I dun sbeek engalishe

[pez]

So, is there a way to say 請自重 in English that's just as tidy and short and formal and old-fashioned?

Random: way to go, boss, for forwarding me the traffic figures AFTER I've done the pavement design making the assumption you told me to assume on traffic. ¬¬

Comments

[eames.livejournal.com]

I don't know what it actually means (translators offer self-possessed) but if that is a correct assumption then maybe 'poised'?

[yuki-scorpio.livejournal.com]

Oh, it doesn't mean that, though I can see why translators would come up with that. It's something one person would say to another in special situations, when that person is doing something they shouldn't be doing.

For example, if a woman tries to, for whatever reason, undress herself in front of other people. Or a man of important status goes on his knees in front of another man to beg for help. Then the person witnessing this/on the receiving end would say the phrase in a well-meaning way and to express his shock. The words literally mean "please respect yourself", but in the second case it would mean something along the lines of "I can't accept this" or "I'm unworthy"..... and also "what are you doing!?", something like that. Though none of it really fit perfectly to what I want it to mean. >>

[impressioniste.livejournal.com]

What's the context in which you're actually using it? :x

[semishade (from livejournal.com)]

In those circumstances, I'd probably tell someone to show some self respect!

[impressioniste.livejournal.com]

Something I was thinking of was this, but I'm not sure if it fits:

remember oneself

recover one's good manners after a lapse or stop behaving badly

Example: "Please remember yourself, Charles!"

It doesn't have to be bad behavior, it can be a lapse in usual behavior/judgment. I'm not sure it's EXACTLY what you want, but it's closer than most of the other things I can think of.

Similar to 'mind yourself' but less of a 'watch out / be careful / behave' impression.

(Plus it sounds slightly more formal than some alternatives.)

[yuki-scorpio.livejournal.com]

That sounds close, actually. What's happening is that there are two people discussing something in a castle, one is the lord of the castle and the other a woman of no special status but has a common friend with the lord. They haven't really talked to each other before. They're talking and talking and talking and all of a sudden she stands up and says, "I'll get straight to the point. Look at this." and starts to undress herself. So the lord goes GASP SHOCK WHAT? and looks away. >>

(Oh and so far the lord is under the impression that their common friend and this woman are dating.)

[impressioniste.livejournal.com]

Something like, "Compose yourself," might work, too.

Oh, languages.

[dori-san.livejournal.com]

If you ask me my opinion, I'd use the expression "collect yourself" in a dialogue while saving the word "compose" for the actual description of the action following that line being spoken.

But then again... me no speaka englesa either. XD