Need a word or phrase translated?

[nhk9]

>>どうしたら入手できるでしょうか

Actually I think grammatically speaking "dou sureba nyuute dekiru deshou ka", or "dekiru you ni dou shitara ii no ka" would be more preferred than the above. Since the potential form dekiru is used, "-ba" form should be a better choice than "-tara" for if. But I think in Kansai everybody uses -tara over -ba regardless.

 

[Elizabeth]

"Who am I kidding"
Maybe, そんなバカな or そんなアホな

んなアホな in Osaka

it may change more in context.

日本語には、同じ表現がないかの知れないんですけど、英語だと、Kid oneself は、
「現実を無視して」「甘え考えをむつ」とかということです。 Who am I kidding ？！は、
「自分の苦しみと向き合いたくないのですが、自分に嘘をつくことが出来ない」みたいな感じ
ではないでしょうかな？

 

[pipokun]

Do you also use "nantoka naranai" ? for "There must be a way !" or "It must be possible ?!"

When you try to cheer up somebody, 何とかなるさ、何とかなるよ。would be one of the translations for "There must be a way !" or "It must be possible ?!"

Your sentence, nantoka naranai, means "there's no way out", for "naranai" is a negative sentence.

But when an interrogative, "nantoka naranai?", you usually ask somebody for a bit difficult tasks.

日本語には、同じ表現がないかの知れないんですけど、 英語だと、Kid oneself は、
「現実を無視して」「甘え考えをむつ」とかということ です。 Who am I kidding ？！は、
「自分の苦しみと向き合いたくないのですが、自分に嘘 をつくことが出来ない」みたいな感じ
ではないでしょうかな？

Yes, "Who am I kidding" is a bit untranslatable.
そんなバカな or そんなアホな is actually used to not yourself, but someone else.

A stand-up comedian, Emiko Kaminuma, is always exaggerating everything. She is telling "Osaka castle is my house", "Nagoya area is my garden my grandpa bought" something like that.
Before she says the above, she tells something like "you maybe think I am a liar".
Ms. Kaminuma has the answer for the translation for Who am I kidding, I suppose.

もう少し考えてみます。

 

[Elizabeth]

When you try to cheer up somebody, 何とかなるさ、何とかなるよ。would be one of the translations for "There must be a way !" or "It must be possible ?!"

Your sentence, nantoka naranai, means "there's no way out", for "naranai" is a negative sentence.

But when an interrogative, "nantoka naranai?", you usually ask somebody for a bit difficult tasks.

Yes, that must have been what I was thinking. Along the lines of
"isn't there something that can be done about this !"

So for instance, この渋滞、何とかならないの？ would be speaking directly to someone who has control over traffic flow -- "Isn't there something you can do about the traffic jams ?!" rather than the more general "Isn't there anything that can be done about the traffic problem" ?

 

[pipokun]

To Elizabeth,
Right. KONOJUTAI NANTOKANARANAINO!!!
Sounds a bit harsh, but

お客様は神様ですから :

 

[Elizabeth]

To Elizabeth,
Right. KONOJUTAI NANTOKANARANAINO!!!
Sounds a bit harsh, but

お客様は神様ですから

そうですね。一方、経験のない人は、わからないかもしれないが、悪夢のような渋滞は本当に大変ですけど。

 

[pipokun]

you can use nantokanaranaino even in business negotiation like price and delivery date, but with your softer tone of voice.

I should say that nantokanarimasenka? is more formal.

 

[Glenn]

お客様は神様ですから :

Ah, so that's the Japanese version of "the customer is always right." Interesting phrasing. :emoji_grinning:

 

[pika la]

"i hope he doesn't read this =P" how to say this?

 

[Glenn]

(彼は)これを読まなければいいのに。。。
(Kare wa) kore o yomanakereba ii no ni...

I guess that's good enough. :emoji_thermometer_face:

 

[Elizabeth]

you can use nantokanaranaino even in business negotiation like price and delivery date, but with your softer tone of voice.

もっと静かな声で 値段、配達日の交渉にも、「何とかならないの」が使えます。と言う言い方は 英語の直訳で日本語では、ちょっと不自然に聞こえないのかな。

 

[ryuhei69]

Can someone help see if my translations are alright?



How have you been?
Anata wa doo desu ka?

I just arrived in Japan from France this morning.
Watashi wa, furansu kara, nihon ni kyo no asa wa hairimashita.

Can I take a photo with you?
sashin wa dekiru (?)

What time do we meet?
Itsu wa kai desu ka?

How long will you be staying until?
Anata wa itsu made ni imasu?
Anata wa itsu ga kaerimashita?

I'm the one who writes on your website message board.
Watashi wa websaitto messeji ni sankan no ano hito.

These are the photos I took in China last year.
Kore wa kyonen no chugoku sasshin desu.

 

[pipokun]

Sweet or mild???
形容詞の使い方は難しいですね。

 

[Elizabeth]

you can use nantokanaranaino even in business negotiation like price and delivery date, but with your softer tone of voice.

I should say that nantokanarimasenka? is more formal.

