This site uses cookies. Some of these cookies are essential to the operation of the site, while others help to improve your experience by providing insights into how the site is being used. For more information, please see the ProZ.com privacy policy.
Cookie settings
  1. KudoZ™ Top
  2. Chinese to English
  3. History

千秋功罪，自有定论

English translation: History is the best judge

04:56 May 28, 2008
Chinese to English translations [PRO]
Art/Literary - History
Chinese term or phrase: 千秋功罪，自有定论
What's the meaning of 千秋功罪，自有定论?
Tony Zhou
Local time: 15:18
English translation:History is the best judge
Explanation:
good or bad, angel or devil, history will tell, you cannot be your own judge, and people in power cannot be the final judge either, if you bragged too much and proclaim you are a hero, or if the people in power intentional wronged you and blamed you while you had actually been a real hero, all of these don't matter, history will know who's right, who's wrong.
Selected response from:

orientalhorizon
Local time: 16:18
Grading comment
Thanks
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
4History is the best judge
orientalhorizon
3Of a lifetime of good and evil, who can be the judge?
Michael Lickorish


  

Answers


43 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5
Of a lifetime of good and evil, who can be the judge?


Language variant: Of a lifetime of good and evil, only the self can judge.

Explanation:
From broken link:
The definite article…
17 May 2008 ... In a thousand autumns of works good and band,. Who could tally up your score? ... —Mao Zedong (tr. Eugene Eoyang) ...
thedefinitearticle.wordpress.com/ - 374k -

歷史自有定論 history will be the judge/only history can decide

Not sure if 自有定论 is a rhetorical question or a statement here:

Of a lifetime of good and evil, who can be the judge?
or
Of a lifetime of good and evil, only the self can judge.

Michael Lickorish
Australia
Local time: 17:48
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: English
PRO pts in category: 8
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

1 hr   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
History is the best judge


Language variant: History is the final judge

Explanation:
good or bad, angel or devil, history will tell, you cannot be your own judge, and people in power cannot be the final judge either, if you bragged too much and proclaim you are a hero, or if the people in power intentional wronged you and blamed you while you had actually been a real hero, all of these don't matter, history will know who's right, who's wrong.

orientalhorizon
Local time: 16:18
Native speaker of: Native in ChineseChinese
PRO pts in category: 24
Grading comment
Thanks

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
neutral  Michael Lickorish: depending on who's writing it.. :) // Thanks for your explanation, OH! I was taking my cue from Mao's 千秋功罪，誰與評說
6 hrs
  -> Thank you very much! This is a very common saying in China. We normally say "千秋功过，自有定论"。“自" here is not "self" but "自然" or "naturally, definitely", meaning it's not some Tom or Harry who has the final say, history is fair and a fair shake will be given.
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)



Login or register (free and only takes a few minutes) to participate in this question.

You will also have access to many other tools and opportunities designed for those who have language-related jobs (or are passionate about them). Participation is free and the site has a strict confidentiality policy.

Return to KudoZ list

KudoZ™ translation help

The KudoZ network provides a framework for translators and others to assist each other with translations or explanations of terms and short phrases.

See also:
ProZ.com term search
Search millions of term translations
Close search
Term search
  • All of ProZ.com
  • Term search
  • Jobs
  • Forums
  • Multiple search