質問: In Limp Biskit’s “Take a Look Around” they use this phrase I find pretty cool. “Life is a lesson, you learn it when you are through”. So basically the lesson never ends, until you die. I’ve been meaning to come with a good translation, a brief formal one preferably. These are some options I think might be acceptable but not sure. What do you think? Which of these are correct? Which or what would be a good way? What would be more formal / polite options? 1) 人生は教訓。終わったら学ぶ。 2) 人生は教訓。終わりに学ぶ。 3) 人生は教訓。あなたはそれは終わったら学ぶ。 4) 人生は教訓。それは終わるまで学べない。 5) 人生は教訓。それは終わるまで学べられない。 6) 人生は教訓です。それは終わるまで学べないもの 7) 人生は人生終わった時まで学べない教訓です 8) 人生は終わった時まで学べない教訓です
回答: The literal translation is "人生はレッスン, 終わった時にそれを学ぶ". It is difficult to translate "Lesson" in "Life is a lesson" into an appropriate Japanese word. I think 教訓 is not appropriate for the phrase. There are many more natural ways of saying the phrase and I think 人生死ぬまで勉強 is best and the most common way of saying it.