Japanese Language Help...

[Myoti]

Sounds like it would be saying "Don't talk about yourself." Translations can be... funny. o.o

[Aka-chan]

"Jibun katte" is treated as a "na" adjective and literally means "selfish" or "self-centered." So a literal translation of that would be "Don't say selfish things." It sounds a bit awkward, though, when put like that, and it's meant as a character critique, so the translation you've seen gets the spirit of it pretty well. It may also be just a common phrase that's been generally translated to capture its feeling a little better.

For instance (excuse me while I go off on a tangent), you may hear "suki na shiro" in some anime/manga. It literally means "do what you like" but has the tough-guy nuance to it and a hefty helping of cool indifference regarding the other party's next course of action. So in certain situations, I might translate it as loosely as "Whatever" in order to capture that.

[yukinon]

Loose translation does not make for helpfulness for the casual/lazy Japanese learner.

I wonder if any of that made sense.

[Aka-chan]

Sorry, translation's just so fun! But I did include the literal translation in the second sentence, so feel free to ignore everything else if you so desire. ^__^

[Myoti]

I translated an entire verse of this song the other day. It was awesome, though it wouldn't make much sense without a good of putting it together. XD

In fact, is was this line (it just sounded cool in the song, so I had to do it):
"Tatoe kurayami no naka
Michi o miushinattemo
Akiramenaide
Te o nobase
Hikari e to"

I got (hopefully something close to what it is, though very 'rough' translations >.>):
"For example, if you're inside the darkness
And lose sight of the path,
Don't yield,
Stretch out your hand
To the light and--"

Having Kanji lyrics really seems to help, too. o.o
たとえ　暗闇の中
道を見失っても
あきらめないで
手を伸ばせ
ヒカリへと

[Aka-chan]

The comp I'm on at the moment can't view the kanji, but that looks like an excellent translation, Myoti! What song is it? It sounds lovely. <3

Just one thing, the -temo in "miushinattemo" means "in spite of" or "even if", so it would be, "for example, even if you're inside... etc." But you did a great job!

[Myoti]

Alright, I wasn't totally sure of the -temo form.

The song is called "BRAND NEW WORLD," by D-51. I'll PM more about it.

[Aka-chan]

It just occurred to me this morning that I forgot about the "tatoe" in looking at this. This is more of a side note, because it does literally mean "for example", but the nuance on this with the "tatoe..-temo" means not only "even if" (-temo), but something more emphatic. More like "no matter what" and the "tatoe/for example" indicates a kind of "worst case scenario" for you to fill in (in this case, being in the darkness, etc.) It comes with a "come hell or high water" attitude that you'll probably see a lot in songs like these, so I thought I'd put that out there for later reference.

Example: "Tatoe ooame ga futtemo zehi kuru yo." "Even if it pours tomorrow, I'll definitely come."

[Myoti]

Alright, I was wondering about that. Somehow "for example" didn't quite seem like it should have fit. =p

[Azier the Swordsman]

Vocabulary Word of the Day:

Hanakuso

Translation: Booger

Literal Translation: A combination of the single words 'nose' and 'crap'.

Because of it's literal meaning, it is apparently commonly written with the last part in kana rather than the actual kanji character.

Yes, this is the same 'kuso' you hear often in subbed anime, often given translations unmentionable here.

[Myoti]

'Nosecrap.' That's great.
I must use it regularly now. XD

ハナクソ！

[Aka-chan]

XDD Thanks for sharing...

The "kuso" probably makes it mildly vulgar--for those who want something acceptable in conversations with host parents and the like, you can also use "hanamizu" ( 鼻水 )

[Tenshi no Ai]

I actually have a question to try and confirm something^^ Well, there's a few ways to say "no" in Japanese (each varying and stuff a little bit, like "dame" means no but can also been translated as "stop!" or "no good" etc) but I'm trying to get how to write/say one word properly: for the longest time (since it sounded that way) I always thought the word was written as "yada", but now that I'm payign closer attention to the woord, there's more of an "ii" emphasis on the end. So is it really more of an "iie da"? Even though the 'e' sounds alot more like an 'a'?

[Myoti]

Hanamizu? Sounds more like 'snot' or a runny nose. XD

[Aka-chan]

I actually have a question to try and confirm something^^ Well, there's a few ways to say "no" in Japanese (each varying and stuff a little bit, like "dame" means no but can also been translated as "stop!" or "no good" etc) but I'm trying to get how to write/say one word properly: for the longest time (since it sounded that way) I always thought the word was written as "yada", but now that I'm payign closer attention to the woord, there's more of an "ii" emphasis on the end. So is it really more of an "iie da"? Even though the 'e' sounds alot more like an 'a'?

