Search from various English teachers...
United Kingdom flagRebecca Price
Is my translation okay? My friend is getting a tattoo and asked me to translate "If you want justice, sometimes you have to get it yourself" I wrote ‘正義が欲しいなら、時々自分で見つけなきゃ’ Is this okay or is there a more natural way to say it? Thank you!

Answers · 6

0
I think your translation is fine. It is in a casual, colloquial style. (But, 時には may be better than 時々.  See below.) Let me offer an alternative, one with a flavor of literary style. 正義を求めるならば、時には自ら掴むべし。 時々= from time to time, with an implication of “routinely.” 時には = at times, with an implication of “when necessary.” 見つける implication: go find justice (somewhere) 掴む implication: go after it; seize 掴むべし = You should seize it for yourself. 自分で colloquial style 自ら(みずから)literary style Others may suggest yet other translations
0
The latter implies you do it just when you have to.
0
Other than that, "時々" sounds a bit weird. I would say "時には".
0
"手に入れる" means "get it" and "実現する" means "realize it".
0
"見つける" in Japanese just means "find", which must be different from what you wanted to express by "get it". I would say " (正義を) 手に入れる" or " (正義を) 実現する".

Still haven’t found your answers?

Write down your questions and let the native speakers help you!

Don’t miss out on the opportunity to learn a language from the comfort of your own home. Browse our selection of experienced language tutors and enroll in your first lesson now!

Start Learning Today