Traslation Request please

[kinleyfarron4209]

There is a phrase the i want to get as a tattoo but i am having trouble finding out the romaji. It is:

Our fingerprints don't fade from the lives we touch.

[QuackingShoe]

Do not get a tattoo in a language that you do not understand. Do not ask for help about your tattoo from people who are merely studying the language. Do not get a tattoo of something translated from your native language into a language you don't understand, even if the translation is done by a native.
Only, only, MAYBE, tattoo a famous proverb that already exists in the language.

[jazzbeans]

Why not just get it done in English? =)

That way, people understand what your tattoo's about (presuming you live in an English-speaking country).. and you know for sure that there's no lost-in-translation-ness.

[kinleyfarron4209]

I didn't want anyone who knew me to know what it is since its only special to me. Besides i like the design of the characters .

[QuackingShoe]

I'm not trying to smack you down, I'm trying to save you. Getting a tattoo in a language you don't understand is one of the worst things you can try to do. These things are permanent, you understand? And you WILL NOT know what it says. It will probably not say what you want it to say. At best, it will sound awkward and may be difficult to understand as you intended it - at worst, it will say something completely different than what was intended altogether. Embarrassing gibberish, or worse. And you'll wear that forever.

Reconsider.

If you want it to be private, have it tattooed in a private place on your body. If you like the look of the characters, get something simple like just the kanji for 'love' or something.

Cautionary tales: http://www.hanzismatter.com/

Basically, have you ever seen the whole All Your Base Are Belong To Us Make Your Time stuff? That's what you'll have on your body. If you're lucky.

[taikutsu]

:cry: I didn't want anyone who knew me to know what it is since its only special to me. Besides i like the design of the characters .

I don't understand what it's supposed to mean in English, but I'm guessing it's something quite abstract, which is generally the type of phrase that's impossible to translate correctly. If you really want a Japanese language tattoo, I would recommend getting something meaningful in Japanese and not an attempted translation of a strange English phrase.

[victimofsleep1386]

Will try to help. What's it that you want?

[Javizy]

I’d urge you to reconsider as well. I've seen a woman with 馬 on her arm and a guy with 暴力団 on his chest in shoddily written characters (tattoo artists don't know how to write kanji properly after all). Like people say, the languages are just too different. You'd need to hire a real pro to get a natural translation that still sounded "deep" in Japanese (not really something learners can accurately judge). By doing that, though, you're going to completely lose the original meaning, so what is the tattoo itself going to be worth? I say look for some interesting English fonts.

[jazzbeans]

I've seen a woman with 馬 on her arm and a guy with 暴力団 on his chest in shoddily written characters (tattoo artists don't know how to write kanji properly after all).

Okay.. 馬... maybe. I dunno why you'd want that but, okay 'cause maybe it's her Chinese zodiac sign? However.. 暴力団! Ha ha, why? ! They must've asked for it.. as in, knew what they meant, but.. I dunno why you'd want that on your chest.

[Javizy]

I've seen a woman with 馬 on her arm and a guy with 暴力団 on his chest in shoddily written characters (tattoo artists don't know how to write kanji properly after all).

Okay.. 馬... maybe. I dunno why you'd want that but, okay 'cause maybe it's her Chinese zodiac sign? However.. 暴力団! Ha ha, why? ! They must've asked for it.. as in, knew what they meant, but.. I dunno why you'd want that on your chest.

I wondered about the zodiac thing, but she was a slightly heavyset woman, so I don't think having anything related to horses was good idea...