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Glossary entry

German term or phrase:

in sich ruhen

English translation:

imperturbable, unperturbed.

Added to glossary by Ramey Rieger (X)
Feb 15, 2016 15:42
8 yrs ago
14 viewers *
German term

in sich ruhen

German to English Art/Literary Idioms / Maxims / Sayings
Dear Colleagues,

I am working on a soon to be published photography/poetry/narrative volume and, for confidentiality reasons cannot give the entire context. This term has always nudged me towards asking what you may think. However, I am also looking for various translations of the idiom above as it comes up repeatedly in the text, always referring to one man who ist in sich ruhend/ruht in sich. Furthermore, I was surprised NOT to find this in the KOG and would like as many alternatives as possible to make it into the glossary. As I can only choose one person for points, I ask you all to please consider this question one for posterity.
What I have so far is: he was fully centered/completely composed, altogether serene...

Thank you!
Proposed translations (English)
3 imperturbable, unperturbed.
3 +1 quietly confident; at peace with oneself
3 +1 totally self-contained/ placid/ collected/ quiet
3 equanimous
3 with a deep inner peace; self-accepting
3 unfazed, even-tempered, easy-going
3 contemplative
3 completely self-composed
Change log

Feb 15, 2016 15:45: Steffen Walter changed "Field (write-in)" from "The future of procurement" to "(none)"

Discussion

Danik 2014 Feb 16, 2016:
That´s ok, Ramey I think in this particular case all options were valid!
Ramey Rieger (X) (asker) Feb 16, 2016:
READ ME! That was actually a mistake on my part. I wanted to put ALL suggestions in the kudoz open glossary, and actually give the points to Danik - NOT because I think Edwin's answer is weniger valid, but simply because Danik was here first (which does NOT detract from her suggestion!!) There's no possible way to exit gracefully from this dilemma, so I'll just thank you all most kindly for your excellent and enlightening suggestions, ALL of which will find their way into my current project. Muito obrigada!
gangels (X) Feb 15, 2016:
Now in your example it would be ...totally focused and self-absorbed.
Lonnie Legg Feb 15, 2016:
'being at one...(@ Ramey) ...with oneself' by itself, I might go with. But not "...and the world", because an "Insichruhender" can very well be quite oblivious to the world.
Ramey Rieger (X) (asker) Feb 15, 2016:
He was.... of a piece, all there? Nah! too colloquial
Ramey Rieger (X) (asker) Feb 15, 2016:
Hey Brigitte! I also like 'being at one with oneself (and the world)'. My aim is to get this in the KOG. Equable, balanced, centered all make sense to me, as I am familiar with the condition ;-). But what if you want to relatte an image that many people have not experienced? Hence...
BrigitteHilgner Feb 15, 2016:
Have a look at the following discussions: http://dict.leo.org/ende/index_de.html#/search=in sich ruhen...
My spontaneous idea: to be at one with oneself (the world wide web does not like this translation but I see that Edwin Miles makes a similiar suggestion)
Langenscheidts Handwörterbuch offers:
ein in sich ruhender Mensch = an equable person
Pons Collins Großwörterbuch doesn't want to know
Ramey Rieger (X) (asker) Feb 15, 2016:
Serene has been my ultimate choice thus far, but I also feel that it loses its power when used too often. Other options I have (over) used are tranquil, placid, quietude. Ergo, this question....
Edwin Miles Feb 15, 2016:
And now that I think of it: "at one with himself and the world" might also do the job.
Ramey Rieger (X) (asker) Feb 15, 2016:
Of course... ...you weren't. And yes, that is also quite true.
Armorel Young Feb 15, 2016:
I wasn't suggesting ... ... that you should be wordy for the sake of it, but simply saying that sometimes you need more than one word to convey the full flavour of the German.
Ramey Rieger (X) (asker) Feb 15, 2016:
Greetings Armorel No there's not, but I like to keep things as concise as possible. It's one of my trademarks. Unless the text iself is flowery, which is one isn't, I'm hesitant to add to it.
Armorel Young Feb 15, 2016:
Of course ... ... there is nothing to stop you using a combination of terms, such as "calm and self-possessed", or even "serene and self-possessed" if you want to be more flowery.
Ramey Rieger (X) (asker) Feb 15, 2016:
The tone of the narrative is narrative (duh). The author is sharing an experience that touched her deeply, but it is not a single event, it is person. The idiom can be used in many contexts, but it's major atmosphere is one of composure, serenity, peacefulness, connectedness...
Ramey Rieger (X) (asker) Feb 15, 2016:
Hi Danik! It's not much help, as the sentences are often fragmented:
wie gesagt - herr xxx ruht in sich
man konnte herrn xxx bei der arbeit zusehen. tief konzentriert
und in sich ruhend.
Danik 2014 Feb 15, 2016:
At least the complete sentence, please!

Proposed translations

1 hr
Selected

imperturbable, unperturbed.

Another option. I also like the expression "at peace with himself and the world," although that may be at odds with your trademark concision :-)
Note from asker:
Not at all, Edwin, it's a single image. Thank you for the excellent suggestions!
Something went wrong...
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer.
+1
23 mins

quietly confident; at peace with oneself

... might fit as well. But I also like serene (or calm and serene) as you already suggested.
Note from asker:
Lovely Melanie! Thank you!
Peer comment(s):
agree franglish : I like serene best.
54 mins
Thank you, franglish! :-)
Something went wrong...
+1
20 mins

totally self-contained/ placid/ collected/ quiet

Just to begin with :-)

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 23 mins (2016-02-15 16:05:40 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

He was totally at peace with himself. Nothing could disturb him.

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 26 mins (2016-02-15 16:08:58 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

People saw him going about his work, always so self-possesed and quiet.
Note from asker:
Wonderful! Thank you!
Thanks Danik!
Peer comment(s):
agree franglish : Self-contained does it for me. Somehow I missed it when posting this very option. Sorry!
1 hr
Thanks, franglish!Never mind!
Something went wrong...
50 mins

completely self-composed

Seems to be a good fit in most instances..

https://books.google.com/books?id=2Wie2FidTDYC&pg=PT447&lpg=...
Note from asker:
Thanks Michael! What happened to your hair?
Something went wrong...
58 mins

contemplative

It is not exactly right, but may convey the right sort of meaning in some of the variations like the one you mentioned.
Reference:

http://www.contemplativeoutreach.org/category/category/centering-prayer

Note from asker:
Thank you Kristina, precisely!
Something went wrong...
5 hrs

unfazed, even-tempered, easy-going

though I tend more towards equable myself!
Note from asker:
All valid, Wendy, thanks!
Something went wrong...
6 hrs

equanimous

may come closest. The others are not wrong, just depends what brought on his being in sich ruhend.

To wit: 'At peace with oneself' is suggestive of having seen the error of one's ways, 'unfazed' is being resolute in the face of adversity, 'serene' waxes poetic (His serene Highness is the official title of the Monaco ruler, I believe), self-contained is being independent of outside influences, etc etc
Note from asker:
Yes, Gangels, you're right on all counts, and every suggestion counts. Thank you!
Something went wrong...
18 hrs

with a deep inner peace; self-accepting

I also like 'at peace with oneself', 'serene', 'self-composed'.
Note from asker:
Thank you Clive, something we all (should) wish to attain!
Something went wrong...
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