Need a word or phrase translated?

[Elizabeth]

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.

Oh yeah, sorry about that. The first line was cut from the title. Guess I should have made that a little less ambiguous.
I also assumed "was hit" was correct in the passive and in the interest of space perhaps details like where he was standing and that he fell to the concrete were conserved. It just seemed an awfully condensed and matter-of-fact presentation for such a bizarre episode.

 

[bentenmusume]

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.

I think what's throwing you here is this use of 「うそのようだ」. Here, it doesn't literally mean that anything was "a lie", but rather describes something so incredible as to seem unbelievable. In fact, you could probably change it to 「夢のようだ」 with no appreciable change in meaning.

"When all of this began, no one even gave us the time of day -- now, we're meeting with the President of the United States. It seems unreal!"

That's a free translation (and a poor one), but hopefully it clarifies the contrast.

I also assumed "was hit" was correct in the passive and in the interest of space perhaps details like where he was standing and that he fell to the concrete were conserved. It just seemed an awfully condensed and matter-of-fact presentation for such a bizarre episode.

I think 「頭を強く打って」 pretty clearly implies that his head struck the concrete -- what else would he have hit his head on? As for being condensed and matter-of-fact -- I don't know, it seems to me pretty standard for a newspaper article. I can't see why it would be relevant to explain precisely where in the parking lot he was when he went down.

 

[Jayern]

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.

Thanks, it's for several of my exchange students friends that are leaving back to Japan. So that should be right right?

 

[Elizabeth]

I think what's throwing you here is this use of 「うそのようだ」. Here, it doesn't literally mean that anything was "a lie", but rather describes something so incredible as to seem unbelievable. In fact, you could probably change it to 「夢のようだ」 with no appreciable change in meaning.
"When all of this began, no one even gave us the time of day -- now, we're meeting with the President of the United States. It seems unreal!"

Thanks for the response, Jt. I also noticed that extension or associated meaning of うぞ after posting.

I think 「頭を強く打って」 pretty clearly implies that his head struck the concrete -- what else would he have hit his head on? As for being condensed and matter-of-fact -- I don't know, it seems to me pretty standard for a newspaper article. I can't see why it would be relevant to explain precisely where in the parking lot he was when he went down.

It isn't a crucial point at all -- although I suppose he could have hit it after being thrown onto the vehicle itself. It was just a passing observation more than anything that in such an unusual accident at least the victim's running in front of the car would have been noted, or at least would seem odd to leave out in the American papers I'm familiar with.

 

[Glenn]

I think what's throwing you here is this use of 「うそのようだ」.

You're right.

Here, it doesn't literally mean that anything was "a lie", but rather describes something so incredible as to seem unbelievable. In fact, you could probably change it to 「夢のようだ」 with no appreciable change in meaning.

Ah, so it's "like a lie" more than "it seems to be a lie." That makes sense, although the "dream" version would have been clearer to me. 勉強、勉強.

"When all of this began, no one even gave us the time of day -- now, we're meeting with the President of the United States. It seems unreal!"
That's a free translation (and a poor one), but hopefully it clarifies the contrast.

Yes, it does. Thank you for the clarification.

 

[maxchris]

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?"

Thanks for the quick reply Glenn. After doing a little more research, I asked her if this was contextually (if not literally) correct:

"Eri really likes Chris. I hope we can still be good friends."

She wrote back that was correct (she refers to herself in the third person sometimes, I don't know if that's a Japanese thing or an Eri thing). Thanks again!

 

[Glenn]

It's not just an Eri thing.

 

[Elizabeth]

You're right.
Ah, so it's "like a lie" more than "it seems to be a lie." That makes sense, although the "dream" version would have been clearer to me. 勉強、勉強.
Yes, it does. Thank you for the clarification.

Alternate terms in my J-E dictionary (the only one lying around) are 'false' or 'untrue' which seem slightly closer to me to "unbelievable" or "unreal" and what jt is getting at than a lie in the literal sense.

 

[Elizabeth]

Thanks for the quick reply Glenn. After doing a little more research, I asked her if this was contextually (if not literally) correct:
"Eri really likes Chris. I hope we can still be good friends."
She wrote back that was correct (she refers to herself in the third person sometimes, I don't know if that's a Japanese thing or an Eri thing). Thanks again!

That's a good translation I think, although I'm not sure about the 'still' part which sounds like you may not have been in the past ? The "Kore kara mo" part is roughly close to "From now on (and forever) or "from this point on" although there obviously may be more to it in this case.

 

[maxchris]

Thanks for the clarification. One more question: daisuki desu. Can you tell me what feeling this conveys and what is typically the relationship in Japan that uses this expression? I was told daisuki literally means "big like" so I assumed it was saying you like someone a lot (like a good friend), but I have the impression now as I have seen it recur in context that the implied meaning may be more than that?

 

[Buntaro]

maxchris,

"daisuki desu" just means that I really, really, really like it.

 

[Buntaro]

Hi everybody!

I want to say, "That's a low priority for me right now." The dictionary says yuusen for priority (anyone got the kanji...?)

Yuusen ga sukunai?
Yuusen ga hikui?
Yuusen ga nai?
Perhaps a different verb in conversational Japanese, like "kankei nai"?

For example, right now, I need to mow the lawn (which is true), but mowing the lawn is a low priority because cleaning the house is more important.

 

[henpai]

Hiya. I've been trying to figure out what the (supposedly) slang term アバラボッキボキ could mean. From Google I found so weird matches for this (manga discussion and some hospital talk blog) I don't know what to think of them.

Could anyone help with this?

 

[Glenn]

Thanks for the clarification. One more question: daisuki desu. Can you tell me what feeling this conveys and what is typically the relationship in Japan that uses this expression? I was told daisuki literally means "big like" so I assumed it was saying you like someone a lot (like a good friend), but I have the impression now as I have seen it recur in context that the implied meaning may be more than that?

