For what it's worth, it was worth all the while

[Melanie1989]

Hi guys,

 

So i never thought i'd be one to ask for translations, but could anybody please help me out and suggest a translation for "For what it's worth, it was worth all the while"?

 

It's a Green Day lyric, most of you would probably know, and i've been thinking about incorporating it into a tattoo i have been planning since i was about nine (yep), then it hit me today "Huh, wonder how you'd say that in Chinese". I have four tattoos already, but none as special as this (to me) and i'd like to get it right -which is why i'm not attempting to translate it myself.

 

Anyway, i don't want to ramble on again, but if this can actually be translated into Chinese, could you please let me know. Thank you!

[Silent]

 

. I have four tattoos already, but none as special as this (to me) and i'd like to get it right -which is why i'm not attempting to translate it myself.

Can't help you with the translation, but I get really weird idea's with this post. You have a, for you special, phrase from some lyrics and you want to translate it and then tattoo it? Why? If you translate it the magic is lost in translation.

[Melanie1989]

Weird ideas? Well, the judgement that is creeping out in your post is a little uncalled for, but i am mostly just curious to know if there would be a fitting translation to Chinese. I am fully aware that some things just can't be translated and this might be one of those things, but maybe it can be and there's no harm in asking, right?

[li3wei1]

what's it mean in English?

[Silent]

 

Well, the judgement that is creeping out in your post is a little uncalled for

And what is that judgement that's creeping out? I don't think, and certainly don't want, to make any judgement. Everyone should do whatever their heart desires, at least as long as it doesn't hurt other people.

 

 

I am fully aware that some things just can't be translated and this might be one of those things, but maybe it can be and there's no harm in asking, right?

There's virtually nothing that can be translated perfectly. From a pure linguistically point of view it may be possible to perfectly translate a simple, one layered sentence, but from a personal point of view even that becomes extremely hard. To me the English 'I love you' comes with a different set of emotions then the Chinese ‘我爱你’，the Dutch ' ik houd van jou' or the French 'je t'aime'.  Hence my question why. Why would you translate a 'special' sentence before using it as a tattoo, the emotions associated will most likely get lost in translation. Specially if you have to ask for the translation.

[Melanie1989]

 

 

And what is that judgement that's creeping out? I don't think, and certainly don't want, to make any judgement. 

I wasn't being funny, it just seemed like there was a bit of judgement. I'm not offended. It's the meaning of the line, rather than the exact wording, so i didn't know if maybe there was like a chengyu (my characters aren't working today, apologies) that had a similar meaning. I did have a list of them, but they seem to have randomly dissolved.

 

 

what's it mean in English?

 

To me, it's akin to the Latin saying "ex malo bonum" (my Latin is no good, clearly, but i think that's what it is), out of bad comes good. The suffering you went through was worth it in the end because now you are stronger and you have cut through all the BS. It was fun while it lasted, just a shame it wasn't what you thought it was.  I really don't have a way with words, but that's the basic meaning for me. It's hard to express without giving some personal details and i don't really want to go there.

[anonymoose]

I guess it would be possible to give a literal translation, although the original sentence seems to be open enough to interpretation that there could be several possible literal translations. I think the main problem, though, is that the original sentence is very idiomatic ("for what it's worth", "worth all the while"), and somehow also a play on words (using "worth" twice), which would be completely obliterated in translation.

 

The first translation that came to my mind was 塞翁失马焉知非福, but it still doesn't seem exactly right.

[Silent]

 

The first translation that came to my mind was 塞翁失马焉知非福, but it still doesn\t seem exactly right.

I understand the view of Melanie ' out of bad comes good' and from that view I think it would be a fair translation. Personally I would approach it a bit different and interpret the lyrics (without the context of the complete lyrics) a bit different. To me it's telling after the fact, when it may have no relevance any more, that you've no regrets, something turned out bad, but there was something good in it. After a bad break-up telling that despite the bad ending you appreciate what has been. From this point of view 塞翁失马焉知非福 doesn't really fit the bill. I think there is a Chinese saying that the value is in the journey, not in the destination, imho that would fit much better.

[Demonic_Duck]

I think the elegance of the lyric is in the wording, and the wording is in English. I agree that the repetition of "worth" is important to retain the feeling of the original, and there's really no way to retain that in Chinese (unless you start it with “值得注意的是” or something, but that doesn't retain the meaning, and would also seem very odd for a tattoo).

 

“塞翁失马焉知非福” is a fine idiom, but if you show it to a Chinese speaker, even if they're a big fan of Green Day they won't recognise it as a translation of the lyric

[Melanie1989]

Thanks guys!

 

I'm not bothered if anybody recognises it, that's part of the reason why i wanted it in Chinese. I got my first tattoo when i was 16 (not proud of it, definitely don't recommend it) and that was a Green Day tattoo too. The hand grenade heart thing. The tattooist of course wasn't good as he didn't ask for ID so blatantly messed the tattoo up. Those that don't think it's a strawberry recognise it as Green Day and shout "GREEN DAY!!!!!!" at me across the street..... i think that's enough hassle in itself. That said, i love that line more than i hate the attention having that kind of tattoo brings so if there's no recommended translation, i'll stick with English.

 

I just thought maybe there would be something in Chinese that keeps the beauty of it, but nevermind. 

 

 

 

To me it's telling after the fact, when it may have no relevance any more, that you've no regrets, something turned out bad, but there was something good in it. After a bad break-up telling that despite the bad ending you appreciate what has been.

Yup, that's what i was trying to say, exactly. Hey, can i hire you as a spin doctor, i'd get into so many less awkward situations.

[li3wei1]

you could search to see if there's an official, or widely accepted, chinese version of the whole song.

[skylee]

Consider 不枉 -> http://www.mdbg.net/chindict/chindict.php?wdqb=%E4%B8%8D%E6%9E%89

And / or 不悔 -> http://www.mdbg.net/chindict/chindict.php?page=worddict&wdrst=1&wdqb=%E4%B8%8D%E6%82%94

[Melanie1989]

Thank you both so much! Trying to find a Chinese version of the song is a great idea, it didn't even occur to me. Thank you again!