Phrases of badassery

[Skxawng]

This, is a khukri.



Its a nepalese weapon that is more or less the mixture of a handaxe, a machete, and a short sword, and is used in all three of those roles. I'm going to be giving my close friend one of these for his birthday/christmas (his bday is December 20th) so that he'll have it on the Appalachian trail this summer, and while ordering it, I apparently get to have something inscribed onto the blade. It'll look something like this, only without the portraits.

Being that he also likes Avatar a bunch (but not enough to learn Na'vi   ) I figured I'd engrave some Na'vi on the side, and as such I've been trying to think of/find some badass phrases to translate. Unfortunately most phrases are hard to translate thanks to a lack of words so I'd like some help/input. The focus is having something that IS awesome, and that Sounds awesome when spoken.  

Here's what i've come up with so far:

Ne cede malis
YIELD NOT TO EVIL
Kawngur tìngke tseng

NEVER FEAR
Kawkrr txopu sivi

WITHOUT HONOR, I AM NOTHING
luke meuia, oe ke'u lu

PAIN IS TEMPORARY, GLORY IS ETERNAL
Tìsraw lu leswaw, lu txana meuia tì'i'avay
Tìsraw lu hìkrr, meuia lu frakrr

STRENGTH THROUGH PASSION, HARMONY THROUGH HONOR
Tìtxur ftxavangfa, meoauniaea fa meuia

THROUGH PASSION AND HONOR, I GAIN STRENGTH
ìlä ftxavangfa sì meuia, tel tìtxurit oeru


MIND LIKE WATER, BODY AS STONE
Ronsem na pay, tokx na tskxe

BETTER TO DIE ON YOUR FEET THAN LIVE ON YOUR KNEES
lenulnew sìn tiverkup mevenu tup rivey sìn ngeyä mehinamtil
lu lenulnew tiverkup kerllkxem tup rivey sìn ngeyä mehinamtil



Suggestions for other phrases, alternate translations both welcome. I'd also like input on what you think is most badass and sounds coolest

[Swoka Swizaw]

I like "mind like water, body like stone."

I think I might get one of these myself.

[Ftiafpi]

Txopuri tspangyu ronsemä lu
Fear is the mind killer.

[`Eylan Ayfalulukanä]

This is a worthy challenge! (and I might eventually get one of these as well. Looks very practical.)(I like broadswords a lot, too.)

Fpom fa tìtxur -Thanks, Kì`eyawn for the correction. Originally Fpom kxamlä tìtxur
Peace through strength

mefì`u fpi samsiyu (lu) tstal sì txe`lan
A warrior has both blade and heart

Tsamsiyut a txanslusam serar tstalit mì fpìlfya a txanslusam
Wise warriour uses his blade in a wise way

[Kì'eyawn]

This is a worthy challenge! (and I might eventually get one of these as well. Looks very practical.)(I like broadswords a lot, too.)

Fpom kxamlä tìtxur
Peace through strength

This is an over-literal reading of the English.  What you've got here basically means "Peace going right through the middle of strength."  What you want is more "Peace by way of strength," which would use fa.

[Topec]

Skxawng, this is a little off topic but.... I love your icon. Hot Chip forever <3

[Nìwotxkrr Tìyawn]

I'd go with the "kawkrr txopu sivi", it's to the point, simple, and some people who don't know Na'vi might even recognize kawkrr from the movie.

I'd say not to go with "luke meuia, oe ke'u lu" though, anyone who doesn't know Na'vi and sees it is just gonna go "who's luke?".

[wm.annis]

I'd go with the "kawkrr txopu sivi", it's to the point, simple, and some people who don't know Na'vi might even recognize kawkrr from the movie.

Erm.  A negative adverb requires that one also negate the verb.  I'd guess kawkrr txopu rä'ä si for a command, kawkrr txopu ke sivi for a wish.

['Oma Tirea]

I'd go with the "kawkrr txopu sivi", it's to the point, simple, and some people who don't know Na'vi might even recognize kawkrr from the movie.

Erm.  A negative adverb requires that one also negate the verb.  I'd guess kawkrr txopu rä'ä si for a command, kawkrr txopu ke sivi for a wish.

What about kawkrr txopu rä'ä sivi for something in the moment but not so commanding?

[wm.annis]

What about kawkrr txopu rä'ä sivi for something in the moment but not so commanding?

We already have rä'ä being used with both plain and infixed imperatives (see the Corpus).

[Nìwotxkrr Tìyawn]

I'd go with the "kawkrr txopu sivi", it's to the point, simple, and some people who don't know Na'vi might even recognize kawkrr from the movie.

Erm.  A negative adverb requires that one also negate the verb.  I'd guess kawkrr txopu rä'ä si for a command, kawkrr txopu ke sivi for a wish.

Ya your right thanks for that, I didn't stop to think if it was right or wrong I was just going off what he had listed.

[kxamtxon nantang]

How do you say...
It is not you worst fear that has power over you but the fear itself.

I will never submit to the true death!

[Seze Mune]

I like the chi gong saying, "Strong as a mountain, supple as water"....but I don't think we have 'supple as' yet, do we?

[kxamtxon nantang]

we have no word for supple, but I suppose we can substitute supple for soft(hewne). And for  supple(soft) as it would be na-hewne or pxel-hewne.

[Ftiafpi]

Tse, ma skxawng, what's happening with this?

[kxamtxon nantang]

What do you mean

[Ftiafpi]

What do you mean

I'm wondering what was the final phrase he got engraved into the knife.

[Skxawng]

I've been waiting for it to arrive so I can photograph it but since its being shipped from nepal it is taking forever :/