Need a word or phrase translated?

[Elizabeth]

I was at a izakaya w/ my friend's little boy, and he was sick, and said in Japanese, my cough came up... お咳。。。 I don't know what the appropriate words for 'came up' would be... it was cute, and polite.

Hai, yoku meshita tsukai sou na kotoba deshou. (Social subordinates use, are forced into using "oseki" and other non-obligatory politeness more than other groups, in my experience). Soshite "Otearai/otoire wa doko?" de ii to omoimasu.

 

[KrazyKat]

Thanks, undrentide.

 

[yukio_michael]

Does anyone know what the translation of the word 今日ゎ would be? It's kyou + a small wa, which I can only produce from an IME. I've seen it on various Japanese blogs and personal websites... I can't find it any any dictionary in kanji or in roumaji. Thanks.

edit: I'm pretty sure now that this may be just a way to set off the subject in a informal, net-style, as I've seen これゎ now as well.

ps. Thanks Elizabeth.

 

[Glenn]

They're just rendering the topic marker は phonetically (and smaller, too).

 

[Fehrant]

すみません、ちょっと質問ある。このぶんしょうは「今は本を読みます。それから、ねるつもりです」えい語で「Reading a book right now. After that, I plan on sleeping」当てるですか?

---

Hahaha, sorry. I got a very neat program that finally allows me to use hiragana, katakana and kanji, and I got a little carried away despite having but beginner level. I could've used more kanji too, like 寝 for ねる and 積もり for つもり, and that would've surely made the sentence easier to understand, but those kanji I'm not familiar with, and people would've gotten the wrong idea that I understand lots of kanji, and I would end up with an answer that I would barely be able to read, let alone understand.

In case my japanese was terrible, and people are already freaking out, all I wanted to ask was if the first quoted sentence was equivalent, or similar to the second quoted sentence.

I also have another inquiry. I think I'm beginning to grasp why using kanji makes reading easier. This might be obvious to many people, but I'd like confirmation. Does using kanji make a sentence easier to read because all characters are next to each other and the kanji marks the beginning of a word?

ありがとうございます。

 

[Elizabeth]

すみません、ちょっと質問ある。このぶんしょうは「今は本を読みます。それから、ねるつもりです」えい語で「Reading a book right now. After that, I plan on sleeping」当てるですか?

「今、読んでいます。(その)後、寝ます。」をReading a book right now. After that, I will go to bed (get some sleep)」に当てるんですよね。

 

[KrazyKat]

Hahaha, sorry. I got a very neat program that finally allows me to use hiragana, katakana and kanji, and I got a little carried away despite having but beginner level.

No its good to write in Japanese. If you don't try you can't succeed. Of course you can't fail either, but if you don't try then you have already failed.

I could've used more kanji too, like 寝 for ねる and 積もり for つもり, and that would've surely made the sentence easier to understand, but those kanji I'm not familiar with, and people would've gotten the wrong idea that I understand lots of kanji, and I would end up with an answer that I would barely be able to read, let alone understand.

The rule is not to write Kanji you don't recognise. (although even then its possible to use the wrong one) If you had used 積もり I would have thought it strange since I've only seen it written in kana in that situation。 The same goes for other words like sugoi, kirei konnichiha etc. (寝る is right) I would also go for 英語 not えい語, its not common to write half and half like that and makes it a bit harder to read.

Does using kanji make a sentence easier to read because all characters are next to each other and the kanji marks the beginning of a word?

Yes, but not only that. Another good point is that enable you to instantly distinguish between (the many) words with the same sound and different meanings.
貴社の記者は汽車で帰社した。
きしゃのきしゃはきしゃできしゃした。
Which is easier to read? If you only had the second one nobody would have had clue what you were talking about. Even if you gave spaces.
裏庭には二羽、庭には二羽鶏がいる。
うらにわにはにわ、にわにはにわにわとりがいる。

 

[Elizabeth]

edit: I'm pretty sure now that this may be just a way to set off the subject in a informal, net-style, as I've seen これゎ now as well.
ps. Thanks Elizabeth.

特に若い娘でよく[ゎ]など使う人がいると思います。

 

[Elizabeth]

No its good to write in Japanese. If you don't try you can't succeed. Of course you can't fail either, but if you don't try then you have already failed.

