Need a word or phrase translated?

studyonline · 2 Jul 2005

Japanese and English are very different. Sometimes direct translation is impossible as you already know. Often it is better to translate the meaning of the word rather than the word itself.

Here goes...

(I don't need to be shy with/around/to friends)

The word shy is Shai in Japanese. *There is a Japanese word for it but let's make it easier here. 恥ずかしい means "embarrassing", an adjective.

My translation for this would be "友達の間では, shai ではありません"

(What time to you go to school?)

何時に学校へ行きますか。 is correct

(I shoudn't go without permission, I should ask first!)

無断で行かないほうがいい、初めに尋ねるべきだろう or まずは尋ねるべきだろう

(I'm lost..)

私は道ちに迷いました

(It's difficult to express my thoughts in Japanese)

思っていることは日本語で言いにくい is acceptable
考えを日本語で表すのが難しい is better. Excellent choice of words

(Don't be rude)
失礼なことはしないで

無礼 is a little formal. Both mean the same though. Also, we say 失礼しました but never say 無礼しました. (It means I'm sorry)

Glenn · 2 Jul 2005

指導してくれてありがとうございます、ｓｔｕｄｙｏｎｌｉｎｅさん！

I'm glad to know that I chose some good words, too.

Elizabeth · 3 Jul 2005

(I don't need to be shy with/around/to friends)

The word shy is Shai in Japanese. *There is a Japanese word for it but let's make it easier here. 恥ずかしい means "embarrasing", an adjective.

こんにちは studyonline さん！初めまして。どうぞ宜しくお願いします。

SHY, BASHFUL, TIMID を SHAI、内気など。EMBARRASSED、SHY, ASHAMED を恥ずかしいと訳すとします。「SHYNESS」は、恥ずかしいの気持ちが入る事もあるので。。。たとえば、
「恥ずかしがらないで」を Don't be shy に訳しても、とても自然だと思います。

日本語で、区別して考えるところはどこでしょうかな？

悪気が無くても「Don't be embarrassed around your friends。」とかような発言は相手の気分を害するので、使うときに注意が必要です。この場合、Don't be shy。。。が適当でしょう。
Embarrassedという言葉はネガティブの意味が強いからです。

英語だと、性格がもう恥ずかしいによって、使い方は、変わりますが
[I don't need to be shy] には少なくとも二つの解釈があるから、ちょっと曖昧ですね。
pika la さんがどちらの意味に訳して欲しいと頼まれたかったのかつかまえられない。。。。
:?

Saku39 · 4 Jul 2005

How do you say your welcome in response to arigato??

Glenn · 4 Jul 2005

どういたしまして (dou itashimashite) is the most formal way. I believe more casually you could go with いいえ (iie) or いいや (iiya -- less formal than iie). You could also repeat them, e.g. iie, iie.

Elizabeth · 4 Jul 2005

Glenn said:
どういたしまして (dou itashimashite) is the most formal way. I believe more casually you could go with いいえ (iie) or いいや (iiya -- less formal than iie). You could also repeat them, e.g. iie, iie.

Although I've only heard it shouted once -- during a speech where the guy talking made a really funny mistake and then started apologizing. Up came a massive roar of "iiee...." To anyone who has ever wondered if the Japanese actually do all think the same.... :emoji_stuck_out_tongue_winking_eye: :emoji_blush:

Saku39 · 4 Jul 2005

So iie can mean no and your welcome?

Elizabeth · 4 Jul 2005

Saku39 said:
So iie can mean no and your welcome?

It's the same reasoning as "No, that's OK" or the dreadful "No problem" in English....whatever happened to the simple "You're welcome" ? It's hardly ever heard anymore.

studyonline · 4 Jul 2005

Elizabeth said:
こんにちは studyonline さん！初めまして。どうぞ宜しくお願いします。

SHY, BASHFUL, TIMID を SHAI、内気など。EMBARRASSED、SHY, ASHAMED を恥ずかしいと訳すとします。「SHYNESS」は、恥ずかしいの気持ちが入る事もあるので。。。たとえば、
「恥ずかしがらないで」を Don't be shy に訳しても、とても自然だと思います。

Yes. I wanted to make it a little clearer/easier back there, so I didn't fully explain the word 恥ずかしい.

