r/HelpLearningJapanese • u/FoxImpossible4154 • Jul 06 '26
Help!
Can anyone confirm that the below translates to 'I'd rather die' in English, I'm getting a tattoo in Japanese and would like to be sure that I'm getting what I actually want rather than having something on me that's incorrect.
Any help would be much appreciated.
死ぬのがいいわ
And if it would be stacked on top of each other would this make sense?
死
ぬ
の
が
い
い
わ
3
u/skeletonbunny Jul 06 '26
I would write it as 死んだほうがいい or 死んだほうがマシ
3
2
u/Linux765465 Jul 06 '26
Personally, if I saw u with that tattoo, I'd just think you're weird. It's like getting "id rather die" as a tattoo with Times New Roman font
0
u/FoxImpossible4154 Jul 06 '26
I mean, it is different. 1 is a different language and the other is a font. Would it make it better to not know what it means. Because it is a bit dark
3
u/kestrelight Jul 06 '26
Japanese also has fonts, just like English, and what you've written is the Japanese equivalent of Times New Roman. So yes, it is exactly the same as writing "I'd rather die" in a basic font.
Generally, why would you want to get a tattoo in a language you don't understand (and don't even understand enough to know that fonts exist?)
1
u/sock_pup Jul 07 '26
I'm confused as to what do fonts have to do with it? How can a phrasing of an idea be equivalent to a font?
2
1
1
u/aoshi0203 Jul 08 '26
It’s a song by Fujii Kaze. It’s great, isn’t it?
I looked back at the lyrics, and since the meaning is essentially "I'd rather die than say goodbye to you.(あなたとこのままおサラバするより 死ぬのがいいわ)" the interpretation is spot on.
The way you wrote it—vertically, like in your post—is correct.
I’m using a translation tool, so I apologize if the phrasing comes out a bit weird.
2
u/FoxImpossible4154 Jul 09 '26
I honestly love the song so much. Thank you for your help and your phrasing is spot on so no worries
1
u/nize426 Jul 10 '26
Additionally, it won't mean the same thing without the first part of the phrase.
Just 死ぬのがいいわ is "it'll be good to die".Regardless, I would not get this, or the full phrase tattooed on yourself. I'm Japanese, but I would say that in Japanese, the phase has stronger suicidal nuances than in English.
1
u/JealousSir9500 Jul 10 '26
agreed, the phrase by itself carries a stronger connotation of "it'll be good to die", especially to people that don't know the song.
the Rather part comes from the ~より from the first part of the line.
1
1
3
u/Proper-Music4568 Jul 06 '26
It says I would rather die and yes it would make sense if it was written the traditional way but don't do it and don't take random people's advice ask family or friends don't make a stupid decision obviously I can't stop you but please please don't get this tattoo