I have checked multiple dictionary entries and their examples regarding this sound extremely unnatural. How would you say "I would do myself a disservice, if _____________" in German?
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Can you please provide an example sentence and state what exactly you're trying to convey?– infinitezeroCommented May 30, 2023 at 17:02
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Yes. Let's suppose that I want to buy a bag. How do I say, I would do myself a disservice if I did not buy that bag?– heheCommented May 30, 2023 at 17:05
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In my dictionary it says " to do oneself/sb a disservice: sich / jdm einen schlechten Dienst erweisen". I think this sounds unnatural– heheCommented May 30, 2023 at 17:06
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4@hehe "sich/jdm einen schlechten Dienst erweisen" doesn't sound unnatural at all.– OlafantCommented May 30, 2023 at 19:33
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Ok then I will use that one.– heheCommented May 30, 2023 at 20:00
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2 Answers
You can say
Ich würde mir selbst keinen Gefallen (damit) tun, wenn ...
Literally meaning
I wouldn't do my myself a favor, if ...
answered May 30, 2023 at 17:00
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One could add that while this is an excellent translation for most cases, it doesn't fit the context of not buying a bag very well, because one would hardly use "to do oneself a favor" (sich einen Gefallen tun) with not buying something.– HalvarFCommented May 31, 2023 at 6:50
The two suggestions "Ich würde mir einen schlechten Dienst erweisen, wenn ..." and "Ich würde mir keinen Gefallen (damit) tun, wenn ..." do the job, but I doubt that one would use them in the context of buying a bag. In my opinion one should say something like
Ich müsste dumm sein, wenn ...
Ich würde mir selbst schaden, wenn ...
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I think the second one is closer to the original tone. I'd render the first as "I'd be stupid if I (didn't buy that bag)." Which is certainly something someone might say, but using "disservice" is more formal sounding.– RDBuryCommented May 31, 2023 at 21:20