Obligatory Tattoo translation request

[Legion]

I am getting a tattoo and want to make sure this traditional translation is correct. I know exact translation is usually incorrect but I just want the spirit of what it means to be retained.

 

叫我們軍團因為我們是很多

 

call us legion for we are many

[Legion]

Legion is a comicbook character. He's sort of my spirit animal because I have Bi-Polar, we both have been basket cases most of our lives but once we get it together The world becomes ours.

 

I plan to put it on my inner forearm next to this.

[Lu]

That translation is not correct. It is too literal, and that makes it untelligible and comical. Do not get this as a tattoo.

 

Since it refers to a comic book character, why not get a tattoo of that character? That seems the perfect way to represent your meaning.

[roddy]

Or maybe something referring to duality or multiplicity. The "legion" wordplay is never going to work in Chinese (unless anyone wants to have a shot...)

[Jim]

Looks like Legion is translated as 大群 according to Baidu.

ETA and reading the page they give the Bible quote as 吾名是群，因为吾等众多. Should think you could find other Chinese Bible versions.

[Publius]

And here is how Mark 5:9 is translated: https://cnbible.com/mark/5-9.htm (all of which seem quite stupid as a tattoo)

[Legion]

Well I knew literal translation was going to be a bust, that,s why I am here for advice how to make it sagacious. Based on your screen name Publius you may appreciate another tattoo I have "quod me nutrit me destruit" literally means that which nourishes me also destroys me, but MEANS "that which drives me also consumes me." A suggestion with how to make it in the spirit of what I am saying is my goal, preferable with the full translated reconstruction, since I'm clueless.

[Lu]

'Quod me nutrit me destruit' sounds like a perfectly good choice. I'd say pick a nice font and go for it.

Alternatively, you could consider looking up the original Ancient Greek of Marc 5:9 and getting that.

 

Since you seem to have no specific connection to the Chinese language or culture, I'd advise against getting a tattoo in Chinese, especially not a tattoo of an iconic European sentence translated into Chinese. Chinese characters are not some mystical symbol system with magical meaning, they are are writing system just like English or Latin. If you want something that is not immediately legible to the unitiated passer-by, getting something in Latin or Ancient Greek will work fine. Latin especially has the added advantage that you can more or less read it, or at least recognise the letters, so there is a much smaller chance of either you or the tattoo artist making a mistake that is then on your body forever.

[roddy]

刀槍如林 dāoqiāngrúlín f.e. Swords and spears are as numerous as trees in the forest.

 

Implies the multiplicity and violence of both senses of legion. Don't get it unless someone else says it's a good idea though.

[Zbigniew]

16 hours ago, Legion said:

I plan to put it on my inner forearm next to this.

Maybe I'm just seeing things, but whoever has tattooed you seems to have made the very unfortunate decision to use a Greek omega in place of what should be a Roman O (in the word QUOD), possibly a Greek pi in place of a Roman N (in NUTRIT), Greek phi in place of the letter I, and Greek sigmas for Roman E.  And do I see a letter s that has crept in on the end of DESTRUIT?

 

 For anyone who has studied Latin and Greek, or who is merely able to distinguish the Greek and Roman alphabets, your tattoo is an impressive visual solecism.

 

[Publius]

2 hours ago, Zbigniew said:

an impressive visual solecism

or 1337 5p34k for the ancients ?

[Legion]

Or maybe it's a purposeful take on the the hellenistic integration of Greek art and style by the Roman's with a Latin phrase. Blatantly stealing the formers beautiful alphabet for visual purposes.

[Lu]

9 hours ago, Zbigniew said:

Maybe I'm just seeing things, but whoever has tattooed you seems to have made the very unfortunate decision to use a Greek omega in place of what should be a Roman O (in the word QUOD), possibly a Greek pi in place of a Roman N (in NUTRIT), Greek phi in place of the letter I, and Greek sigmas for Roman E.

OMG I didn't even see that. But as per OP, at least it's on purpose? So not an actual train wreck but a number of wagons carefully partly taken apart and lowered into the ravine to resemble a train wreck.

[Zbigniew]

Yes, Publius, Legion, and Lu, you are all correct; there is a legitimacy in this that I definitely wasn't seeing.