Translation of “一生”
GreyPhoenix
January 22, 2008 at 05:57 PM posted in General DiscussionRecently I ran across a song that I'm working on translating. The chorus is full of a bunch of “一生”s, followed by various actions. For example, one sentence reads something like, “一生爱你，一生不回头.”
I understand the meaning of "一生“ to be "with all one's life." That said, the first part of the sentence makes perfect sense, as in "I will love you with all my life (being, heart, etc)." The second, however, just isn't clicking well with me. My best translation so far is "I will never turn back (or away)." However, how does the 一生 fit in with that? Is it like, "My whole life I will not turn back," or "I devote my whole life's energy (or being) to not turning back?" My understanding of 一生 is that it often denotes all of a person, not just their life as in "days on Earth," but their very being, heart, soul, etc. Is this correct?
I hope this makes sense. I'm wondering if I'm the only one for whom the second half of that sentence doesn't click right, or if there are others as well. Thanks to all who help out!
guest
May 24, 2009 at 02:10 PM
走在记忆中 找寻你温柔
你说你会记得我
带著唯一的线索
我在默默为爱情守候
我不怕岁月无情的折磨
一生爱你不回头
我不怕世界笑我太执著
只要你懂我的梦
我想对你说 我深情依旧
只因你会记得我
愿把承诺当结果
我在默默为爱情守候
需要“歌詞根pete:)
誰會記得我
GreyPhoenix
January 24, 2008 at 12:58 AM
marcelbdt - thanks for the song! That's great!
tvan - I agree, that's probably the most likely translation. I just wanted to get the input from other c-addicts like myself and see if it was right. Thanks!
klgardensong - thanks! That's a really interesting thought on 回头 - I wonder if it could indeed mean that at times. You're right - it would seem to make sense. John? Jenny? Advanced Poddies? Anyone heard of this?
klgardensong
January 23, 2008 at 05:14 PM
I think you can definitely use 一生 in a temporal sense, as in "my whole life long". I think this is closer to the meaning of these lyrics, as distinct from devoting one's whole life.
This is a really long shot, and I'm probably wrong, but I wonder if there's another sense of 回头 that has to do with having one's head turned by someone else - meaning shift your amorous attentions to another. Anyone?
That asked, I think tvan and marcelbdt have captured the essence of that line.
Kathy
tvan
January 23, 2008 at 04:50 PM
marcelbdt, thanks for the song link. To me, 回头 in the sense, "I will never turn back (from our love?) makes the most sense."
marcelbdt
January 23, 2008 at 04:18 PM
Brooke, you might enjoy this link http://www.sinosplice.com/music/yueliang/
GreyPhoenix
January 23, 2008 at 03:39 PM
marcelbdt - Thanks! That's basically along the lines I had figured. It's still a little unclear why it would mean one and not the other though (i.e. "I will never turn back (my whole life)" vs. "I devote my life to never turning back"). You gotta love the puzzles found in the Chinese language. :- )
furyougaijin - I suppose some lyrics ought to make sense, but then again, you never know in today's world... ;- )
furyougaijin
January 22, 2008 at 06:33 PM
Oh, song lyrics are actually supposed to make sense these days? :-)))
marcelbdt
January 22, 2008 at 06:14 PM
Just for the fun of it, I will try to guess... :)
I believe that 回头 can mean "repent" , so my translation would be "I will love you all my life, I will never change my mind."
guest
June 01, 2009 at 10:21 AMg郭福成的，好有名！