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. German to English

Sentence

English translation: beauty doesn't come easy

GLOSSARY ENTRY (DERIVED FROM QUESTION BELOW)
German term or phrase:Wer schön sein will, muß leiden
English translation:beauty doesn't come easy
Entered by: Norbert Hermann

21:40 Jan 5, 2003
German to English translations [Non-PRO]
German term or phrase: Sentence
"Wer schön will, muß leiden". It's one of those hackneyed phrases that fashion magazines like to tack on to the end of articles, but at this late hour, my brain is unable to come up with an English equivalent that doesn't sound stilted. Can anyone help, please?? Thanks.
Roddy Tannahill
United Kingdom
Local time: 07:41
beauty doesn't come easy
Explanation:
would fit as well
Selected response from:

Norbert Hermann
Local time: 07:41
Grading comment
Thanks :) Just what I needed.
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
4 +3No gain without pain
Nicole Tata
5 +1Il faut souffrir pour être belle
Chris Rowson (X)
3 +2beauty has to suffer
Klaus Dorn (X)
4 +1beauty has its price
gangels (X)
4beauty doesn't come easy
Norbert Hermann


  

Answers


4 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5 peer agreement (net): +2
beauty has to suffer


Explanation:
is I think the English equivalent...

Klaus Dorn (X)
Local time: 09:41
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish, Native in GermanGerman
PRO pts in pair: 1514

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Ellen Zittinger
6 hrs
agree  sylvie malich (X): "One must suffer to be beautiful" The saying started around the time of corsets and the perfect 18 inch waist, my mother said it with spike heels. I don't agree with the asker's choice.
23 hrs
  -> Thanks, neither did I...
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

6 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +3
No gain without pain


Explanation:
There is no pleasure without pain.

is what springs to mind.

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 2003-01-05 21:47:37 (GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

One must suffer for beauty\'s sake - I\'ve also heard this one (although not very often)

Nicole Tata
United Kingdom
Local time: 07:41
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish, Native in GermanGerman
PRO pts in pair: 1326

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  William Stein: no pain, no gain
5 mins
agree  Ellen Zittinger: this would be a similar idiom but not quite address the literal meaning of the issue within it's given context
6 hrs
agree  Mastertran: As William said: no pain, no gain
9 hrs
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

8 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
beauty doesn't come easy


Explanation:
would fit as well

Norbert Hermann
Local time: 07:41
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish, Native in GermanGerman
PRO pts in pair: 1977
Grading comment
Thanks :) Just what I needed.

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
disagree  Ellen Zittinger: this is not idiomatic and does not reflect the true meaning of this saying
6 hrs
  -> It doesn't come easy, i. e. it's difficult (even painful) to achieve [if it is not there in the first place ;-] - What would be your suggestion?
agree  Egmont
1 day 41 mins
  -> thanks Albertov
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

11 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +1
beauty has its price


Explanation:
or " beauty don't come cheap" (yes, 'don't', not doesn't' in this case, because it is meant to mimick slang))

gangels (X)
Local time: 00:41
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish, Native in GermanGerman
PRO pts in pair: 5559

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Ellen Zittinger: not a idiomatic reflection of the original meaning
6 hrs
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

8 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 5/5 peer agreement (net): +1
Il faut souffrir pour être belle


Explanation:
is what my friends and I say in London. :-)

Chris Rowson (X)
Local time: 08:41
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in pair: 768

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  TonyTK: or the equally elegant Manchester version: "Therin't nowt easy bout bein a looker, kiddo"
5 hrs
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