Sometimes I like it, and sometimes I don't - Translation

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ChrisNico

後輩

14 Oct 2015

26

2

• 18 Oct 2015

• #1

How do you say "Sometimes I like it, and sometimes I don't" in Japanese?

For example, this could be referring to ice cream: "I like ice cream in the afternoon, but not really before breakfast. Sometimes I like it, and sometimes I don't."

My guess is:

時々これが好きですけど、時々あまり好きじゃないです。

This attempt is a very literal translation from English to Japanese, so it may sound rigid or unnatural.

Please let me know if:

1) This is correct

2) There is another way of expressing this idea in Japanese that is natural and clear (or an idiom, if one exists).

Thank you very much!

 

mdchachi

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• 18 Oct 2015

• #2

I think that's fine to get the meaning across and it sounds fine grammatically. As for other ways, I think it's somewhat case by case depending on what you're talking about. For example, if I usually like pizza or something but don't feel like having some now I might say, ほとんど好きですがいま食べる気がしません。

 

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ChrisNico

後輩

14 Oct 2015

26

2

• 18 Oct 2015

• Thread starter
• #3

Excellent, that really answered my question. Expressing moods and subjective ideas is something I'm trying to study as much as I can.

I did not know about the concept of "気がしません。" and I think that really describes the meaning I was looking for.

Thank you very much, I really appreciate it!

 

Mike Cash

骨も命も皆此の土地に埋めよう

Twenty-year veteran

15 Mar 2002

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• 18 Oct 2015

• #4

If you think about it, this isn't really a matter of "liking" something at one time but not liking it at another. It is a matter of "wanting" something at one time but not wanting it at another.

Try your translation again with that in mind.

 

Toritoribe

松葉解禁

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22 Feb 2008

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• 18 Oct 2015

• #5

Agreed. 気がしない is used only for an action, as mdchachi-san explained, and it's hard to express the concept "Sometimes I like it, and sometimes I don't" using 気がしない. Also, I have to point out that 時々これが好きですけど、時々あまり好きじゃないです。sounds rather awkward.

 

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ChrisNico

後輩

14 Oct 2015

26

2

• 18 Oct 2015

• Thread starter
• #6

Thank you, I had a feeling it did not sound natural. I would appreciate any suggestions you may have on this idea, even if it is very different from my attempt to translate.

Should I express this with different tenses or words? I think mdchachi did a good job of understanding the meaning I am trying to convey, and any input you have would be greatly appreciated!

 

Toritoribe

松葉解禁

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• 18 Oct 2015

• #7

I would say 好きな時もあるし、そうじゃない時もあります。 or more simply 時と場合によります。 "It depends on the situation."

 

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ChrisNico

後輩

14 Oct 2015

26

2

• 18 Oct 2015

• Thread starter
• #8

Thank you, I'll study all these responses!

 

mdchachi

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• 18 Oct 2015

• #9

Toritoribe said:

場合によります

Click to expand...

This one is worth remembering. It comes in handy whenever you want to say "it depends."