some help for a phrase

[Columbine]

Originally Posted by sakaeyellow

What do you think about "overcoming loserdom"? And what is "loserdom"?

I agree with Sashimister that we are talking about people who are already losers. But both 負け犬 and 脱却 are words that can be found in dictionary, I suggest using English words that also can be found in English dictionary.
.

"Loserdom" might not be in the dictionary, but it IS in common colloquial use, and I'd be highly, HIGHLY surprised if a native english reader couldn't infer the meaning from it even on a first encounter.

My dictionary gives 脱却 as 'ridding oneself from', so if you can conclude [からの脱却十ヶ条] as "The ten laws/ways to overcome/break away from", and the subject is a person who is already a loser, then to be honest, to me 'loserdom' fits best. 'loserness' isn't in common use and 'underdog status' seems too wordy. I think to get away from 'loser' you're going to have to define 'loser' which is far too broad a term to whittle down easily. I suppose as a compromise you could say "The ten ways to overcome being a loser" but it's not as snappy as 'loserdom'.

Put it down to aesthetics if you will, but I'd pick the colloquial word to fit with the quirky subject matter. I don't know where this is from, but it doesn't sound academic enough to warrant anything more long-winded.

[KyleGoetz]

"10 Ways to Escape Loserdom"

The ~dom suffix in English implies a location (kingdom, earldom, fiefdom, domestic, domain, domicile, dominion) or state of being (boredom, wisdom, etc.).

I like the poetry of escaping loserdom.

[sakaeyellow]

Originally Posted by KyleGoetz

"10 Ways to Escape Loserdom"

The ~dom suffix in English implies a location (kingdom, earldom, fiefdom, domestic, domain, domicile, dominion) or state of being (boredom, wisdom, etc.).

I like the poetry of escaping loserdom.

But I now, after reading the 10 rules, agree with Sashimister that "10 Laws in" may be better.

"10 Laws in" implies that you need to do all ten of them.

"10 Ways to" implies that any one way is okay.

And you are right. Dom is to be escaped, not overcome.

And how about: "10 things you need to do to stop being a loser" I come up with this one after reading the ten laws.

[Columbine]

Originally Posted by sakaeyellow

And how about: "10 things you need to do to stop being a loser" I come up with this one after reading the ten laws.

Yeah, that's ok. Doesn't have the same snap, but it pretty much covers the bases. Moot point really as I'm sure the OP has long gone.

[sakaeyellow]

Originally Posted by Columbine

Yeah, that's ok. Doesn't have the same snap, but it pretty much covers the bases. Moot point really as I'm sure the OP has long gone.

It doesn't matter. What matters is we can learn from each other by discussing. That's what the Internet is for.

[RickOShay]

Originally Posted by sakaeyellow

What do you think about "overcoming loserdom"? And what is "loserdom"?

I agree with Sashimister that we are talking about people who are already losers. But both 負け犬 and 脱却 are words that can be found in dictionary, I suggest using English words that also can be found in English dictionary.

And here are the 10 laws:
一、自分だけは自分の潜在能力を信じてあげろ。
一、自分の予測する、自分の限界という壁を越える経験 をしろ。
一、自分を正当化して「出来ない」というな。　（経済 的、時間的、人的等の要因を「出来ない」理由にするな ）
一、金よりも大切な目的を持て。　（金は手段であって 、目的ではないはずだ）
一、常識を身につけ、常識を疑え。　（常識は思考能力 のない人の道具である場合が多い）
一、信念を持て、そして信念に照らし合わせて行動しろ 。　（信念がないと目先の利益に捕らわれてしまう）
一、ずるい技法を学べ、しかし利用するな。　（技法を 知っていればだまされずにすむことが多い）
一、行動に迷ったときは、自分にとって苦しいと予測す るほうを選択しろ。
一、カッコ良く生きろ。　（但し、土下座することやボ ロを着ることもカッコ良い場合がある）
一、親を大切にしろ　（親とは今の自分が存在する要因 となった人のことをいう)

Frankly speaking, it seems to be more for normal people to become successful than for losers to become normal people.

I do not know if you are a native English speaker or not, but Sashimister's translation sounds perfectly natural to me, and stays most true to the Japanese. I really do not think college paper pretty English is necessary here. Do you? This sounds like something that you would find sitting in a bookstore with an interesting title that would make you want to pick up the book and take a look at it. Or maybe like a poster or something hanging in somebody's room.

[sakaeyellow]

Personally, I think “overcome loserdom” is not a good combination. “Escape loserdom” would be better and the meaning is closer to the original Japanese text. But of course, the choice of word in translation is very subjective. So what I say is just what I feel.
By the way, 負け犬 can also be used to refer to single women over the age of 30. So next time when we translate this term, we need to consider in context.

[Sashimister]

Originally Posted by sakaeyellow

By the way, 負け犬 can also be used to refer to single women over the age of 30. So next time when we translate this term, we need to consider in context.

And DO NOT PM me again!

[sakaeyellow]

I PM you just to apologize because it seems that I may have done something to make you angry. And I will not do it again as requested by you.

And I don't understand why you posted such a photo in response to my comment. Japanese people do use 負け犬から脱却 to refer to a woman over 30 getting married. One example is 医師との恋愛について.... - 質問・相談ならMSN相談箱. I just gave readers here some extra information and did NOT post for the sake of posting. If this also makes you angry, then I apologize again and sincerely ask you to ignore all my posts from now on.