Glossary entry (derived from question below)
German term or phrase:
Alter ist ein Zustand und kein Verdienst
English translation:
there's no credit attached to age
Added to glossary by
Ilona Gárdosi
Sep 13, 2008 19:28
15 yrs ago
German term
Germany
Übersetzerin - vereidigte Dolmetscherin
Native in: Polish
Works in: Polish to German, German to Polish, Polish, and 1 more.
Alter ist ein Zustand und kein Verdienst
German to English
Social Sciences
General / Conversation / Greetings / Letters
Zugegeben sind meine Englischkenntnisse begrenzt. Ich habe das obige Statement so übersetzt: >. Bitte um Kommentierung. Danke !
Proposed translations
(English)
Proposed translations
+3
58 mins
Selected
there's no credit attached to age
It's essentially an anti-Confucian sentiment in the sense that credit does not automatically accrue to age: just because someone is old does not automatically make him or her worthy of special respect
In a sense, you could say 'age is a biological condition, not a sign of merit'
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Note added at 2 hrs (2008-09-13 21:58:29 GMT)
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My wife (a German native) just mentioned that when she was in secondary school (in a Catholic nun's school), the teachers would say this or something close to it to the students when they were acting superior due to their youth, so perhaps it should be understood more generally -- not just with respect to increased age.
In a sense, you could say 'age is a biological condition, not a sign of merit'
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Note added at 2 hrs (2008-09-13 21:58:29 GMT)
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My wife (a German native) just mentioned that when she was in secondary school (in a Catholic nun's school), the teachers would say this or something close to it to the students when they were acting superior due to their youth, so perhaps it should be understood more generally -- not just with respect to increased age.
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer.
Comment: "Thank you. I prefer this translation: short and precise"
+1
27 mins
Maureen Millington-Brodie
United Kingdom
United Kingdom
Native in English
United Kingdom
33 years of experience
Native in: English
Works in: Arabic to English, German to English
Related KudoZ points
:
11
age is a state but not something hard won/deserving
one option
Note from asker:
| thx |
Peer comment(s):
| agree |
Ingeborg Gowans (X)
: that would work
6 mins
|
+1
35 mins
age is a condition and not a merit
another option
Note from asker:
| thx, Ilona |
+2
37 mins
Dirk Albishausen
Canada
Canada
Native in German
Works in field
Canada
Building bridges in a world of words.
Native in: German (Variant: Germany)
Works in: English to German, German to English
Related KudoZ points
:
16
age is a state not an achievement
my 2 cents
Note from asker:
| thx, Ilona |
Peer comment(s):
| agree |
mill2
: I prefer "condition"
2 hrs
|
| agree |
Barbara Wiebking
: Finde ich gut.
13 hrs
|
41 mins
age is a statement of fact not an achievement
Just an alternative (or possibly "old age" if that fits the context
Note from asker:
| thx, Ilona |
+1
3 hrs
Paul Cohen
Greenland
Greenland
Native in English
Works in field
Greenland
Will work for blubber
Native in: English 
Works in: German to English, French to English, Danish to English
Related KudoZ points
:
52
Just because you are old doesn't mean you get a free pass
I agree with Ken's interpretation.
An alternative:
- Just because you are old doesn't mean you can get away with everything.
All you old ladies elbowing your way to the front of the line - I've got your number! Ha ha!
This is not really a translation of the German expression, but at least it sounds more or less like a real saying - and expresses a similar idea:
"Just because you are old doesn't mean you are any wiser."
An alternative:
- Just because you are old doesn't mean you can get away with everything.
All you old ladies elbowing your way to the front of the line - I've got your number! Ha ha!
This is not really a translation of the German expression, but at least it sounds more or less like a real saying - and expresses a similar idea:
"Just because you are old doesn't mean you are any wiser."
Note from asker:
| thx, Ilona |
Peer comment(s):
| agree |
Veronika McLaren
: or, to be more positive about aging: you still need to put in an effort!
1 hr
|
|
Right on!
|
|
| neutral |
Lancashireman
: Actually, it does. Age 60 for both genders in the UK.
9 hrs
|
|
It's meant in a figurative sense, Andrew.
|
12 hrs
babli
Specializes in field
Aging is a process without any gain.
Aging is a non meritious process.
Note from asker:
| thx, Ilona |
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