Question Translate from Japanese to English

超えて行け、プラスウルトラ

What does this literally translate to, to any native Japanese speaker ( I know what google translate says, but I want to ensure it's accurate and as grammatically correct to the language as possible )

You are referring to the phrase used in the anime/manga 僕のヒーローアカデミア My Hero Academia, right? It's actually プルスウルトラ since it's the Latin pronunciation of "Plus Ultra".



As you would know, this is the school motto of the U.A. High School. It's usually translated as 更に向こうへ in the story, so 超えて行け、プルスウルトラ means "Go Beyond! Further Beyond!".

Toritoribe said:

You are referring to the phrase used in the anime/manga 僕のヒーローアカデミア My Hero Academia, right? It's actually プルスウルトラ since it's the Latin pronunciation of "Plus Ultra".

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As you would know, this is the school motto of the U.A. High School. It's usually translated as 更に向こうへ in the story, so 超えて行け、プルスウルトラ means "Go Beyond! Further Beyond!".

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Hello! And thank you for you reply! My question is why when you put プルスウルトラ into any translator it translates to "Puls Ultra," ( incorrect spelling) but when I remove the character ル and instead add the character ラ in the beginning of プルスウルトラ, so instead プラスウルトラ, translators correctly comeback with "Plus Ultra," which is the correct spelling of the Latin phrase. Could this have been a typo on the part of the anime directors? Would love some insight on that! Also, is there a better way to convey that message, "Go further Beyond," in any traditional Japanese writing style? Separate from the anime. Thank you so much, I know it a lot lol

Ender said:

My question is why when you put プルスウルトラ into any translator it translates to "Puls Ultra," ( incorrect spelling) but when I remove the character ル and instead add the character ラ in the beginning of プルスウルトラ, so instead プラスウルトラ, translators correctly comeback with "Plus Ultra," which is the correct spelling of the Latin phrase. Could this have been a typo on the part of the anime directors? Would love some insight on that!

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That's because the transliteration of the Latin pronunciation is uncommon, or more likely is almost never used in Japanese. Google search results suggest that プルス is the Japanese name of the German company PULS Group. That would be the reason why you got "Puls".

プラス is a very common loan word from the English word "plus", thus, your translator simply (mis)interpreted プラス as the English word "plus", not the Latin word.

Ender said:

Also, is there a better way to convey that message, "Go further Beyond," in any traditional Japanese writing style? Separate from the anime.

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I would use さらにその先へ超えて行け, or more simply さらにその先へ as a motto or something.

Toritoribe said:

That's because the transliteration of the Latin pronunciation is uncommon, or more likely is almost never used in Japanese. Google search results suggest that プルス is the Japanese name of the German company PULS Group. That would be the reason why you got "Puls".

プラス is a very common loan word from the English word "plus", thus, your translator simply (mis)interpreted プラス as the English word "plus", not the Latin word.


I would use さらにその先へ超えて行け, or more simply さらにその先へ as a motto or something.

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Thank you! And excuse my American ignorance, thinking that the translators were right over the anime directors lol

I don't mean to be rude, but you are misusing the word "translator".

I assume by "when I put it into a translator" you mean things like Google Translate, DeepL, ChatGPT, etc.

These are not "translators". These are automated machine-learning chatbots that spit out information that they have sucked in, sometimes correctly, often incorrectly, but always with confidence.

Real "translators" are human beings who understand both Japanese and English, and are able to convey things accurately and intelligently.

The anime staff who (correctly) "translated" the phrase are the real "translators" (and they are different from the "directors", who created the work but who probably are not bilingual). The machine-generated "translators" that you plugged it into are just computer algorithms spitting out garbage.

It's not your fault for not realizing this at first, but probably a good thing to keep in mind going forward.

bentenmusume said:

I don't mean to be rude, but you are misusing the word "translator".

I assume by "when I put it into a translator" you mean things like Google Translate, DeepL, ChatGPT, etc.

These are not "translators". These are automated machine-learning chatbots that spit out information that they have sucked in, sometimes correctly, often incorrectly, but always with confidence.

Real "translators" are human beings who understand both Japanese and English, and are able to convey things accurately and intelligently.

The anime staff who (correctly) "translated" the phrase are the real "translators" (and they are different from the "directors", who created the work but who probably are not bilingual). The machine-generated "translators" that you plugged it into are just computer algorithms spitting out garbage.

It's not your fault for not realizing this at first, but probably a good thing to keep in mind going forward.

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I agree, luckily in the middle of my search for correct Japanese I stumbled upon this site, knowing that the best way to learn a language is direct human to human interaction. Apple phones have an app called " Translate " and I've been using that a lot while trying to find a creed of sorts that only I would understand ( amongst the non Japanese knowing friends that I have ) and because I also love anime, guess that's why I incorrectly used the term translator. MHA is my favorite by far- the overall message of triumph, teamwork and perseverance ( totally recognize that this is the formula to a lot of anime ha ) has caused me to want to permanently commemorate their message with body ink, as I'm finding out many do. That's why the skepticism, but you're right, feel silly thinking about it now. The hard working anime staff behind all anime are the real translators also. Shouldn't have doubted that for a second. プルスウルトラ • I actually knew that this was the way MHA wrote out the phrase, but again in my paranoia had to triple check haha. Thank you guys again so much for the help and recalibrations!!

Actually, プルスウルトラ is not transliterated by the anime director or even by the author of the original manga. For example, the Japanese wikipedia explains that this is the national motto of Spain.


Wikipedia mentioned that this is also the school motto of the U.A. High School in My Hero Academia.

堀越耕平の漫画『僕のヒーローアカデミア』では、主人公の緑谷出久らが通う国立雄英高等学校の校訓にもなっている。

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Toritoribe said:

Actually, プルスウルトラ is not transliterated by the anime director or even by the author of the original manga. For example, the Japanese wikipedia explains that this is the national motto of Spain.

プルス・ウルトラ (モットー) - Wikipedia

ja.wikipedia.org

Wikipedia mentioned that this is also the school motto of the U.A. High School in My Hero Academia.

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I did see this actually in English. Still didn't know how to transcribe that in Japanese though. Do you have any recommendation for any good Japanese language learning course that is actually helpful?

Sorry for the late reply.

Ender said:

I did see this actually in English. Still didn't know how to transcribe that in Japanese though.

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You can see the Japanese Wikipedia page, and get the Japanese version of the word.

Ender said:

Do you have any recommendation for any good Japanese language learning course that is actually helpful?

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I don't know the course, but the textbooks Genki or Minna no Nihongo is often recommended in this forum.