Questions tagged [translation]

翻訳. This site does not provide a translation service. However, questions about translation are welcome provided that they have some academic merit. For example, questions about translating uncommon words, phrases that have different meanings in different contexts, and other non-trivial topics.

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Is my understanding for the phrase, なくてはならなくなる correct?

The original sentence from the light novel: もしもこの作戦が失敗したら、我々は、我々の宿願の為、カルペデイムに戦争を仕掛けなくてはならなくなる。 カルペデイム, Carpe Diem, is a fictional place in the light novel setting. I've found reference for ...
Daniel Tan's user avatar
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1 answer
3k views

How would you say " If you'd like to speak English, it's fine by me"?

The concept would be like, a Japanese asks you if you are OK with speaking English with him and you want to answer back " If you'd like to speak English (instead of Japanese), it's fine by me". I'm ...
Kaizokugari's user avatar
0 votes
1 answer
2k views

How is しまえば used? In what context and how it should translated to?

Was reading a light novel and this sentence popped up: ここまで動{うご}いてしまえば、フューネラルに気付{きづ}かれるのも時間の問題かもしれません。 フューネラル refers to an organisation within the light novel setting. I'm confused by the usage ...
Daniel Tan's user avatar
0 votes
2 answers
273 views

Does this sound like a native speaker? [closed]

does this sentence sound like a native speaker? 明日から、問題が有れば、私に話す前に、まずメールで会話の内容を送信します。お願いします。 Any suggestion are welcome. Thank you so much.
lambao's user avatar
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8 votes
1 answer
31k views

Japanese Dog Training Commands

My fiance and I will be moving to Japan sometime next year and are trying to prepare our dog for the experience by teaching her Japanese commands so she can be easily handled by kennels/vets/groomers/...
thanby's user avatar
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2 votes
2 answers
198 views

Questions about the phrase 「きっとおなががすいているだろう」?

I'm attempting to translate the story 「花咲かじいさん」. I want to understand this sentence better: きっとおなががすいているだろう I believe it is: きっと -> certainly おなががすいて -> from お腹が空く, having an empty stomach ...
Christopher Bennage's user avatar
1 vote
1 answer
391 views

What does 「そのせい」 mean?

Found a sentence: 屋上に来てしまったのもそのせい What does そのせい mean in that sentence?
User1's user avatar
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2 votes
3 answers
9k views

The meaning of そう

I know when placed after a verb it means "seems like" or "looks like", but what I want to know is what the そう in そう です か means. I know そう です か means "Is that so?" but I've seen そう used with other ...
Nate's user avatar
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4 votes
2 answers
157 views

Can "コンピュータ" be interpreted to include smartphones and tablets?

I need a noun that includes all of: (desktop computer, laptop, tablet, smartphone). Back in the day, in English, a "computer" normally only meant a desktop computer. These days, I think most people ...
Wrythe's user avatar
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-1 votes
2 answers
273 views

Is イングリッシュ a good translation of "Engrish"?

Is イングリッシュ a good translation of Engrish? The Japanese-language Wikipedia article on the subject only uses "イングリッシュ" at the start (presumably just as part of Wikipedia indicating how the subject of ...
Golden Cuy's user avatar
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0 votes
1 answer
424 views

What does 「だける」means in this sentence?

Found this in book that I've just read きっとその魅力がわかていただけるかと思います
User1's user avatar
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2 votes
1 answer
373 views

The difference between しなければ and するのでなければ?

Are they the same or is there another wording that is しないのでなければ? What does the latter mean? Does the するの in the front imply that it's something that has already been done? I'm interpreting it as ...
Suppel's user avatar
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0 votes
1 answer
1k views

What does 「たまらん」 mean?

Just found a book and read the synopsis: 余命一週間と宣告された“たまらん”こと玉木走太 Is this equivalent in meaning to 洒落にならない?
User's user avatar
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1 answer
179 views

What does 「もつか」 mean in this sentence?

I've been reading a novel and found this sentence. 牛のデカイ後頭部を見下ろしたのもつかの間、頭部と胴体の間から鳩がでてきた. What does もつか mean here?
User1's user avatar
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2 votes
1 answer
360 views

Help with お逃げになられるとは

I began reading manga (To Loveる) and I saw something I don't understand or rather why it is used there. The sentence is: まさか こんな“辺境”にまでお逃げになられるとはねエ・・・ I mostly understand but there's the ending ...
Danil Kolganov's user avatar
-3 votes
1 answer
150 views

Problems with some Japanese words [closed]

A guy complimented my wig on the Internet, and then he said "またそのカツラか ぶったら、写真載せてくださいね!" I did understand that he wants me to upload more pictures of it but I can't make sense of the first sentence? ...
Mairu's user avatar
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2 votes
1 answer
298 views

I'm trying to modify "cogito ergo sum" into "I write, therefore I am" - am I doing it right?

I apologize if I'm not making much sense, very much in the beginning of my studies. I'd like to modify the phrase "cogito ergo sum" into one that means 'I write, therefore I am'. What I came up with ...
dinchamion's user avatar
0 votes
1 answer
188 views

What does 度量が知れる mean?

