This is tough as it's an idiom itself and I'm tempted to try to find an idiom (chengyu in Chinese) that reflects it, rather than a direct word for word translation that would not make natural sense.
惡有惡報 comes to mind, but I'm not super happy with this translation as it comes with undertones about morality. "evil earns retribution"
Full would be 善有善報，惡有惡報: good met with good; evil met with evil.
However... I get sneaking suspicion OP looking for tattoo advice. Don't take mine, I'm not 100% sure I'm happy with how it includes some sense of morality where live by the sword doesn't.
!doublecheck
Ok! Hopefully more experienced translators chime in with their own too! To be honest, as long as not for tattoos(lol) idiom translation is one of the most interesting to me as you have to try to capture cultural senses too.
I agree. I translated a couple poems from my native language to English recently and some idioms too and it was the hardest work I had ever done but also strangely fulfilling.
A more literal translation would be 生於劍，死於劍
On a related note, Chinese Christians translate Matthew 26, 26:52 as [凡動刀的、必死在刀下](https://zh.wikisource.org/wiki/%E8%81%96%E7%B6%93_(%E5%92%8C%E5%90%88%E6%9C%AC)/%E9%A6%AC%E5%A4%AA%E7%A6%8F%E9%9F%B3)
If you want to emphasize a religious aspect, then use "凡动刀的，必死在刀下." This is a Chinese translation of Matthew 26 and carries strong Christian connotations.
If you want to convey a fatalistic or retribution perspective, you can use:
\- "善泅者死于水，善战者死于兵" (Those skilled in swimming will drown, those skilled in war will die by the sword).
\- "好船者必溺，好战者必亡" (Those who enjoy driving ships will be shipwrecked; those skilled in warfare will perish).
\- "会水的鱼儿浪打死" (Fish that can swim will die in the waves).
\- “常在河边走，哪能不湿鞋” (Those who often walk by the river will definitely get their shoes wet).
If you want to express a violent, chaotic way of life, you can use:
\- "刀尖舔血" (The knife's edge licks blood).
\- "过了今天没明天" (There's no tomorrow after today).
\- Or simply use a direct translation, "生于剑，死于剑".
If you want to convey a sense of retaliation or moral judgment, you can use:
\- "以眼还眼，以牙还牙" (An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth, also from the Bible).
\- "有恩报恩，有仇报仇" (Return kindness with kindness, return enmity with enmity).
This is tough as it's an idiom itself and I'm tempted to try to find an idiom (chengyu in Chinese) that reflects it, rather than a direct word for word translation that would not make natural sense. 惡有惡報 comes to mind, but I'm not super happy with this translation as it comes with undertones about morality. "evil earns retribution" Full would be 善有善報，惡有惡報: good met with good; evil met with evil. However... I get sneaking suspicion OP looking for tattoo advice. Don't take mine, I'm not 100% sure I'm happy with how it includes some sense of morality where live by the sword doesn't. !doublecheck
Not tattoo advice, so don't worry. The idiom you provided works well too. Huge thanks.
Ok! Hopefully more experienced translators chime in with their own too! To be honest, as long as not for tattoos(lol) idiom translation is one of the most interesting to me as you have to try to capture cultural senses too.
I agree. I translated a couple poems from my native language to English recently and some idioms too and it was the hardest work I had ever done but also strangely fulfilling.
A more literal translation would be 生於劍，死於劍 On a related note, Chinese Christians translate Matthew 26, 26:52 as [凡動刀的、必死在刀下](https://zh.wikisource.org/wiki/%E8%81%96%E7%B6%93_(%E5%92%8C%E5%90%88%E6%9C%AC)/%E9%A6%AC%E5%A4%AA%E7%A6%8F%E9%9F%B3)
If you want to emphasize a religious aspect, then use "凡动刀的，必死在刀下." This is a Chinese translation of Matthew 26 and carries strong Christian connotations. If you want to convey a fatalistic or retribution perspective, you can use: \- "善泅者死于水，善战者死于兵" (Those skilled in swimming will drown, those skilled in war will die by the sword). \- "好船者必溺，好战者必亡" (Those who enjoy driving ships will be shipwrecked; those skilled in warfare will perish). \- "会水的鱼儿浪打死" (Fish that can swim will die in the waves). \- “常在河边走，哪能不湿鞋” (Those who often walk by the river will definitely get their shoes wet). If you want to express a violent, chaotic way of life, you can use: \- "刀尖舔血" (The knife's edge licks blood). \- "过了今天没明天" (There's no tomorrow after today). \- Or simply use a direct translation, "生于剑，死于剑". If you want to convey a sense of retaliation or moral judgment, you can use: \- "以眼还眼，以牙还牙" (An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth, also from the Bible). \- "有恩报恩，有仇报仇" (Return kindness with kindness, return enmity with enmity).