<p>我想这就是命吧。</p>

<p>因果报应 and 造业, 作业 or even 作孽 suggest that she did some bad thing in the past, and you are sneered at her  life. 命 is more neutral and shows some sympathy. </p>

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2014-08-19T18:13:48.260Z
Is there two words version of "命" in this context? How about 命运? ("我想这就是命运吧")
null
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-08-20T04:32:04.537Z
@suud, the two word version is 宿命 - predestination. This is a different concept from karma.
杨以轩
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2014-08-20T05:24:56.933Z
@QuestionOverflow: so you say 命 is not proper translation of karma?
null
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2014-08-20T07:03:54.170Z
"命" here is a collective concept, not specifically "宿命" or "命運".  As Saṃsāra (輪迴) is commonly accepted among Chinese, we believe that the presence is influenced by the days lived and the previous life (前世孽, 今世果), not solely determined at the moment of birth (宿命).
Henry HO
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2014-08-20T07:52:09.193Z
@suud, they are somehow related but not quite the same. 宿命 refers to the present outcome whereas karma or 业报 refers to past actions. The Buddhist believe that past actions affect present outcome. Whether it is proper or improper depends on the context. As correctly pointed out by Ma Ming, this word is more neutral, whereas 报应 and 孽 shows a level of grudge or vindictiveness on the speaker, which would not be very appropriate in normal circumstances.
杨以轩
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2014-08-20T08:38:27.167Z
@HenryHO: so you want to say "宿命" is not correct two version words for "命" in my question's context?
null
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2014-08-20T12:16:26.163Z
I just added second case. What do you think? Does "命" still applicable for "karma"?
null
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2014-08-20T12:26:37.563Z
I'd say "宿命" is too specific for "命" in Ma Ming's answer.  I cannot come up with a two-word version of "命" either.
Henry HO
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2014-08-20T12:33:50.477Z
@suud, I have supplemented my answer for your second case.
Henry HO
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2014-08-19T11:14:04.303Z
2014-08-19T11:14:04.303Z
Ma Ming
<p>I guess it's karma！
我想这就是报应吧！</p>

<p>Karma = 因果报应</p>

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2014-08-20T00:56:55.453Z
agree on all other, since the statement did not saying she did anything bad, 报应 should not be use at all.
ah_hau
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2014-08-20T12:17:58.877Z
I just added second case. What do you think? Is "报应" more appropriate for second case?
null
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2014-08-21T00:55:44.880Z
yupe, it's more appropriate cause it's the consequence for doing bad in the past.
ah_hau
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2014-08-19T07:49:16.823Z
2014-08-19T07:49:16.823Z
ah_hau
<p>@ah_hau's answer has a good generic phrase for the typical English usage (of treating "karma" as some sort of cosmic justice system). It suggests that the woman might have done something evil 30 years ago, and has been suffering misfortune because of it.</p>

<p>But if you want to specify that her misfortune is <em>payback for deeds in a previous life</em>, there's a common phrase you should use. It is specialised for this context: <strong><code>上辈子做了什么孽</code></strong>, literally, "<em>did some bad karma in a previous life</em>".</p>

<hr>

<p>For the second case, are you saying "it's karma" in the sense that he had the good luck of finding $5 earlier, so losing $5 now is just balancing it out?</p>

<p>If that's the case, there's a few set phrases you can use:</p>

<ul>
<li>风水轮流转: "good/bad luck goes around."</li>
<li>三十年河东，三十年河西: "fortune changes"</li>
<li>有得有失: "you get some, you lose some".</li>
<li>有输有赢: "you win some you lose some".</li>
</ul>

<p>For example, your sentence could be translated as: <code>你不是在路上捡过五块钱吗? 风水轮流转嘛!</code></p>

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2014-08-20T19:12:54.347Z
nice, but your answers are not in colloquial taste.
null
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2014-08-20T19:15:45.273Z
@suud That is a matter of opinion and locality. I personally hear this stuff often enough.
Semaphore
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2014-08-21T05:12:50.987Z
don't you think it's a bit too long? It sounds like 成语.
null
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2014-08-21T05:17:31.187Z
@suud are you under the impression that people never 成语 in real life?
Semaphore
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2014-08-21T16:05:21.387Z
I seldom hear it in my family, but they speak hokkienese more than mandarin though.
null
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2014-08-19T08:49:14.157Z
2014-08-20T16:27:21.773Z
2014-08-20T16:27:21.773Z
Semaphore
<p>在佛教中应翻译为“业”。</p>

<p>例如：这就是“业报”。</p>

<p>而佛教中的“因”是hetu，“果”是vipaka。</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-08-19T07:57:31.190Z
2014-08-19T07:57:31.190Z
wuyefeibao
<p>For 1st sentence: 也許是她自作孽. &lt;- This is an incorrect translation.  Please see Ma Ming's answer.</p>

<p>For 2nd sentence: "報應" is a bit too heavy in this case.  We can say "現眼報" (spoken Cantonese) or "眼前報" (written Chinese); </p>

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2014-08-19T09:34:20.433Z
I think it should be 作孽 instead of 作業?
TactMayers
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2014-08-19T12:23:35.940Z
Yup, you are right. ^_^
Henry HO
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2014-08-20T19:14:58.913Z
For 2nd case, do you have more simpler answer in one or two words? Three words seems not so colloquial ^^
null
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2014-08-20T23:57:03.667Z
@suud, "現眼報" is spoken Cantonese, though a bit old fashioned.  ^_^
Henry HO
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-08-19T07:16:44.140Z
2014-08-20T12:32:23.990Z
2014-08-20T12:32:23.990Z
Henry HO
<p>I want to know the colloquial chinese translation of "Karma".</p>

<p>The conversation example:</p>

<p>Bob: She had financial problem for 30 years and never got a decent job besides labor.<br/>
Me: I guess it's karma. <strong>&lt;== I need translation of karma in this context.</strong></p>

<p>Note: the karma here refers to fruit/result of her past karma in buddhism.</p>

<p><strong>UPDATE:</strong></p>

<p>Second case:</p>

<p>One day, my dad just lost $5 in his pocket when walking home. My mom heard that and she said "I remember once you took $5 on the street, <strong>so I guess it's karma</strong>".</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-03-01T04:23:11.420Z
2nd case: 出来混，早晚要还的
hello_harry
<translation><vocabulary><conversation>
The translation of "Karma"
# The translation of "Karma"

(Asked by: username_0 on 2014-08-19)

I want to know the colloquial chinese translation of "Karma".