そうですね. 恥ずかしがっていると上達しないよ。(Anyone too embarrassed or shy will never improve. Unfortunately including myself until the last few weeks and months. Now that I am speaking freely, I'm less bothered by all my mistakes but can cost a lot of time in lost practice and potential unfortunately in the meantime.) 頑張れよ

 

[yukio_michael]

特に若い娘でよく[ゎ]など使う人がいると思います。

そうそう。ほんとでしょう。 ：）

 

[epigene]

edit: I'm pretty sure now that this may be just a way to set off the subject in a informal, net-style, as I've seen これゎ now as well.

For your information (although there is no specific mention of the small "wa"):
Leet - Wikipedia
If you want 2ch-speak:
http://www.media-k.co.jp/jiten/

@Elizabeth:
「若い娘」なんて、おばあちゃんが使う表現ですよ！

 

[Fehrant]

ありがとう、Elizabethさん、キャットさん。

I would also go for 英語 not えい語, its not common to write half and half like that and makes it a bit harder to read.

I know. But as tempting as using kanji with an application that looks it up for you as you type the hiragana might be, it makes me feel a bit guilty. I'd much rather type like a newbie and be treated like a beginner right now than being thought as more than that.

 

[Glenn]

Don't worry, the Japanese do it sometimes too. I've seen in a news article はく奪 instead of 剥奪 and I saw a lot of 骨粗しょう症 instead of 骨粗鬆症 (in fact my friend was amazed that I knew the third kanji, or that there even was one). I find it harder to read no matter who does it, but I just wanted to let you know you aren't completely alone in doing that.

「若い娘」なんて、おばあちゃんが使う表現ですよ！

で、内心は娘ではないでしょうか。

 

[epigene]

Don't worry, the Japanese do it sometimes too. I've seen in a news article はく奪 instead of 剥奪 and I saw a lot of 骨粗しょう症 instead of 骨粗鬆症 (in fact my friend was amazed that I knew the third kanji, or that there even was one). I find it harder to read no matter who does it, but I just wanted to let you know you aren't completely alone in doing that. :

FYI, it is established rule in the Japanese mass media to rigidly restrict kanji usage to Joyo, if I remember correctly. That's the reason why there are articles with words that appear to strangely mix kanji and hiragana. See here:
http://f27.aaa.livedoor.jp/~aifuru/kango01.htm
Since I'm already used to this arrangement (as it is so with most other Japanese), it becomes increasingly difficult to recall them correctly.

で、内心は娘ではないでしょうか。 :emoji_grinning::emoji_stuck_out_tongue_winking_eye:

って、どういう意味？ :emoji_thinking:

 

[Glenn]

Heh, I was afraid that wouldn't quite work. Anyway, I was trying to say something about older women being young at heart.

By the way, about the restrictions on newspapers, that's one of the reasons I find the Joyo list to be evil. But hey, that's just one person's opinion.

 

[Glenn]

After reading through that article a little, it seems that it isn't only my opinion (well, I guess they don't go quite so far as to say it's evil). Interesting stuff. I'll have to look over it more when I have more time to devote to it.

 

[emperor]

Konnichiwa minasan, could you guys help me translate these english into japanese:

I live at upstream(origin) of river, you live at downstream of river.
I miss you and could not see you, though we are drinking same river water.
When this river stop flowing, when I stop thinking of you.

Thanks, arigatou gozaimasu....

 

[Elizabeth]

FYI, it is established rule in the Japanese mass media to rigidly restrict kanji usage to Joyo, if I remember correctly. That's the reason why there are articles with words that appear to strangely mix kanji and hiragana. See here:
http://f27.aaa.livedoor.jp/~aifuru/kango01.htm
Since I'm already used to this arrangement (as it is so with most other Japanese), it becomes increasingly difficult to recall them correctly.
って、どういう意味？ :clueless:

「私は気が若い、気持ちが若い」は実際の年よりも、まだ若いと思っているようなイメージを
相手に与えるような感じがしますね。年のわりに若く見えてないかもしれないけど。。。
私が何歳だって事に何の問題があるんですか？。。。
今、自分で愚痴っているだけ。。。

 

[Elizabeth]

@Elizabeth:
「若い娘」なんて、おばあちゃんが使う表現ですよ

ああ、そうですか？おばあちゃんの影響では、若い女性の間でもそれが流行ってきているかな。
元メンバーPoxさんから自分の妹についてのそういう話があったのを思い出しただけです。
ますます、役に立たない記憶力なんてあるよ。

 

[Jayern]

how do you say, "Thanks for the memories"

 

[Elizabeth]

how do you say, "Thanks for the memories"

Without knowing anymore, a literal translation would be :
(たくさんの、素敵な)思い出をありがとうございました。
Omoide wo arigatou gozaimashita.

