Finn wrote:
Dia dhaoibh,
I'm hoping to get something translated from English to Irish for a tattoo.
My Grandad was gaelgeoir and I myself went to an Irish primary school and did Irish through secondary at higher level but I'm sad to say I remember very little now.
I was hoping to get my first tattoo in Irish and was wondering if anyone could help me with the correct translation of:
"Don't be a slave to pleasure, embrace the pursuit of happiness"
Any help would be appreciated or if anyone knows a professional translation service that does tattoos.
Go raibh maith agat.
As somebody with your background in Irish, you'll know that phrases like "a slave to pleasure" won't translate easily while maintaining their idiomatic sense. You could either go with a direct translation or with one that captures the same meaning, while not necessarily using the same wording.
With that being said, I'm not exactly sure what the meaning is in this instance. Is the suggestion that "the journey is more important than the destination"? As in, don't do something with the expectation that it will make you happy, but find enjoyment in the doing itself. Is that it? What's confusing me is the notion that pleasure and happiness are two distinct things.
In any case. Here are my suggestions:
Idiomatic option -
Ná bí ar slabhra ag an bpléisiúr, glac le tóraíocht an tsonaisDirect translation -
Ná bí mar sclábhaí don phléisiúr, glac le tóraíocht an tsonais