LinBB Posted December 4, 2014 at 06:34 PM Report Share Posted December 4, 2014 at 06:34 PM Used in a drama where the main character wants to suicide. I can only think of the following, but it don't flow as nicely with the subtitles. Please don't think so negatively. Please help Thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kamille Posted December 4, 2014 at 06:59 PM Report Share Posted December 4, 2014 at 06:59 PM In translation you have to translate the meaning and not the words. Besides I think the problem is actually that the least useful thing to say to a depressed person is "don't be depressed" and it feels pretty obvious in an English statement. Whereas 別想不開 seems more normal in Chinese. I don't know, how about "try and think positively"? Or as a declarative statement: "dude you look sad as a dog with no home". 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LinBB Posted December 4, 2014 at 07:05 PM Author Report Share Posted December 4, 2014 at 07:05 PM @Kamille, thanks! Sounds better than my attempt. I thought of other ones but still I feel like it is not the best translations I can think of: Don't be too hard on yourself. Don't take things too hard. As of your statement "in translation you have to translate the meaning and not the words," I have been thinking about that. Sometimes I feel like I want to stay as close as possible to the original language (but then of course that means the translation might come out weird lol or not as native). But I have noticed that sometimes I prefers to translate meanings over words. (~_~) And yes! I agree that the least useful thing is to say don't be depressed! >.< Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kamille Posted December 4, 2014 at 07:08 PM Report Share Posted December 4, 2014 at 07:08 PM "Don't be too hard on yourself" looks good too though. Plus it's closer to the original structure. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skylee Posted December 5, 2014 at 11:13 AM Report Share Posted December 5, 2014 at 11:13 AM Depending on the context, consider "don't think about / do silly things" (such as suicide). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LinBB Posted December 7, 2014 at 12:47 AM Author Report Share Posted December 7, 2014 at 12:47 AM Thanks @Kamille! @skylee, ohhhh, I like that translation! Thank you Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Demonic_Duck Posted December 7, 2014 at 05:16 AM Report Share Posted December 7, 2014 at 05:16 AM "Wants to suicide" should be "wants to commit suicide". Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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