For anyone into bizarre and baffling misadventure stories here is your kind of a question from yesterday's paper. About this phrase in particular
救急車を止めようとしましたがはねられ. As 田中孝也さん was attempting to stop the ambulence he would have been standing in its path, hit directly and
thrown to the ground on impact (?) Without a description of his precise movements, any English translation sounds quite peculiar and understated
in phrasing and tone. Although I suppose the mere fact that the two men were drinking must alone be familar enough to the Japanese reader to provide a satisfactory explanation.... ☺

さて、上の文型や文章の書き方は何もおかしいところはないのでしょうか。

救急車乗り回す 男性はね死亡
２９日午後４時１５分ごろ、静岡県由比町の建設会社の駐車場で、この会社の社員など十数人がバーベキューをしていたところ、男性１人が気分が悪くなったと消防に通報がありました。救急車が駆けつけ、救急隊員が男性を乗せようとしていたところ、いっしょにいた会社の同僚の男が運転席に乗り込んで駐車場内を乗り回しました。このため、同じく同僚で静岡市清水区の田中孝也さん（３４）が、救急車を止めようとしましたがはねられ、頭を強く打っておよそ１時間後に死亡しました。

 

[Elizabeth]

And one more from a newspaper article, this one on 早紀江さんの訪米です。
Does 振り向いて as used here by the families spokesperson refer no one being interested or caring to notice when rescue activities were initiated, and the うそのよう that there was still able to be a meeting with the President despite no one 振り向いてくれなかった ? After re-reading it a few times over, I still don't think I have the background to really understand this sentence very well at all.

「救出活動を始めたころは誰も振り向いてくれなかったのに、アメリカの大統領と会うことになるなんてうそのようだ」

さらに早紀江さんが「多くの家族を代表してここに来ています」と述べると、大統領から「よくわかっています。信念と勇気を持って心を一つに頑張りましょう」と励まされたということです。また横田拓也さんは、「救出活動を始めたころは誰も振り向いてくれなかったのに、アメリカの大統領と会うことになるなんてうそのようだ」と述べたうえで、「一刻も早く被害者が帰国できるようになるための転換点になればいいと思う」と話しました。

 

[maxchris]

Translation needed!

Hello,

I'm (slowly) trying to learn some basic Japanese to communicate with a new friend. However, she sent me the following text message and I'm having difficulty. Any help with a translation would be appreciated! Arigato!

Chris,

Eri ha Chris ga daisuki desu. Korekara mo yoi tomodochi de itene.

 

[Glenn]

救急車乗り回す 男性はね死亡
２９日午後４時１５分ごろ、静岡県由比町の建設会社の駐車場で、この会社の社員など十数人がバーベキューをしていたところ、男性１人が気分が悪くなったと消防に通報がありました。救急車が駆けつけ、救急隊員が男性を乗せようとしていたところ、いっしょにいた会社の同僚の男が運転席に乗り込んで駐車場内を乗り回しました。このため、同じく同僚で静岡市清水区の田中孝也さん（３４）が、救急車を止めようとしましたがはねられ、頭を強く打っておよそ１時間後に死亡しました。

That's a very odd and unfortunate piece of news. My shot at that part of the sentence is "(he) tried to stop the ambulance but he was run over, hitting his head hard." I felt like I should have used "hit by (it)," but using "hit" twice in such close proximity felt wierd.

「救出活動を始めたころは誰も振り向いてくれなかったのに、アメリカの大統領と会うことになるなんてうそのようだ」

What does the "rescue activity" refer to? Who are they trying to rescue? the kidnapped Japanese in N Korea?

This sentence looks wierd to me, because I'm not sure how のに is acting here. The two clauses don't seem to be opposing each other. I have the parts as "no one even gave us a second look when we started the rescue operations," and "it looks like our meeting the president of the US was a lie," but I'm not sure about the whole feeling of the sentence.

Sorry to not answer your question, but I think we're in the same boat here.

 

[Glenn]

Hello,
I'm (slowly) trying to learn some basic Japanese to communicate with a new friend. However, she sent me the following text message and I'm having difficulty. Any help with a translation would be appreciated! Arigato!

Chris,
Eri ha Chris ga daisuki desu. Korekara mo yoi tomodochi de itene.

I'm going to tell you literally what it says, but I don't think it's a good translation. I don't think anyone says this in English.

"I really like you, Chris. Keep on being a good friend from now on, too, alright?"