Let It Be in Chinese
The Chinese word for let it be is 顺其自然 (shùn qí zì rán). A four-character idiom: go along with how things naturally are. In traditional characters it is written 順其自然.
shùn qí zì rán
Let It Be
What 顺其自然 means.
顺 is to go along with and 自然 is nature, things as they are of themselves. The idea comes from Taoism: do not force things, let them take their natural course.
- 顺
- to follow, go along
- 其
- its, it
- 自
- self
- 然
- so, thus
Simplified and traditional
顺其自然
順其自然
Both are correct and mean the same. Traditional 順其自然 keeps the older, fuller shape that calligraphy grew up with; simplified 顺其自然 is what most Chinese readers use today. Our seal and clerical styles write it in the traditional form.
About let it be in Chinese
How do you write let it be in Chinese?
Let It Be is 顺其自然 in Chinese, pronounced shùn qí zì rán. Let it be, let nature take its course 顺 means “to follow, go along”, 其 means “its, it”, 自 means “self”, 然 means “so, thus”.
How do you pronounce 顺其自然?
Say shùn (fourth tone, falling), qí (second tone, rising), zì (fourth tone, falling), rán (second tone, rising). Mandarin tones change meaning, so it is worth listening to a native speaker once.
Is 顺其自然 different in traditional Chinese?
Yes. The traditional form is 順其自然, used in Taiwan, Hong Kong and classical calligraphy; 顺其自然 is the simplified form used in mainland China and Singapore. Both are correct.
Is 顺其自然 a good Chinese tattoo?
Yes, it is a real, everyday Chinese word rather than a machine translation, so Chinese readers will understand it. Keep the characters in their order, top to bottom or left to right, and never mirrored. Choose a readable style such as Kaishu, bring a clean reference to your artist, and show it to a fluent reader before your appointment.