te/ta-form

[tanhql]

i've heard actors on japanese anima and drama saying 'yachatte' (or similar, can't hear clearly) instead of 'yatte', 'nachatta' instead of 'natta'. is this a colloquial term?

 

[undrentide]

i've heard actors on japanese anima and drama saying 'yachatte' (or similar, can't hear clearly) instead of 'yatte', 'nachatta' instead of 'natta'. is this a colloquial term?

chatta = colloquial form of te-shimau
e.g.
yacchatta = yatteshimatta
yacchatte = yatteshimatte
nacchatta = natteshimatta

-te shimau adds the meaning of completion, sometime with regret.

dorama ga owatta. = the drama (on TV) finished.
dorama ga owatte shimatta. = the drama finished (I wish it hasn't)
tabeta = I ate it.
tabete shimatta. = I've eaten it. (So it's gone, no longer here.)

 

[tanhql]

but i've seen it given as a command.

 

[Glenn]

Yes, that happens. What's your question?

 

[Elizabeth]

but i've seen it given as a command.

You mean like （もう）宿題を終えてしまって！ Get that homework done right now !
使ってしまって！ Use it all up ! やってしまって! Do it thoroughly !


Although I don't know if these translations are all completely natural or not to be honest. It's just something off the top of my head to flesh out your attempt somewhat.

 

[tanhql]

i've heard them say 'hayaku tabechatte' (mother to children)
so it means 'do ~ completely' when used this way?

 

[Glenn]

It has the same meaning as it does when it isn't a command, except that it's a command, much like 行く and 行って both basically mean "go."

 

[Elizabeth]

I heard 'shinde shimaimashita' for the first time the other day written by a pet owner that had had a cat die that die. Which made me curious whether it was ever used in reference to humans ? Very unfortunately, Baron chan (the cat) died today.

It isn't like the usage in this way is ever not redundant. That it would ever not be sad and regrettable...and of course he can never be completely dead or not.

 

[Glenn]

Heheh, from anime: でけえ気は二つ。もっとでけえ気は二つ。ちいせえ気は一つ。数は合わねえ。誰かが死んじまったか？

Granted it's been a while since I've seen that episode, so the quote may be a bit off. Also, it was aired sometime in the early nineties, but I doubt the language has changed that much in 15 years.