ところで、

何とかならないの」と言われたら、それを聞いた相手は
「どうにもならない」と言う事ぐらいしかできません。と聞きましたよ。

それでも、日本語にも肯定的な答えもあるのでしょうね。

 

[Damicci]

I got something
そうします？ What does this mean?
here is the context:
Background: My friend came over to the house and we watched a movie together and she got to meet my cat for the first time. Well I used a picture of my cat fo rmy avatar sometimes on MSN. I changed in the middle of the conversation and this was her reaction. My cats name is Neko
Translations are in blue (atleast what i think is said)


Friend で、"私の"かわいい猫ちゃんの写真はどこへいったの？あれ、これも猫ちゃん？
Hey where did the picture of "my cute Neko" go? Is this also Neko?
Damicci あなたは写真がほしですか？
Would you like a picture?
Friend なんで？
Of what?
Damicci 猫
The cat.
Friend あ～、かわいいね
Ah, so cute!
Friend 写真はいらないけど、猫はほしい
I don't want a picture, I want the cat!
Friend じょうだんです
Just kidding.
Damicci ははは
LoL
Friend 猫の写真いっぱいだね
You have alot of pictures of Neko huh
(I am cycling through avatars of my cat)
Damicci うん
Of course.
Damicci 私の猫はすごくかわいい
My cat is just too damn cute.
Friend そうだね、知ってる
Yeah I know.
Friend またこんど、猫に会いに行きます
Next time I would like to see your cat again.
Damicci はい お願いします
Please do.
Friend はい、そうします
No clue what this means...
Damicci 私は一緒にと猫ちゃんと映画をまた見たい。
I want to watch a movie together with Neko again.
Damicci ははは
LoL

 

[ralian]

Can someone help see if my translations are alright?

How have you been?
Anata wa doo desu ka?

Ogenki deshitaka?

I just arrived in Japan from France this morning.
Watashi wa, furansu kara, nihon ni kyo no asa wa hairimashita.

Kesa, furansu kara Nihon ni tsukimashita.

Can I take a photo with you?
sashin wa dekiru (?)

Issho ni shashin o tottemo iidesuka?

What time do we meet?
Itsu wa kai desu ka?

Nanji ni aimashooka?

How long will you be staying until?
Anata wa itsu made ni imasu?
Anata wa itsu ga kaerimashita?

Itsumade iru yotei desuka?

I'm the one who writes on your website message board.
Watashi wa websaitto messeji ni sankan no ano hito.

Anata no hoomupeeji no keijiban ni messeji o kaitano wa watashi desu.

These are the photos I took in China last year.
Kore wa kyonen no chugoku sasshin desu.

Kore ga kyonen Chuugoku de totta shashin desu.

 

[ralian]

I got something
そうします？ What does this mean?

She said, "I'll do so" which means "I'll come again to see your cat".

 

[Elizabeth]

Friend なんで？
Of what?

Wouldn't nande be more like "why" or "what for" ?....
"Of what" ? 何の、（何の写真）？

Damicci 私は一緒にと猫ちゃんと映画をまた見たい。

猫ちゃんと一緒に、また映画を見たい！

 

[pipokun]

Nantokanaranaino is not always closed questions.

A この値段何とかならないの？
B うちもぎりぎりでやっているんですよ。
A じゃあ、今回は倍発注するからさ。何とかしてよ。長い（ながい）付き合いじゃない。
B ちょっと会社に電話してもいいですか？
…
B 今月は決算月ということで、何とかします。

Needless to say, it's not that easy like the above.

 

[Damicci]

Thank you for the help.

 

[ryuhei69]

Thanks for the help.


I just arrived in Japan from France this morning.
Kesa, furansu kara Nihon ni tsukimashita.

Why tsukimashita and not hairimashita?


Can I get some more help with these? Are my translations alright?

Glad to meet you!
あいましたわいいですよ!
aimashita wa ii desu yo!


Can I get your autograph?
自署おください。
jisho o kudasai.


I will look for you when I reach there, and hope to get your autograph!
あの場所にはいりましあ後、自署わ希望収めるです。
ano basho ni hairimashita ato, jishou wa osameru desu.

 

[ralian]

Why tsukimashita and not hairimashita?

arrive = tsuku
arrived = tsuita or tsukimashita
"hairu" is used when you enter somewhere.
Ie no naka ni hairimashita.
(I entered the house)

Glad to meet you!
あいましたわいいですよ!
aimashita wa ii desu yo!

あえて うれしいです。
あえて よかったです。
おあいできて うれしいです。(more polite)
おあいできて よかったです。

Can I get your autograph?
自署おください。
jisho o kudasai.

サインをいただけますか。

I will look for you when I reach there, and hope to get your autograph!
あの場所にはいりましあ後、自署わ希望収めるです。
ano basho ni hairimashita ato, jishou wa osameru desu.

そちらについたら、あなたをさがして、できれば サインを いただきたいです。

 

[deadhippo]

Glad to meet you!
あいましたわいいですよ!
aimashita wa ii desu yo!

i think this one should really be

はじめました、どうぞ よろしく。

 

[Elizabeth]

Thank you for the help.

いいえ。ところで、猫ちゃんはあまり好きじゃないんですが
Damicciさんの猫も私の基準からするとかわいいでしょう。
ここにも載せられてた写真があるのかな？(Is there a picture that was posted on this forum of your cat as well ?)

 

[Damicci]

そうなんだ 猫があまり好きじゃないですか？
猫の事が好きです。 私の猫が絶対大好きです。
そして、猫はたくさん女の子をギートしてよ ははは