The conversation example:

Bob: She had financial problem for 30 years and never got a decent job besides labor.  
Me: I guess it's karma. **<== I need translation of karma in this context.**

Note: the karma here refers to fruit/result of her past karma in buddhism.

**UPDATE:**

Second case:

One day, my dad just lost $5 in his pocket when walking home. My mom heard that and she said "I remember once you took $5 on the street, **so I guess it's karma**".

**Tags:** translation, vocabulary, conversation

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: 2nd case: 出来混，早晚要还的  

---

## 5 answers

### Answer by username_2 on 2014-08-19. Score: 3 | Accepted answer

我想这就是命吧。

因果报应 and 造业, 作业 or even 作孽 suggest that she did some bad thing in the past, and you are sneered at her life. 命 is more neutral and shows some sympathy.

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: Is there two words version of "命" in this context? How about 命运? ("我想这就是命运吧")  
> **username_3**: @suud, the two word version is 宿命 - predestination. This is a different concept from karma.  
> **username_0**: @QuestionOverflow: so you say 命 is not proper translation of karma?  
> **username_4**: "命" here is a collective concept, not specifically "宿命" or "命運".  As Saṃsāra (輪迴) is commonly accepted among Chinese, we believe that the presence is influenced by the days lived and the previous life (前世孽, 今世果), not solely determined at the moment of birth (宿命).  
> **username_3**: @suud, they are somehow related but not quite the same. 宿命 refers to the present outcome whereas karma or 业报 refers to past actions. The Buddhist believe that past actions affect present outcome. Whether it is proper or improper depends on the context. As correctly pointed out by Ma username_2, this word is more neutral, whereas 报应 and 孽 shows a level of grudge or vindictiveness on the speaker, which would not be very appropriate in normal circumstances.  
> **username_0**: @username_4: so you want to say "宿命" is not correct two version words for "命" in my question's context?  
> **username_0**: I just added second case. What do you think? Does "命" still applicable for "karma"?  
> **username_4**: I'd say "宿命" is too specific for "命" in Ma username_2's answer.  I cannot come up with a two-word version of "命" either.  
> **username_4**: @suud, I have supplemented my answer for your second case.  

---

### Answer by username_5 on 2014-08-19. Score: 3

I guess it's karma！
我想这就是报应吧！

Karma = 因果报应

> **Comments:**
> **username_5**: agree on all other, since the statement did not saying she did anything bad, 报应 should not be use at all.  
> **username_0**: I just added second case. What do you think? Is "报应" more appropriate for second case?  
> **username_5**: yupe, it's more appropriate cause it's the consequence for doing bad in the past.  

---

### Answer by username_6 on 2014-08-19. Score: 3

@ah\_hau's answer has a good generic phrase for the typical English usage (of treating "karma" as some sort of cosmic justice system). It suggests that the woman might have done something evil 30 years ago, and has been suffering misfortune because of it.

But if you want to specify that her misfortune is *payback for deeds in a previous life*, there's a common phrase you should use. It is specialised for this context: **`上辈子做了什么孽`**, literally, "*did some bad karma in a previous life*".

---

For the second case, are you saying "it's karma" in the sense that he had the good luck of finding $5 earlier, so losing $5 now is just balancing it out?

If that's the case, there's a few set phrases you can use:

* 风水轮流转: "good/bad luck goes around."
* 三十年河东，三十年河西: "fortune changes"
* 有得有失: "you get some, you lose some".
* 有输有赢: "you win some you lose some".

For example, your sentence could be translated as: `你不是在路上捡过五块钱吗? 风水轮流转嘛!`

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: nice, but your answers are not in colloquial taste.  
> **username_6**: @suud That is a matter of opinion and locality. I personally hear this stuff often enough.  
> **username_0**: don't you think it's a bit too long? It sounds like 成语.  
> **username_6**: @suud are you under the impression that people never 成语 in real life?  
> **username_0**: I seldom hear it in my family, but they speak hokkienese more than mandarin though.  

---

### Answer by username_7 on 2014-08-19. Score: 1

在佛教中应翻译为“业”。

例如：这就是“业报”。

而佛教中的“因”是hetu，“果”是vipaka。


---

### Answer by username_4 on 2014-08-19. Score: 1

For 1st sentence: 也許是她自作孽. <- This is an incorrect translation. Please see Ma username_2's answer.

For 2nd sentence: "報應" is a bit too heavy in this case. We can say "現眼報" (spoken Cantonese) or "眼前報" (written Chinese);

> **Comments:**
> **username_8**: I think it should be 作孽 instead of 作業?  
> **username_4**: Yup, you are right. ^_^  
> **username_0**: For 2nd case, do you have more simpler answer in one or two words? Three words seems not so colloquial ^^  
> **username_4**: @suud, "現眼報" is spoken Cantonese, though a bit old fashioned.  ^_^  

---