恥ずかしい can be shy or embarrasing as you mentioned. (notice this adjective works for a thing or person) But,

恥ずかしがり屋 means shy person, a noun. We say, "私は、恥ずかしがり屋です"。" (I'm shy person. But I think, in English, it's more commonly said "I'm shy".)

Now, let me reveal the possible danger of misunderstanding this sentence here...

Case 1:

仲間の中で恥ずかしいことはないだろう。 If I hear this, I will probably take 恥ずかしいこと as embarrasing thing(s).

But pika la さん doesn't mean that! So, if I take it wrongly and translate, I will do, "There is no embarrasing thing among my folks/fellows/friends." This does not really imply "someone is shy".

Case 2:

友達に恥かしくことは必要としないの

Likewise, I would definitely take 恥かしくこと as 恥ずかしいこと = embarrasing thing(s). I may translate this, "I do not need an embarrasing thing to/for my friend". It sounds strange now.

If you want to say "I'm shy" using the word "恥ずかしい", make sure to use the noun version "恥ずかしがり屋".

So, it's like this. 私は、友達の間では、恥ずかしがり屋ではありません。

By the way, you may not need to translate "need to" sometimes. It all depends, but if you have some sort of special intention of using "do not need to" and want to translate、I will say,

私は、友達の間では、恥ずかしがり屋である事はありません。 (This may confuse you. That's why I avoided using 恥ずかしがり屋)

私は、友達の間では、シャイである事はありません。

do not need to =（~する事はない）or （~する必要はない）

Another Japanese word for shy is 内気。 The usage of it is the same as "shy".

Using 内気 is easy. 私は、友達の間では、内気である事はありません。 (It sounds a little formal, more commonly seen in written form)

Elizabeth · 4 Jul 2005

If you want to say "I'm shy" using the word "恥ずかしい", make sure to use the noun version "恥ずかしがり屋".

So, it's like this. 私は、友達の間では、恥ずかしがり屋ではありません。

By the way, you may not need to translate "need to" sometimes. It all depends, but if you have some sort of special intention of using "do not need to" and want to translate、I will say,

私は、友達の間では、恥ずかしがり屋である事はありません。 (This may confuse you. That's why I avoided using 恥ずかしがり屋)

私は、友達の間では、シャイである事はありません。

do not need to =（~する事はない）or （~する必要はない）

Another Japanese word for shy is 内気。 The usage of it is the same as "shy".

Using 内気 is easy. 私は、友達の間では、内気である事はありません。 (It sounds a little formal, more commonly seen in written form)

Thanks for the detailed explanation, studyonlineさん！

I was aware of 恥ずかしがり屋 but hadn't ever seen it applied very much before.

If I heard someone say "I don't need to be shy around my friends" In English, I would generally take it that the person doesn't need to be inhibited or embarrassed (can speak/act frankly and easily etc). Not that they are in any way a shy person otherwise, although of course there are those cases as well. It was my understanding that "shai" in Japanese mostly meant shy person. Not that it really matters here since we're talking about a specific situation.

Maybe there's no way to say I don't need to be embarrassed in front of my friends just using 恥ずかしい？Besides 恥ずかしくなくていい :?, or some other word ?

The interpretation of "I don't need to be shy" between "I am not shy around my friends" and "I am now, but shouldn't be/am trying not to be" is almost equal I think. It really depends on the situation.

studyonline · 4 Jul 2005

Saku39 said:
So iie can mean no and your welcome?

Another confusing stuff... and a question like this always makes me realize how complicated Japanese language is!

