Jump to content
Chinese-Forums
  • Sign Up

Translation Request


semi-sentient

Recommended Posts

How would you write "fear is the mind killer" using Chinese characters. I'm sure it doesn't translate over exactly, but I'd appreciate it if someone could get close. Also let me know the literal meaning of each character if possible. Thanks in advance.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Excellent.

I guess I should have searched first, but I seriously didn't think anyone would request that. The other thread takes it a step further by translating the "i must not fear" portion. Very nice indeed.

Tattoo time.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I'm curious about something. In the other thread, someone posted the following:

"I must not fear. Fear is the mind killer."

"我絕不能恐懼. 恐懼是意志的殺手."

Assuming this is the proper translation, does it make sense to someone who reads Chinese?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I apologize for posting again (can posts be edited?). The first part seems correct in what I posted above. The second does not. This is the revised form of what I'm looking for, so again, does it makes sense to someone who reads Simplified Chinese? This is important to me because I'm going to get this as my next tattoo (it actually has meaning to me outside of the Dune novels), so I need to be sure that I get it right.

i:

must not: 不能 (does this actually translate to cannot? same thing?)

fear: 恐惧

fear: 恐惧

is:

the mind: 心灵

killer: 杀手

"I must not fear. Fear is the mind killer."

"我不能恐惧. 恐惧是心灵的杀手."

Thanks again...

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 2 weeks later...
I thought "must not" would be 不必, but if skylee translated it as 不能, that must be right. I figured the latter, however, would be "not able to"

不必 means unnecessary/not have to

You don't have to != You must not.

"Must not" really means you "cannot", you "may not" in the absolute sense.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and select your username and password later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.

Guest
Click here to reply. Select text to quote.

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

×
×
  • Create New...