use of atari あたり

letslearn

先輩

11 Sep 2013

890

14

• 15 May 2015

• #1

Hi guys,
can someone please help me with the interpretation of あたり in the following passage.
the context is the 下がり花 flower.
I am reading a book about the 下がり花. in it, it has a passage about it blooming. I get the feeling あたり in this case means target but is that right?
下がり花の花は、開きました。
花がひらくと、あたりはあまいかおりでいっぱいになりました。
my interpretation is.
The sagaribana flower opened.
when it opened, it became a large target (to insects etc) due to its sweet fragrance.

よろしくお願いします。

 

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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• 15 May 2015

• #2

The immediate surrounding area.

Formerly sometimes written 四辺

Currently あたり or 辺り

 

letslearn

先輩

11 Sep 2013

890

14

• 15 May 2015

• Thread starter
• #3

Thanks Mikesan,
It's funny, I saw 辺り in the dictionary and it stated: on the bank of, by the side of (e.g a river). I must have been too quick to dismiss it as below that it states: in the neighbourhood, vicinity etc.

So the interpretation would be closer to
The sagaribana flower opened.
when it opened, the sweet fragance engulfed the surrounding area.....

 

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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• 15 May 2015

• #4

Functionally translated, yes. But if you're aiming for a more direct translation, no.

Your translation inverts it and makes it the fragrance filling the area rather than the area being filled by the fragrance.

Six of one and half a dozen of the other....if you're at least aware that you did it.

 

letslearn

先輩

11 Sep 2013

890

14

• 15 May 2015

• Thread starter
• #5

Mike Cash said:

Functionally translated, yes. But if you're aiming for a more direct translation, no.

Your translation inverts it and makes it the fragrance filling the area rather than the area being filled by the fragrance.

Six of one and half a dozen of the other....if you're at least aware that you did it.

Click to expand...

Yes I see what you mean, I have been more poetic. The で particle marks あまいかおりで. I'm not sure gramatically speaking what that is called but in English it would be "by"

 

Mike Cash

骨も命も皆此の土地に埋めよう

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15 Mar 2002

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• 15 May 2015

• #6

What book are you reading? Is it a graded reader?

 

letslearn

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11 Sep 2013

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14

• 15 May 2015

• Thread starter
• #7

No it is a Library book called 下がり花 about the sagaribana flowers of Okinawa. It has a lot of pictures to help with vocabulary like
めしべ、pistil おしべ stamen etc.
One of my fellow classmates has a hobby of gardening, bonsai etc so he recommended it. I'm hoping to have a chat about them when we have free conversation in class.

 

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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• 15 May 2015

• #8

The use of desu/masu style made me think it was either a graded reader or perhaps something aimed at younger native readers. I seldom encounter that in books outside of direct speech quotes.

Pictures are indeed a boon.

Here's an illustration from the novel I'm currently reading:

I made it the wallpaper on my iPad. My wife says it is 渋い.