Help with tattoo translation

[hurleygurl602]

Can someone please translate this for me?

[somethingfunny]

Did you take that photograph in a mirror?  If not then it's back-to-front.  I have no idea what the second or fourth characters are.  So the best I can give you is this:  得＊莫＊.  Sorry, maybe someone else will recognise those characters and be able to help you out.

[hurleygurl602]

I did take it in the mirror

[Kamille]

Highly skeptical regarding the 2nd and 4th characters, too. The second one looks like the left part of 能 coupled with 长. That doesn't make any sense.

[hurleygurl602]

Here's the image again. Does it say anything? It was supposed to be a quote " when you've found something special never forget it" but obviously it's not.

[Weiyi]

@hurleygurl602 The Chinese characters on your back are "得能莫忘”。 This phrase is extracted from one of the Chinese classic work "千字文“ ( One Thousand Chinese Characters), which is a well-written article consisting of one thousand Chinese characters used to teach children literacy. The meaning of the phrase ”得能莫忘“means do not forget the time when you are poor or not that capable even after you get rich or powerful. In short words, always be modest and stick to what you begin with. So this is a really cool phrase for you!

[imron]

Split this off in to it's own thread, as it's a different tattoo from a different person.

[hurleygurl602]

Thank you!

[hurleygurl602]

So it's the second part of the phrase for sure but which part is that translated in English?

[hurleygurl602]

I'm sorry admin. I don't know how to split it off to its own thread

[imron]

I'm sorry admin. I don't know how to split it off to its own thread

No worries.  That's what admins are for   For future reference, the top right corner of each sub-forum (e.g. Tattoos, Names and Quick Translations) has a button that says "Start New Topic"

 

but which part is that translated in English?

I don't think that English translation is accurate.  I looked for an explanation in Chinese, and it matches more or less with what Weiyi says - remember and be thankful for those who taught you skills and abilities, and don't let those things go to waste.

[hurleygurl602]

Ok thank you everyone for your help! I'm so glad it actually means something and something special. Not jibberish or bad words :-)

[imron]

Unfortunately it's written really poorly, and contains the Chinese equivalent of poorly spelled words.

[hurleygurl602]

Yeah I can tell. Thanks again :-)

[somethingfunny]

Could you elaborate Imron?  Are you saying that the second and fourth characters are written incorrectly?  That would be my first assumption, but in this kind of situation I usually assume they're using some obscure script.

[imron]

but in this kind of situation I usually assume they're using some obscure script.

With tattoos, my first assumption is that the tattoo artist doesn't know how to write Chinese, and yes, I think the 2nd and 4th characters are incorrect.