It's actually a conversational pronounciation of "iya da" ("iya" meaning "distasteful, unlikeable"). I believe it's kind of a "shoot down" no, giving the connotation of "your suggestion/order/etc. finds no favor whatsoever with me and therefore I refuse." But all that wrapped up in "no."

[Azier the Swordsman]

Hanamizu? Sounds more like 'snot' or a runny nose. XD

Hanamizu's literal translation is 'nose water', so you are pretty much correct.

[Tenshi no Ai]

It's actually a conversational pronounciation of "iya da" ("iya" meaning "distasteful, unlikeable"). I believe it's kind of a "shoot down" no, giving the connotation of "your suggestion/order/etc. finds no favor whatsoever with me and therefore I refuse." But all that wrapped up in "no."

Oh ok, so it's "iya da" then^^ Yeah, it's one of the "no"'s that I was somehow able to distinguish how it's different from somethign like "dame" or "iie". A little different, but yeah I still use it properly^^ Thanks for the help!

[Shia Kyosuka]

Quick question.

What is the equivelent of "-er" in japanese?

as in, Driver, Builder, Maker, Gamer...?

[Raiden no Kishi]

Don't take my word for it, but I think adding "ka" to the end makes it so. For example, a mangaka is someone who creates manga, and an Aikidoka is someone who practices the martial art Aikido. But that's just my theory.

.rai//

[Azier the Swordsman]

Don't take my word for it, but I think adding "ka" to the end makes it so. For example, a mangaka is someone who creates manga, and an Aikidoka is someone who practices the martial art Aikido. But that's just my theory.

.rai//

Yes, that is correct.

[Aka-chan]

It really depends. It can also be "sha" or "shu" (kanji later) as in "untenshu" (driver) or "gakusha" (scholar). Or you could even just put "hito" on the verb to make it "the person who [verbs]" ("taberuhito"="the one who eats/the eater").

[Shia Kyosuka]

Honto ni arigatou! ^_^

another thing...

"or" in japanese?

[Aka-chan]

Generally you'd use "ka." As in "Neko ka inu ka, dochira ga suki?" "Do you like dogs or cats?" (Literally, "Cats or dogs, which do you like?").

[RubyJewelStone]

First of all, I would like to know if that kanji was somewhat accurate.

I was told that the meanings were as follows:

(from left)
Sherise: to exceed in/ special/ especially – a (crown) gem – mainly/ master
... a special gem

Dionne: to go/let out – great/ grandeur – gratitude
... a great person with gratitude

Alexis: beautiful – beauteous – eternal/ eternity – aspiration/ hope – to protect
... to have eternal beauty and to protect hope

Also, if it's possible could someone type it out so I can be able to copy and paste?
I'd really appreciate it.

Thanks.

[dyzzispell]

Could someone tell me if this is right? I am trying to write the word "fearless", or "no fear". Is this the right way to do it?
(osorenai)

Any help would be appreciated. Thanks!

[Aka-chan]

So those names…here’s the kanji, their readings, and meanings:
殊 – shu (read “kotoâ€

[dyzzispell]

Also, dyzzispell, that looks right. ^__^

Yay! Thanks so much!! ^_^

[RubyJewelStone]

Slightly belated thanks.

[Shia Kyosuka]

Boku no nihongo wa totemo ii natteiru yo!

So like, Probably the only thing I've needed to know is how do you say things like:

"Behind the chair"

"under the stairs"

"over the table"

"beside the TV"

...

Ya know, words that show placement.

Afterwards, it seems like I'll only need to learn kanji and fatten my vocab.

[Aka-chan]

Congrats on your Japanese work! Though, should you go to Japan, no matter how good your Japanese is, it's customary to deny it. People will constantly be exclaiming "Nihongo ga jouzu desu ne!" ["Your Japanese is so good!" Note: use "jouzu" (skillful), not "ii" (fine, good)], but even an "Arigatou" can sound arrogant. So, while I know exactly what you mean, if talking to someone Japanese, look somewhat shy (you can still look pleased) and tell them, "Iie, iie..."

For placement, use the noun, "no," and then the placement word. And because you're giving a location, chances are, you'll need a "ni" after it. Depends on the situation.
The mouse is behind the chair: "Nezumi wa isu no ushiro ni iru."
"Doko da?" (Where is it?)
"Kaidan no shita da." (Under the stairs.)

Over/on = ue
Beside = yoko

Ganbare ne!