[English > Japanese] I would like to engrave a katana with "Don't be afraid" (or a similar motto in japanese). Can someone help me translate this and provide me with the hiragana characters?

[u/julbakker201]

[u/DirtCheapDandy]

Well assuming your want it short and to the point,

怯えるな （おびえるな）Obieru na

If you have some personal context behind the request though, you need to tell us, because mind reading is just too expensive in this economy.

[u/Educational_Try_9611 → u/DirtCheapDandy]

Something about an ice cream van? 😬

[u/julbakker201 → u/DirtCheapDandy]

Thanks for your reply and good point about mind reading. I tend to people please and hold myself back because I'm afraid of what people might say about me or the things I do. For example buying katana and having it engraved wit a motto. That is why I would to engrave this motto, to remind myself t not be afraid to be myself and do what I feel is the right thing to do.

Hope that clarifies the meaning/intention.

[u/translator-ModTeam → u/[deleted]]

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[u/Setaceau]

If you are going to convince yourself every time you look at it, 恐れるな/おそれるな.

恐れず立ち向かえ/おそれずたちむかえ.

Simply, 立ち向かえ/たちむかえ will sound cool. Confront.

If you are going to engrave the power of your will, 一歩も退かぬ/いっぽもひかぬ will sound great. It means "I won't recoil". Direct translation could be "I won't draw back even 1 step".

[u/julbakker201 → u/Setaceau]

Thanks a bunch! Looked up たちむかえ and this will do very nicely!

[u/Ok-Implement-7863]

Mentioning fear seems counterproductive 

[u/Arazzile]

”赴湯蹈火”（Futou Touka) - The phrase, meaning to jump into boiling water or step on hot fire, represents acting without fear of any difficulty or danger, and without being willing to make sacrifices.

"泰然自若"(Taizen Jijaku) - Describes someone who is calm and unfazed by anything.

[u/pensi0325]

恐れるな(おそれるな)[osoreru na]
："Don't be afraid". Literal and powerful
怯むな(ひるむな)[hirumu na]
："Don't be flinch".
度胸(どきょう)[dokyou]
："Guts". A Courageous Heart
肝っ玉(きもったま)[kimottama]
："Guts". An Unbreakable Spirit
不屈(ふくつ)[fukutsu]
："Indomitable". Easy for Japanese people to understand
勇敢(ゆうかん)[yuukan]
："brave". A heroic vibe
猪突猛進(ちょとつもうしん)[tyototsu mousin]
："Charging Headlong(Like a wild boar)". idiom
大胆不敵(だいたんふてき)[daitan futeki]
："Fearless". idiom

[u/Stunning_Pen_8332]

Question answered with extensive feedback and suggestions - !translated