As Elizabeth さん said, when iie in this case comes from "No it is nothing", or "No problem." So, this iie doesn't mean "you are welcome". Iie is always iie, "no". Thank goodness.

However, there is a little more to it. It's the purpose of saying "no".

I suspect that Elizabeth さん and others might have thought this iie as another "どういたしまして". Even if that's not the case, let me explain something here.

I got the impression that you guys are thinking iie is simply casual = less polite.
To me, I do not believe so, and here is the reason.

First, I need to explain why we say this iie (meaning "no", a part of "No problem", or "No, it is nothing").

In English, "No problem" surely can be less polite than "You are welcome". Don't you agree? "You are welcome" sounds nicer and polite in its expression.

However in Japanese, this iie means more. Take a look at this.

いいえ、それは大した事ではないです。

I am sure you guys already know the meaning. But, this is not equivalent to "No problem." Japanese people like to say this so that they can show their humility, making whatever they did for the person small rather than expressing "big stuff I did for you".

They like to sort of "deny" (no intention of telling a lie). Furthermore, we often say,

いいえ、いいえ、どういたしまして。

Repetition of いいえ can be heard/seen. Notice that iie is actually a part of どういたしまして now. (Even though iie itself came from "いいえ、それは大した事ではないです")

So why we say sometimes iie, iie? Do you know Japanese people like to make "stuff" short?? That's right. This iie is not a substitute, but a short version of the whole thing!

To me, saying "いいえ、いいえ。" does not sound less polite than どういたしまして itself because I always link both together in my head. Also don't forget the person who says this is making himself humble.

To make you surprise, I think (this can be just my opinion. I need to ask other Japanese people) いいえ、いいえ can be more polite than どういたしまして itself.

The best way? いいえ、どういたしまして。 There.

By the way, Elizabeth さん、恥ずかしくなくていい is a nice try. But I am not sure of the proper grammar for the case.

As I said, it's better to make it simpler. "Shy" for a shy person should be シャイ because シャイ is always for shy only. 恥ずかしい can be shy or embarrassing unless it's used as 恥ずかしがり屋.

By the way, 照れ屋 is another word for 恥ずかしがり屋.

pipokun · 4 Jul 2005

Maybe there's no way to say I don't need to be embarrassed in front of my friends just using 恥ずかしい？Besides 恥ずかしくなくていい , or some other word ?

( ･ω･)つ「友達なんだから、遠慮はいらないよ。（遠慮しなくてもいいよ）」

Elizabeth · 4 Jul 2005

pipokun said:
( ･ω･)つ「友達なんだから、遠慮はいらないよ。（遠慮しなくてもいいよ）」

Thanks pipokun ! そうそれ！

Or, 気を使わなくてもいい as well ? I don't need to hold back or stand on ceremony with my friends.

Shy and embarrassed have a lot of cultural context, I think, which makes the translation especially sensitive and tricky.

pipokun · 4 Jul 2005

Yes, you're right.
気を使わなくてもいい may be better, for 遠慮 sounds a bit formal.

Shy and embarrassed have a lot of cultural context, I think, which makes the translation especially sensitive and tricky.

As is always the case, シャイ is the transliteration of shy, but has a broader meaning than the original, shy.

シャイ is sometimes taken as a positive meaning.
カタカナは、便利なのですが。。。

Saku39 · 6 Jul 2005

does sukoshi also mean but? I hear it a lot in movies and subtiltled as but..... I know but is demo...

pipokun · 6 Jul 2005

what you heard was "shikashi", wasn't it?

Or it might be sukoshi, but with a pause after it.
the pause is sometimes taken as your opposition/rejection. I suppose this is applied to any languages.
eg.)
Do you like him?
Yeah, sukoshi...(but)

Elizabeth · 6 Jul 2005

As is always the case, シャイ is the transliteration of shy, but has a broader meaning than the original, shy.

シャイ is sometimes taken as a positive meaning.
カタカナは、便利なのですが。。。

Like 営業マン which I assume can either be salesman, businessman or business manager, depending on the situation ? How did Japanese survive before so many gairaigo I'm really curious to know....

