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Tattoo Translation (before I get it)


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Posted

I've been studying Chinese for the past 2 years, and I wanted to get a tattoo in Chinese both because I love the language and how it looks but also a reminder of possibly the rewarding thing I've studied. 

 

I wanted to get something that roughly means "remmeber your promises" or "don't forget your promises." So far I have come up with 記得你的承諾。My professor said it was grammatically correct, but I wanted to make sure it sounded good colloquially, and it didn't sound simple or like it was translated by a white guy, if that makes sense. I want to make it something someone from China would get as a tattoo.

 

Is it good, or are there any suggestions for how to make it sound better while still meaning generally the same thing?

  • Like 1
Posted

Good you're checking first! What about 保持承诺?

(See what others esp native speakers think first though!)

Posted

I think that is not "something someone from China would get as a tattoo". My impression is that it is less common for Chinese people to get tattoos. There may be a cultural difference there. And those tattoos on Chinese people are seldom in Chinese characters AFAIK, apart from criminals in period dramas. Perhaps it is just that when you know something very well in your heart, there is little point to wear it on your skin.

PS - That said, perhaps the OP could consider 矢志不忘.

  • Like 2
Posted

矢志不忘 is great.

I also agree that such a tatoo is rare in real life, for a Chinese in a Chinese society.

Posted

Stay away from 你. In English, we use 'you' and 'your' to mean 'one' and 'one's', but if I saw 記得你的承諾, I would think it meant that the wearer of the tattoo remembered something I had promised.

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Posted

Thanks everyone for your responses! I didn't know 你 wasn't used much colloquially.

I get that tattoos aren't popular in Chinese culture. I just wanted something that wouldn't seem like a white person translation.

That being said, I really like 矢志不忘, it's exactly the kind of thing I was looking for unless there's any other ideas or improvements. Thanks again!

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