For example here https://twitter.com/vladiii_ap_bot/status/321001378766000128. EPWING dictionary and Google search didn't help. 追従も度が過ぎると度量が知れるぞ、ダーニック。余を領王と呼ぶお前は、我が主人でもある。余はサーヴァント、そのことを否定はせん
user10296's user avatar
0 votes
1 answer
121 views

What is the meaning of the word 「から」 in this sentence?

Here is the sentence including the word. 丈少年をかこんでなごやかな子どもたちの写真をとらせてください。新聞に大きくのせますから。 I'm not sure if I can translate it as 'Then' like this: Please let me take a photograph of you kids ...
George's user avatar
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2 votes
2 answers
541 views

Meaning of 「半日相撲をとりつづけに取ったら...」

夏目漱石の「坊っちゃん」から 大工の兼公【かねこう】と肴屋【さかなや】の角【かく】をつれて、茂作【もさく】の人参畠【にんじんばたけ】をあらした事がある。人参の芽が出揃【でそろ】わぬ処【ところ】へ藁【わら】が一面に敷【し】いてあったから、その上で三人が半日[相撲]【すもう】をとりつづけに取ったら、人参がみんな踏【ふ】みつぶされてしまった。 Regarding the phrase in ...
seafood258's user avatar
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1 vote
1 answer
177 views

Translating "数年の歳月" in this context, is it a unit of time?

In the video game Chantelise, the epilogue starts with: それから数年の歳月が流れました The translated version just says: After several years And while that's a concise and accurate translation... I was ...
Malady's user avatar
  • 345
1 vote
3 answers
828 views

Would 日末 be a reasonable opposite to 日本?

As Japan is 日本, the origin of the sun or "Land of the Rising Sun" as it's sometimes put in English, would 日末 make sense as the "Land of the Setting Sun" as a west to Japan's east? For instance, ...
smithkm's user avatar
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1 vote
2 answers
494 views

Please explain the end of this conversation, especially the あってこそ part of it

I've taken up reading the manga "Fruits Basket", with the intention of trying to understand every word and grammar point if I possibly can. There is a conversation, starting on page 27 of the first ...
RealSkeptic's user avatar
2 votes
1 answer
227 views

What does 「きみをしたって きたというが」 mean?

I have found it in a manga in a situation that there is a news reporter asking the following sentence to a boy whom the reporter thought that he is living in a ruin building with a group of little ...
George's user avatar
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7 votes
1 answer
1k views

Grammatical Pattern : VerbてのNoun

What does this grammatical structure/pattern mean? I am trying to understand the meaning of the following sentence where the VerbてのNoun pattern appears. "昭和64年に起きた誘拐事件を巡る物語だけに、“昭和な顔”を買われての起用だったという"...
takwing's user avatar
  • 267
0 votes
1 answer
119 views

Can someone help me understand this? (From the terms to an insurance policy)

I am working through some terms to an insurance policy at the moment and I came across something that doesn't quite make sense to me. Under the terms for 個人賠償責任保険金 (Insurance Payment for Damages/...
zkayser's user avatar
  • 45
6 votes
2 answers
5k views

"Also..." interjection in Japanese; appending an additional request or afterthought

In Japanese, how would one go about appending an additional request or afterthought? For example: 1: お水【みず】をお願【ねが】いします。 "Water please." 2: あっ、(・・・)、氷【こおり】を入【い】れていただけませんか。 "..Ah also, could ...
seafood258's user avatar
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1 vote
1 answer
464 views

Can somebody please please help me translate this...? [closed]

Can you please help me translate the writing on this piece of paper? I've been working on this for the past four hours by looking up the characters one by one and using translation websites and Google ...
Christine's user avatar
0 votes
1 answer
3k views

Listing modifiers with 〜であり

Taken from an educational book with parallel English literal translation. The original work is Mishima's "Patriotism". 麗子は良人の親友であり、たびたびこの家へも遊びに来た元気な青年将校の顔を思い浮べた。 Reiko recalled the faces of ...
user10216's user avatar
  • 113
2 votes
1 answer
213 views

What does " 自分の胸に聞いて頂戴 " mean? Not Literally

Not the literal meaning, I know its some sort of tsukkomi, but I can't quite figure out what it means. The best idea I've got is something along the lines of "give me back my concern" or something ...
kerambit's user avatar
3 votes
3 answers
2k views

How do I properly tell someone to proceed with a transaction in an email?

Today, I received the following email after an online purchase: この度はご注文いただき誠にありがとうございます。 頂きましたご注文の発送方法について、EMS(国際スピード郵便)による配送となりますので、 送料が1,500円かかります。 よろしければ、クレジット決済金額の変更をし、商品を発送いたします。 ...
JessicaK's user avatar
  • 193
3 votes
1 answer
299 views

How to translate 以前の問題

How would you translate "以前の問題" in the next sentence: 作文が上手かどうかは、日本語能力以前の問題である。 Thank you! )
Fara's user avatar
  • 1,565
1 vote
1 answer
80 views

"The way she went about things" as 彼のする方

I'm working to translate this particular line, wondering if it accurately puts across this idea. Alternatives are welcome too! 彼{かれ}のする方{かた}
Ryan's user avatar
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5 votes
2 answers
413 views

Referring to the English language

I found myself thinking about how to refer to the English language in Japanese. I realise of course that English originated here in England, and then by colonisation was brought into America, but ...
AJF's user avatar
  • 221
3 votes
1 answer
118 views

"Last edited by" - how to translate?

