Never Back Down in chinese.. Can you help me? :)

[NeverBackDown]

Im wondering, what is the correct translation of "never back down" to chinese language. I found that never give up in chinese is something like:

 

But, in my opinion never back down is better than never give up can you guys/girls help me?

 

 

sorry for my bad english lol   

 

 

btw i want this for my tattoo

[tooironic]

永不退縮 in traditional script, 永不退缩 in simplified.

[NeverBackDown]

永

不

退

縮

 

meaning is still the same, isnt it? thanks btw

[Demonic_Duck]

The meaning is the same if you write it vertically.

 

Looks like it was also used for the Chinese translation of the film of the same name.

[anonymoose]

EDIT: Misread the original post.

 

I suggesting checking how a native speaker feels about this phrase. The connotations of the translation may be different from your original phrase in English.

[Demonic_Duck]

Disagree. I see “退缩” as being either 中性 or 贬义 (my dictionary gives “畏缩”, shrink back in fear, as a near-synonym), thus “永不退缩” would be 中性 or 褒义.

 

Cf. “fearless”. “Fear” is generally either neutral or negative, thus “fearless” is neutral or positive. If you wanted a negative meaning, you'd go with something like “rash” or “reckless”.

[renzhe]

永不放棄 actually means "never give up". As in give up a dream, abandon some person or idea.

Not in the "never back down from a fight" sense, but more in a "never gonna give you up" sense:

When I read it, this was my first thought: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dQw4w9WgXcQ

[NeverBackDown]

so you're saying, that never back down translation isnt actually what I want? But as some said before even the movie is translated like this in chinese 

 

well, Im thinking about 永不放棄 (never give up), A lot of ppl are saying that this actually means never give up. I just want to be sure about the meaning, before I go for tattoo... thanks guys for trying to help.

[Tiana]

If you want to be very literal, then

永不放棄 : Never give up/ abandon

永不退缩: Never back down/ shrink back

[skylee]

Also consider 永不言敗. PS - And 百折不撓.

[889]

Context is everything and we don't have any here. But in general for "back down" in the sense of negotiations and concessions, I'd probably use 让步 rang bu.

[NeverBackDown]

So guys, honestly.. which one sentence in chinese would you pick for a tattoo, that means never give up or never back down (its the same meaning, just diffrent way to write it).

[tooironic]

I think skylee's suggestions sound the most vivid.

 

永不言敗 - literally "never speak of defeat"

百折不撓 - literally "do not flinch even after a hundred setbacks" (more idiomatically "keep fighting in spite of all setbacks")

 

[Shelley]

As you can see from the replies you got a direct translation is not always possible. Just because you use Chinese characters doesn't impart any kind of "special meaning or magic"

 

Please consider not having this as a tattoo at all.

 

I understand English is not your first language and neither is Chinese.

 

Why not have it done in your own language? Be proud of your own language.

 

Pick a nice font and a good colour and then the people around you, who I am guessing you want to understand it, will be able to read it.

 

Before you ink, think and then think again and again.

[renzhe]

So guys, honestly.. which one sentence in chinese would you pick for a tattoo, that means never give up or never back down (its the same meaning, just diffrent way to write it).

You still haven't said what it's supposed to mean in English. Since it can mean many things, there are many translations.

Back down from what? Give up on what?

[NeverBackDown]

Shelley,  I already did this. I know that it doesnt give you any magic powers or smth, but your(chinese) language characters are impressive and way better than my language. I dont know a single person that would have a tattoo in my language(lithuanian)... My language isnt made for tattoo's...

 

in my language never give up would be translated like this: Niekada Nepasiduok!

 

 

Renzhe, well in my language, or even in english language never give up just means never give up (niekada nepasiduok in my language) and you dont need to say anything. As example when u re fighting with someone, and you re going to surrender, and your friend says "never give up" and u go in there and beat him, lol. Or when your life is fcuked as hell, and someone tolds you "Never give up"...  I just want to say: Never give up! NEVER! in any case, just dont give up. 

 

I dont know if you understand what im typing, but I hope you do...

[Demonic_Duck]

your(chinese) language

Most of the users who've posted in this thread so far aren't native Chinese speakers.

 

Niekada Nepasiduok

First thing tomorrow, that's going right on my lower back.

 

Renzhe, well in my language, or even in english language never give up just means never give up (niekada nepasiduok in my language) and you dont need to say anything.

Not all languages are the same.

 

I think tooironic's suggestion of “永不退縮” is the most accurate literal translation for “never back down”. Your own attempt of “永不放棄” is an accurate literal translation for “never give up”. Skylee's “永不言敗” (never say/admit defeat) and “百折不撓” (don't yield even after a hundred setbacks) both convey a similar meaning and attitude, but are a bit more literary.

 

I rather like “永不言敗” myself. But like Shelley says, don't knock your own language! I'm sure some people do indeed have tattoos in Lithuanian. Languages that use the Latin alphabet can be written beautifully too, and Chinese can be written in an ugly way, especially by a tattoo artist who doesn't know what s/he's doing.

[NeverBackDown]

I can't choose between 永不言敗 and 永不放棄 :/ what's the difference between them? :/

[NeverBackDown]

 

what does this photo say?

[Tiana]

It's very similar to 永不放棄: Never give up