Hello!
1. The writer has been explaining how he thinks the Japanese are obsessed by rules and regulations, and how he's always hearing the phrase 「きまりですから」. Then he says:
これを言われてしまうと、こちらにはもう反論の余地はない。
a) What does こちら refer to?
b) What sense does もう add?
2. The writer is talking about the hiring practices of Japanese companies:
卒業後すぐに職につかなかった人や、大学院でちょっと 長めに学生生活を楽しんでしまった人には、日本の会社 は冷酷だ。「きまり」から外れたところに優秀な人材は いないと確信しているようである。
My translation: "Japanese companies are unsympathetic towards those who are still out of work a short time after graduation, or those who enjoy student life a little longer at graduate school. They seem not to believe (realise?) that talented individuals miss out due to these 'rules'."
Is this OK?
3. The writer has been talking about the inflexible rules applying to heating and air conditioning at his local library. He says that the air conditioning is sometimes switched on on chilly days, and the people at the library put blankets on their laps to keep warm. Then:
ま、そこまで「きまり」を守らなくてもいいのにとあき れながらも、この「きまり」に対する厳格さには感動を 覚えた。
Though I can understand some chunks of this, I'm really struggling to make any overall sense of it. Help!
4. The writer is explaining the Thai expression "Mai pen rai".
「気にするな、ま、いいじゃないか」という意味で、ど んなに常識的で正当な理由もこの言葉にはかなわない。
My translation: "(The expression) means 'Don't worry, it's fine, isn't it?', and no words can prevail against it, no matter how sensible and justifiable the reason."
Is this OK? (The English is slightly klunky, but as usual I'm not bothered, provided the essence of the meaning is correct.)
5. しかし、これがタイの悪いところだとも言い切れない。
My translation: "However, one certainly cannot assert that this is one of Thailand's bad points."
Is this OK? Especially:
a) Is it appropriate to translate ところ as something like "point" or "aspect" here?
b) I guessed that も is just adding emphasis ("certainly"). Is that right?
c) 言い切れない is the negative potential form, right?
d) Who is the subject of 言い切れない? Is it "one" (i.e. an unnamed person), as I translated it? Or maybe it's the author?
1. The writer has been explaining how he thinks the Japanese are obsessed by rules and regulations, and how he's always hearing the phrase 「きまりですから」. Then he says:
これを言われてしまうと、こちらにはもう反論の余地はない。
a) What does こちら refer to?
b) What sense does もう add?
2. The writer is talking about the hiring practices of Japanese companies:
卒業後すぐに職につかなかった人や、大学院でちょっと 長めに学生生活を楽しんでしまった人には、日本の会社 は冷酷だ。「きまり」から外れたところに優秀な人材は いないと確信しているようである。
My translation: "Japanese companies are unsympathetic towards those who are still out of work a short time after graduation, or those who enjoy student life a little longer at graduate school. They seem not to believe (realise?) that talented individuals miss out due to these 'rules'."
Is this OK?
3. The writer has been talking about the inflexible rules applying to heating and air conditioning at his local library. He says that the air conditioning is sometimes switched on on chilly days, and the people at the library put blankets on their laps to keep warm. Then:
ま、そこまで「きまり」を守らなくてもいいのにとあき れながらも、この「きまり」に対する厳格さには感動を 覚えた。
Though I can understand some chunks of this, I'm really struggling to make any overall sense of it. Help!
4. The writer is explaining the Thai expression "Mai pen rai".
「気にするな、ま、いいじゃないか」という意味で、ど んなに常識的で正当な理由もこの言葉にはかなわない。
My translation: "(The expression) means 'Don't worry, it's fine, isn't it?', and no words can prevail against it, no matter how sensible and justifiable the reason."
Is this OK? (The English is slightly klunky, but as usual I'm not bothered, provided the essence of the meaning is correct.)
5. しかし、これがタイの悪いところだとも言い切れない。
My translation: "However, one certainly cannot assert that this is one of Thailand's bad points."
Is this OK? Especially:
a) Is it appropriate to translate ところ as something like "point" or "aspect" here?
b) I guessed that も is just adding emphasis ("certainly"). Is that right?
c) 言い切れない is the negative potential form, right?
d) Who is the subject of 言い切れない? Is it "one" (i.e. an unnamed person), as I translated it? Or maybe it's the author?
