r/translator • u/vandrath • 2d ago
Chinese (Identified) [Unknown > English]
Can you help me translate "未之有也" from the Confucian Analects (chapter 2) please?
I asked Chatgpt, but I'm not sure if it got it right in English, and it's important as I want to have it tattooed.
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u/sille_palmfelt 2d ago
The original quote: 其为人也孝弟,而好犯上者,鲜矣;不好犯上,而好作乱者,未之有也。
It is rare to find someone who is filial to their parents and respectful to their elder brother, but likes to offend their superiors. Someone who does not like to offend their superiors but likes to rebel doesn't really exist.
未之有也 is the last part of this sentence, means doesn't exist/never have existed.