Tuesday, August 26, 2008

Useful

Short update in between paper-preparation busyness. Deadlines suck...

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come in handy
役に立つ

Example:
This looks like it could come in handy.
これは役に立てそう。

Comment:
Maybe this phrase will come in handy someday.

Wednesday, August 20, 2008

Let's do it

I'm down.
I'm game.
Sounds good.
Count me in.
I'm up for that.

いいね。
行こうか。
俺も入れといて。
それはやりたいな。

Comment:
All of these mean you want to do it. So if a friend asks you if you want to go somewhere or do something, you could answer with any one of them if you're interested.

Tuesday, August 19, 2008

Similarity of People

follow in someone's footsteps
足跡をたどる

Example:
She's following in her brother's footsteps by getting into Osaka University.
阪大に入学できて、彼はお兄さんの足跡をたどってる。

Comment:
People probably don't really like being told they're following in someone's footsteps since they want to be living life their own way.

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a chip off the old block
お父さんにそっくり

Example:
He's a chip off the old block.
彼はお父さんのそっくりやね。

Comment:
There are no gender words in the English, but I think it is indeed true that this saying is pretty much exclusively used for males.

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Like father like son.
蛙の子は蛙。

Comment:
This isn't all that true. I'm probably nothing like my father (at least, I hope so...).

Monday, August 18, 2008

Short

concise
簡潔

Example:
His presentation was very concise and to the point.
彼の発表は要点を押さえて簡潔やった。

Comment:
This has a positive image.

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brief
短い

Example:
His explanation was very brief.
彼の説明は短かった。

Comment:
This is fairly neutral, though it might be slightly negative depending on the situation.

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terse
簡明

Example:
He grunted out a terse reply.
簡明な返事を言い出した。

Comment:
This has a negative image.

To Specialize or not to Specialize

one-trick pony
一つしか才能のない人

Example:
That boss is a one-trick pony. Just avoid its fire breath and you can't lose.
あのボスキャラは1つの攻撃しかないよ。あの火吐きを避けたら、負けられへん。

Comment:
This word has a negative image, I think. Also, no good translation for this showed up on ALC. Is there any Japanese expression for someone who is only good at one thing?

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jack of all trades, master of none
多芸は無芸。

Example:
You can't beat experts if you're just a jack of all trades, master of none.
多芸でも無芸ならエキスパートより勝てないで。

Comment:
It's sort of hard to translate since the Japanese is a saying, but the English is a noun that describes someone. Just "jack of all trades" probably has a positive image, but if you add master of none, then it becomes negative.



I guess I strive to be a master of all trades (except art...).

Saturday, August 16, 2008

Competing

go for the gold
成功のために全力を尽くす (less translation, more explanation...)

Comment:
This probably originates from the Olympics, where getting gold means winning, but it is used generally to mean trying hard to win.

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If you can't beat them, join them.
長いものには巻かれろ。

Comment:
No point trying to win something you can't win.

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give it one's all
全力を尽くす

Example:
Obama gave it his all to win the Democratic nomination.
オバマは民主党の大統領候補指名のため全力を尽くした。

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sweet victory
胸のすく勝利

Example:
Winning that long match was a very sweet victory.
あんな長い試合を勝ったのは胸のすく勝利やったな。

Friday, August 15, 2008

Fire

fire up an engine
エンジンをかける

Example:
The racers fired up their engines as they waited for the gunshot.
発砲に待ちながら、レーサーはエンジンをかけた。

Comment:
I think fire up can probably also be used when starting up things other than an engine. Being fired up also means being excited as was written in a previous post.

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fight fire with fire
毒をもって毒を制す。

Comment:
This phrase is used when dealing with a problem by using the same thing in response.

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add fuel to the fire
火に油を注ぐ

Example:
Don't provoke him. There's no need to add more fuel to the fire.
あいつを挑発するな。さらに火に油を注ぐ意味がないよ。

Comment:
This phrase is used to refer to making an already bad situation worse.

Tuesday, August 12, 2008

Borrowing

cover
つける

Can you cover dinner? I'll pay you back later.
飯はつけてくれる?後で返すし。

Comment:
This is used when going out with friends and you realize you have no money and need a friend to pay for you.

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tab
つけ

Put it on my tab.
つけにしておいてくれ。

Comment:
This is used when you need the store to cover you. The store might have a running total of how much money you have "put on your tab" which you would pay back later. I think this might be more common in small rural towns in the US - most normal people don't do this but you'll see it in movies a lot.

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owe
借りがある

I owe my friend $20.
友達に20ドルの借りがある。

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I owe you one.
恩に着るよ。

Comment:
This is used when you are really thankful for something. It doesn't actually mean you will repay them anything, it's just an expression of thanks in normal usage.

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Neither a borrower nor a lender be.
借り手にも貸し手にもなるな。

Comment:
I think this phrase is pretty stupid. I don't think there's any problem with borrowing when you have to and forming debt that you repay since it helps form bonds.

Wednesday, August 6, 2008

Separation

Went to Karuizawa and back and have been busy for a bit. Time for a new post!

parting is such sweet sorrow
別れはとてもつらいことだ。

Comment:
This line was actually created by Shakespeare. I'll need to find a Japanese translation of the original work sometime in the library I think this ALC translation isn't very good. It misses the meaning of sweet which has a good meaning.

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I'll miss you.
君がいなくなったら寂しくなるよ。

Comment:
I really wish Japanese had a better way of saying this. I'll miss you, while usable in such a serious way, is also often used in a more light-hearted way. Am I weird for feeling a little embarrassed by saying the Japanese?

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bon voyage
(旅に行く人へ)いってらっしゃい

Comment:
French, but it's pretty standard in English too.

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Have a safe trip.
気をつけて行ってきてね。

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Have fun!
楽しんできてね!