather than trying to translate so for example have something that refers to my children rather than just there names such as "my children, my world" or something similar? If you agree this is a better way then I will look into this unless you can suggest anything suitable? Thank you so much for your help

[陳德聰]

The thing is, even Chinese people will not be able to tell that these are your children's names. Only you will know what these tattoos mean.

[Shelley]

I think it would be better than their names but I still strongly suggest you drop the the idea of doing it in Chinese. There are a lot famous 4 Character sayings, you could trawl through them and see if there is any thing suitable but beware, things don't always cross the linguistic borders as you may expect.

 

As I said before do it in English, be proud, be understood.

 

Pick a nice font. maybe a small image that you cherish, combine them and you will end up with something that means something to you and your loved ones.

 

How old are the children, can they participate in the designing process just a bit, maybe even just choosing a colour so it could be their favourite or something, really personalize it.

 

Spend time thinking about alternatives, it is worth it.

[lingo-ling]

Many English names do have more or less standard Chinese transliterations (e.g. 湯姆 for Tom). Others can be formed through a set of characters commonly used in transliterations.

Here are some possibilities:

布雷登 - bu lei deng - Braedon (assuming it rhymes with "maiden")

達利 - da li - Dali (as in Salvador Dali)

If you insist on getting a Chinese tattoo done, I recommend traditional characters instead of simplified; they're far more artistically appealing.

However, I strongly advise consulting at least two native speakers of Chinese in person, and thinking this through.

[simontaylor7]

Many thanks

[Lu]

I would be better making a statement rather than trying to translate so for example have something that refers to my children rather than just there names such as "my children, my world" or something similar? If you agree this is a better way then I will look into this unless you can suggest anything suitable?

This sounds like a much better idea. Alternatively, consider just getting your children's English names in a nice font that you like. But if you really are set on getting something in Chinese, a nice phrase about your children is not a bad idea. I don't have any good idea on a phrase, but perhaps some other poster does? Or you could look into some classical Chinese poetry, there are some lovely poems about children. One that comes to mind is Bai Juyi's Golden Bells, see below. Perhaps don't get this particular one as the daughter died later (as memorised in another beautiful but heartbreaking poem), but there must be other nice ones.

 

When I was almost forty

I had a daughter whose name was Golden Bells.

Now it is just a year since she was born;

She is learning to sit and cannot yet talk.

Ashamed--to find that I have not a sage's heart;

I cannot resiste vulgar thoughts and feelings.

Henceforward I am tied to things outside myself;

My only reward--the pleasure I am getting now.

If I am spared the grief of her dying young,

Then I shall have the trouble of getting her married.

My plan for retiring and going back to the hills

Must now be postponed for fifteen years!

[simontaylor7]

Many thanks for your help on this topic it is very much appreciated

 

Following your advice I have now decided against trying to translate my children's names but will go with a message still relating to my family and their importance to me in the beautiful Chinese lettering

 

I would like to go with "My family my world" and using various sites and dictionaries I believe that I have the correct translation if someone could be so king as to verify my translation of the attached?

 

Once again thank you for your help and advice

 

Simon

my family my world.docx