It certainly can mean more than that, but I don't know exactly what your situation with this girl is, so I won't say that it does mean more than that.

 

[Elizabeth]

Hi everybody!
I want to say, "That's a low priority for me right now." The dictionary says yuusen for priority (anyone got the kanji...?)
Yuusen ga sukunai?
Yuusen ga hikui?
Yuusen ga nai?
Perhaps a different verb in conversational Japanese, like "kankei nai"?
For example, right now, I need to mow the lawn (which is true), but mowing the lawn is a low priority because cleaning the house is more important.

The simplest way and how I would put it together would be to avoid "low" because then you have to attach "low level" to priority....(I think) and make it instead a simple 'more than XXX' comparision using suru. Mow the lawn yori (or ni) clean the house no wa yuusen suru. (Cleaning the house has priority over mowing the lawn). There are fancier constructions but this is basic, fundamental Japanese and should be clearly understandable.
What is the thinking on kankei nai, by the way ? Not related ? :?ﾂ ﾂ

 

[Buntaro]

Elizabeth,

I just threw in "kankei nai" because sometimes the conversational form is simpler than stuff we find in a high falutin' dictionary.

Anyway, thanks for the info.

 

[undrentide]

Hi everybody!
I want to say, "That's a low priority for me right now." The dictionary says yuusen for priority (anyone got the kanji...?)
Yuusen ga sukunai?
Yuusen ga hikui?
Yuusen ga nai?
Perhaps a different verb in conversational Japanese, like "kankei nai"?
For example, right now, I need to mow the lawn (which is true), but mowing the lawn is a low priority because cleaning the house is more important.

to A give a priority/the first priority : A wo yuusen suru/sai yuusen suru
A have a low priority than B: A wa B yori yuusen jun-i ga hikui

yuusen in kanji is 優先, 優 means better, to excel, and 先 means front
thus yuusen suru = to give a priority
If you are talking about the level of priority = order, you need add the word 順位 jun-i = order

kankeinai is totally different, it means "not someone's business".
e.g.
watashi niwa kankei nai : it has nothing to do with me
anata niwa kankei nai: it is not your business

As Elizabeth san mentioned, in a daily conversation yuusen is not so commonly used compared with other expressions, such as
"shibakari (lawn mowing) yori ieno souji (cleaning the hosue) no houga juuyou da".

 

[Buntaro]

undrentide,

Would it be normal to hear in everyday conversation something like, "Ima, shibakari wa juuyou ja nai desu yo. Ie wo souji shinasai."?

 

[undrentide]

undrentide,
Would it be normal to hear in everyday conversation something like, "Ima, shibakari wa juuyou ja nai desu yo. Ie wo souji shinasai."?

Hmmm... in everyday conversation maybe "taisetsu" "daiji" are more common than "juuyou".

Ah, and if you want to say that shibakari is of little importance, you can say "doudemoii".

"Ima wa shibakari nante doudemo ii desho. Soreyori ie wo souji shinasai!"

 

[Jagotaro]

Thanks for the clarification. One more question: daisuki desu. Can you tell me what feeling this conveys and what is typically the relationship in Japan that uses this expression? I was told daisuki literally means "big like" so I assumed it was saying you like someone a lot (like a good friend), but I have the impression now as I have seen it recur in context that the implied meaning may be more than that?

Hey Chris,

First, I agree with what Glenn has told you. The meaning of "dai suki" can range anywhere from "I really like you" to "I'm nuts about you" and even to "I love you dearly." But I want to caution you that, like Glenn suggested, there are a lot of variables involved.

You have to take into consideration how young the girl is, and even how fickle she may be. Japanese people almost never say "ai shiteru" but young girls seem to compensate for this by over-using "dai suki."

And young girls tend to apply it not just to people, but to anything and everything that fits their fancy -- their favorite food, a cool movie, some new music, a favorite singer, baseball player or car or neat new cellphone.

So, now you may ask, "How do I know what she really is saying to me?"
Hey, that is the mystery that every guy is faced with sooner or later.

I'm new to this forum, but I've been living in Japan and doing Japanese every day for a long time. I hope this helps, Chris.

 

[henpai]

Hiya. I've been trying to figure out what the (supposedly) slang term アバラボッキボキ could mean. From Google I found so weird matches for this (manga discussion and some hospital talk blog) I don't know what to think of them.
Could anyone help with this?

About this... I have some faint suspicions about possible meanings, but nothing concrete. If someone knows or has an idea what it could mean, I'm interested to know if it's possible this is a degrading word or line. I'm also half convinced this is not a single slang term, but two (or even three) coined together. Any help would be much appreciated...


Edit:

Eep! I received the solution from a Japanese friend. If anyone is interested, it translates roughly to "break/crush rib bones" ...

 

[Mikawa Ossan]

A little note about daisuki. I don't hear it in referring to people very often. It seems to me that if you were to use it to refer to a person, it wouldn't mean in a love sense. (Although it is of course possible.) I have only heard suki used in referring to people you like/love.

 

[Glenn]

Well, that just seems backwards. I guess the Japanese go with the "less is more" mentality for emotions.

 

[Elizabeth]

Well, that just seems backwards. I guess the Japanese go with the "less is more" mentality for emotions.

本当にそうなんです。日本では思っていることを率直に言うには、あまり口を利きませんね。

 

[DingoEnderZOE2]

Here's my simple phrase I would like translated:

どちらかといえば評価していたくらいだわ。
Context:
:なんかすごいバカにされてるような気がしたんだが。
:気のせいよ、そんなの。どちらかといえば評価していたくらいだわ。