I'm struggling to understand how to translate "Last Edited By", for an online document. I think there must be another english phrase to use, and translate that, but I just cannot think what it could ...
VictorySaber's user avatar
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2 votes
2 answers
273 views

Parsing and making sense of this sentence with multiple が's

So I was signing up for an account at a website, and I came across this line: 写真があった方があなたがどんな人なのかわかるし、フレンドも作りやすくなります。 I have never come across a sentence with 3 が's in it, much less one with 3 of ...
akj's user avatar
  • 661
4 votes
1 answer
917 views

名前 - used for the name of something?

I am used to seeing 名前 on application forms. But can 名前 be used on a form where the name of an inanimate object is required? For example an application form that asks for the name of... your boat. 名前:...
VictorySaber's user avatar
  • 1,859
3 votes
1 answer
123 views

Translation - "form" (internet form you fill out, NOT an application)

A translation question for ya :) I'm in need of the word for "form". In this case it is a form on a webpage a user fills out to answer survey questions ("how did you think you did? did you enjoy it?")....
VictorySaber's user avatar
  • 1,859
0 votes
1 answer
10k views

What is the direct translation of ゆっくりする in English? [closed]

I don't know what the direct translation of ゆっくりする in English is. Do you know?
Friendly Ghost's user avatar
1 vote
1 answer
145 views

What does 許しを乞い mean?

What does 許しを乞い mean? And especially what's the role of 乞い here? The full phrase is: まさか、また許しを乞いに参ったのではありますまいな!?
botichelli's user avatar
1 vote
1 answer
628 views

How should the proverb "能ある鷹は爪を隠す" be understood?

The literal translation of "能ある鷹は爪を隠す" is “The wise hawk hides its talons.” But what should I understand the proverb as meaning? Is it just about humbleness, or about not letting your adversaries ...
Golden Cuy's user avatar
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1 vote
2 answers
575 views

What is the meaning of 第ー部

In attempting to translate an advertising poster, I ran into some difficulties. The poster reads: 第一部 ガールズバンドライブ 第二部 カウントダウンライブ The katakana is easy enough: 'Girl Band Live / Countdown Live', but ...
jimbotherisenclown's user avatar
1 vote
1 answer
389 views

Emphatic / Focus loss upon translating between active and passive sentences?

Background information (Do point out if I got anything wrong along the way) So I'm working through Jay Rubin's Making Sense of Japanese, and I've familiarized myself with the concept of zero pronouns, ...
akj's user avatar
  • 661
0 votes
1 answer
225 views

Asking about "time sent" and "time received"

What is the proper syntax for questions like "When was this message sent?" or "When did you receive my message?". Another example would be "What time was it when was this message received?". Beyond ...
JNgpd's user avatar
8 votes
1 answer
829 views

Add English nuances to Japanese "いいえ"

Here are some natural ways to say "no" in English (please forgive the language): No God no Hell no F*** no How to include the English nuances in Japanese? Best attempts: No - いいえ or ううん God no - ...
Drakes's user avatar
  • 265
3 votes
2 answers
364 views

Need help translating a sentence - あるひ?

I'm trying to read a children's book and have already gotten stumped by the first sentence. "context" The picture shows an autumn day. It reads: ある つめたい かぜの ふく ひ。 So far I've got ... (...
C.M.'s user avatar
  • 55
1 vote
1 answer
473 views

Understanding 「あきらめたらそこで試合終了なので、最後まで頑張ります」

Please look at this sentence: あきらめたらそこで試合終了なので、最後まで頑張ります How should I understand it? I tried to understand the meaning, and I think it means, "if you abandon, the test will be over at once (which ...
Pavalovski's user avatar
2 votes
1 answer
439 views

Which translation of "Mongolia" is most suitable for everyday use?

Which translation of "Mongolia" is most suitable for everyday conversation? The Japanese edition of Wikipedia's entry on Mongolia has the article title of モンゴル国, Wiktionary translates it as "モンゴル" ...
Golden Cuy's user avatar
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2 votes
1 answer
956 views

Translation help please – Meaning of 「〜というが」

I am working on a translation and came across this phrase: 「お客様は神様」というが、客からのクレームをニーズとし、それにチャレンジしていく企業家精神は、どの時代にあっても必要である。 I am having trouble following the structure of this sentence – I follow ...
zkayser's user avatar
  • 45
0 votes
1 answer
131 views

Translation of the sentence and its relation with the text in circle brackets

I can't completely understand the second sentence, especially connecting the parts in circle brackets with the narration. I tried to make a translation, could somebody please check if I'm ...
renchan's user avatar
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