help with translation please! :D

[diego710]

I am not an advanced thai speaker, i mostly use the dictionary to help me but grammar and phrase structuring is very hard for me.


I tried to translate "Take Yourself To Higher Places" and this is what i wrote "พาตัวคุณเองสถานที่ที่จะสูงขึ้น"

Is it right? can you help me please? i am getting this on one of my tattoos and i need it to be right

thank you!

[djaidee]

I wouldn't suggest that you do this as a Tattoo in Thai as it might have no meaning at all in Thai and to Thai people.

Even in English I don't understand the meaning very well, it can be interpretated in several ways; show it to many people and for every one it might have a different meaning.

You just can't translate something from one Language into another Language using Word-to-Word-Translation - every Language has it's own Expressions for certain things depending on Cultural Background etc.

So maybe you explain better what you really want this Expression to mean and then maybe we can help to find an equivalent Expression in Thai which comes close to the meaning you gave in English.

But for Tattoos I would be as careful as you can be what to choose as it will be there on your skin for Eternity; Thais might shake their heads not understanding what your Tattoo means and might think - just another crazy Farang.

"Take Yourself To Higher Places" - could mean you want to go hiking on a Mountain, or maybe it means something in a Spiritual Way or maybe something completely different????

[diego710]

I wouldn't suggest that you do this as a Tattoo in Thai as it might have no meaning at all in Thai and to Thai people.

Even in English I don't understand the meaning very well, it can be interpretated in several ways; show it to many people and for every one it might have a different meaning.

You just can't translate something from one Language into another Language using Word-to-Word-Translation - every Language has it's own Expressions for certain things depending on Cultural Background etc.

So maybe you explain better what you really want this Expression to mean and then maybe we can help to find an equivalent Expression in Thai which comes close to the meaning you gave in English.

But for Tattoos I would be as careful as you can be what to choose as it will be there on your skin for Eternity; Thais might shake their heads not understanding what your Tattoo means and might think - just another crazy Farang.

"Take Yourself To Higher Places" - could mean you want to go hiking on a Mountain, or maybe it means something in a Spiritual Way or maybe something completely different????

It's more like a spiritual/life decitions thing. Basically the intention of the phrase is define that by yourself you can achieve greatness, not depending on the actions or thoughts of others to reach your own goals. Always aim for something greater

[Tod-Daniels]

I hafta concur with "djaidee" on this.

The tattoo you want is so ambiguous in engrish that it took a 42 word typed explanation from you before Native English speakers clearly understood your meaning!

Idiomatic, emotive, conceptual, and felt phrases going from English to Thai are some of the hardest to represent accurately, due to the difference between the languages. Many short phrases in English turn into multiple sentences in Thai to carry the same meaning, and vice versa.

I doubt you're gonna get ANYTHING close to it in Thai, especially something as short and 'to-the-point' as tattoos are supposed to be. It's my observation that a tattoo in ANY language which takes 5 minutes to explain the meaning, loses a LOT of value. ..

Then again, I'm most certainly NOT a native Thai speaker, just an American who happens to speak, read & write Thai to one degree or another.

Perhaps there's a native Thai speaker who'd weigh in but still I think you're really pushing the boundaries with it...

I'm always amazed by the number of Thai tattoos I see foreigners 'sporting' here which carry NO meaning at all other than pure gibberish. Even Thais reading 'em can't work out what they mean.

Still good luck. ..

[diego710]

I hafta concur with "djaidee" on this.

The tattoo you want is so ambiguous in engrish that it took a 42 word typed explanation from you before Native English speakers clearly understood your meaning!

Idiomatic, emotive, conceptual, and felt phrases going from English to Thai are some of the hardest to represent accurately, due to the difference between the languages. Many short phrases in English turn into multiple sentences in Thai to carry the same meaning, and vice versa.

I doubt you're gonna get ANYTHING close to it in Thai, especially something as short and 'to-the-point' as tattoos are supposed to be. It's my observation that a tattoo in ANY language which takes 5 minutes to explain the meaning, loses a LOT of value. ..

Then again, I'm most certainly NOT a native Thai speaker, just an American who happens to speak, read & write Thai to one degree or another.

Perhaps there's a native Thai speaker who'd weigh in but still I think you're really pushing the boundaries with it...

I'm always amazed by the number of Thai tattoos I see foreigners 'sporting' here which carry NO meaning at all other than pure gibberish. Even Thais reading 'em can't work out what they mean.

Still good luck. ..

There's the thing, i'm not branding myself for others visual pleasure. The tattoo isnt meant to be explained, i will understand its meaning and that is enaugh to me. I just wish to find the right words.

[djaidee]

So you should better do the Tattoo in English as in Thai it would have no meaning at all and Thais just would shake their heads.

I understand that it might be fancy to write something in a different Language which uses different Letters as well, it looks special and not everybody will be able to read it - but still I think it should have a meaning in Thai as well and should be understood by Thais when they are reading it.

If it's just the fancy Script you could as well get a Tattoo with a Menu of a Thai Restaurant or an Instruction Manual in Thai how to use a TV or a Microwave.

Maybe you should better go for some famous Thai Sayings/Idioms as they cary good meanings as well and can be understood by Thais.

[djaidee]

I just wish to find the right words.

That's the Point, I think there are no right Words, without any Explanation nobody will get the right meaning you are looking for.

As in any other Language there are many Words which explain the same thing; so to find the right Words is nearly impossible as your Saying needs a lot of Explanation and still may be interpretated different by many people.

When it comes to "Spirituality", even in your own Mother Language - everything is very "blurry".

Just take the Word "Place" you choosed in your Saying, now have a look in how many ways this Word can be used in Thai:

http://www.thai2english.com/dictionary/place.html

I think this answers everything.

[Betti]

http://hanzismatter.blogspot.com/
I love this website with all the botched Chinese tattoos. great laugh.

[nero_007]

"Take Yourself To Higher Places" ---> "พาตัวคุณเองสถานที่ที่จะสูงขึ้น"
80% for meaning correct.
0% for feeling correct.

When it becomes on tattoo, it should be the word with strong feeling, right?
For this case..
"Take Yourself To Higher Places" is not just like walking from 1st floor to 2nd floor.

If you need an escape feeling (like Three Day Grace's "Break"), it could be..
"ขึ้นที่สูง"

If you need an effort feeling (for better life, better vision, peace of mind) I suggest..
"สู่ที่สูง"
(This one sounds better than the first one and the meaning is also cover but not strong as)