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Chinese/Translation for two character

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Expert: - 9/27/2010


Question
Hello,
  the link below is a picture of a tattoo of two asian charaters, Im not sure what language exactly, Im sorry. I was hoping you could help tell me whata they mean
              
http://s463.photobucket.com/albums/qq360/JohnDStr/tatts/?action=view¤t=tat...

Answer
Hi,
The character on the left, si3, means "death". The one on the right, "sheng1", means "life".
The character "sheng1" would normally not be used individually; usually it appears in combination with other characters, like in the word for "lettuce": "living vegetable", "sheng1cai4".

Terry

Chinese

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Terry Thatcher Waltz

Expertise

I specialize in Chinese technical translation and conference interpretation, and terminology. I can answer questions about these topics, Chinese language pedagogy and learning issues, Chinese grammar for learners, and general issue related to Taiwan.

Experience

Full-time translator and conference interpreter since 1987; long-time resident of Taiwan. Qualified State Dept. language contractor (interpreter and translator) with extensive government and private sector experience.

Organizations
American Translators Association; The Translators' and Interpreters' Guild; ATA Interpreters' Division; ATA Chinese Division.

Publications
AIIC (International Association of Conference Interpreters) website

Education/Credentials
Ph.D., Chinese; MA, Conference Interpreting

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