Butterfly-Chan · 6 Jul 2005

Konnichiwa

am a new member here... and i really loved the forum

I have been trying to learn japanese recently ... it's kinda hard but am really interested in the language

I have a phrase that i would like to know the meaning of it and i would really appreciate if you helped me

amaetoka yowasa juanai..... tada, kimi wo aishiteru.... kokoro kara sou omotta

☝

Arigatou

pipokun · 6 Jul 2005

そうですね。営業マンを、1人1人ではなく全体として考えると、部長も課長も平社員、時には社長も、営業マンです。
シャイは、かわいいというような決して悪くはないニュアンスで使われることがあると思います。
英語のshyは、少なくとも良い意味はないと思いますが、どうでしょうか？
English-Katakana-Japanese... yes, it is bothersome...
No singular/plural noun differences. This also causes a lot of troubles, at least for me. I guess English native speakers will tell the differences subconsciously like the particles for Japanese.
Off-topic
There are thousands of counters in Japanese, 1 pon, pai, ko... as the counters are difficult even for Japanese, a counter game originally from a TV program is popular now. 数取団

pipokun · 6 Jul 2005

Butterfly-Chan said:
Konnichiwa

am a new member here... and i really loved the forum

I have been trying to learn japanese recently ... it's kinda hard but am really interested in the language

I have a phrase that i would like to know the meaning of it and i would really appreciate if you helped me

amaetoka yowasa juanai..... tada, kimi wo aishiteru.... kokoro kara sou omotta

☝

Arigatou

Hi
It seems to me this is from a kind of lyric or poem.

Not depending upon you or losing heart, but "I love you" is just what I was thinking about whole-heartedly.

Butterfly-Chan · 6 Jul 2005

Arigatouuuuu

that was really helpful

but i didn't really get the meaning of this part

Not depending upon you or losing heart

it sounds kinda wierd..... ☝

but thanx again for yr help

pipokun · 7 Jul 2005

Not because I needed someone to depend upon (or rely on), not because I was too nervous...

Uh...difficult.
All I can understand is that he wanted to say "I love you" direct to her. I suppose you will get better answers from others when you post more phrases from the lyric.

Butterfly-Chan · 7 Jul 2005

wooow thanx again... i kinda got it now

i will try to search for the original lyrics... cuz i only have this part ☝

Thank you :win:

Saku39 · 7 Jul 2005

pipokun said:
what you heard was "shikashi", wasn't it?

Or it might be sukoshi, but with a pause after it.
the pause is sometimes taken as your opposition/rejection. I suppose this is applied to any languages.
eg.)
Do you like him?
Yeah, sukoshi...(but)

ee, ii des lol

you are right.... it was shikashi maybe

arigato

NeoXtremeX · 7 Jul 2005

I need an opinion, this is a phrase that was written to a girl, which of them sounds more natural poetic and overall better?

ときどき。。おれは。。このまわすときをとめたい。。そんなきがしてる。おれたちのもとにもどれられば。。。。おれのこいがとまったひを。。そのひをきおくからけしてしまうようにいきてる。ただ。。。おれはきみのこころを。。。きみのこいを。。。もういちど、なんどもかんじられたい。それはおれのきぼうだ。

This is without kanji, with kanji:

時々…俺は…この回す時を止めたい…そんな気がしてる。俺達のモトに戻れられば…俺の恋が止まった日を…その日を記憶から消してしまうように生きてる。ただ…俺はお前の心を…お前の恋を…もう一度、何度も感じられたい。ソレは俺の希望だ。

OR THIS ONE:

僕は時々時間が戻ったらと思うときがある。二人でいれたあのときに・・・。今は思い出なんて消えてしまえばいいと努力してるけど忘れられない。あのときに戻りたい。あなたの気持ちを感じることとの出来たあのときに。

Need a word or phrase translated?

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