on paper
書類上
turn out well
うまくいく
Example:
The idea looked good on paper, but it didn't turn out so well in the end.
書類上ではいいアイディアだったのに、結局うまくいかなかったな。
Clip
----
count
重要である
Example:
It's what's on the inside that counts.
大切なのは中身です。
Clip
Comment:
That's why you can't judge a book by its cover.
Wednesday, October 14, 2009
Saturday, October 10, 2009
Uphill Battle
uphill battle
苦しい戦い
Example:
It looks like peace in the Middle East is going to be an uphill battle.
中東での平和が困難な闘いになりそうだな。
Clip
Comment:
The world would be a better place if only it wasn't so hard...
苦しい戦い
Example:
It looks like peace in the Middle East is going to be an uphill battle.
中東での平和が困難な闘いになりそうだな。
Clip
Comment:
The world would be a better place if only it wasn't so hard...
Friday, October 9, 2009
Rules
follow the rules
規則に従う
Example:
If you don't follow the rules, someone'll get hurt.
ルールを守らないと誰かがけがするよ。
Clip
----
play by the rules
フェアプレーする
Example:
The game's no fun if you don't play by the rules.
フェアプレーしないと楽しくないよ。
Clip
Comment:
You can use this expression even when it's not a game, in which case it means the same as follow the rules.
----
bend the rules
規則を曲げる
Example:
I bend the rules sometimes when I have to.
必要な時はルールを曲げる。
Clip
----
break the rules
規則を破る
Example:
Rules are meant to be broken.
ルールは破られるためにある。
Clip
Comment:
No they're not, let's all follow the rules like good people...
規則に従う
Example:
If you don't follow the rules, someone'll get hurt.
ルールを守らないと誰かがけがするよ。
Clip
----
play by the rules
フェアプレーする
Example:
The game's no fun if you don't play by the rules.
フェアプレーしないと楽しくないよ。
Clip
Comment:
You can use this expression even when it's not a game, in which case it means the same as follow the rules.
----
bend the rules
規則を曲げる
Example:
I bend the rules sometimes when I have to.
必要な時はルールを曲げる。
Clip
----
break the rules
規則を破る
Example:
Rules are meant to be broken.
ルールは破られるためにある。
Clip
Comment:
No they're not, let's all follow the rules like good people...
Sunday, August 9, 2009
Monday, July 13, 2009
Smoking gun
smoking gun
煙が出ている銃
Example:
Comments are dead. Twitter holds the smoking gun.
日本語出てこない。
Clip
(Quote by Dana Oshiro from ReadWriteWeb)
----
smoking gun
決定的証拠
Example:
We never did find a smoking gun in Iraq.
イラクに決定的証拠を結局見つからなかったな。
Clip
Comment:
The term smoking gun was used a lot by the media in the run up to the Iraq invasion.
煙が出ている銃
Example:
Comments are dead. Twitter holds the smoking gun.
日本語出てこない。
Clip
(Quote by Dana Oshiro from ReadWriteWeb)
----
smoking gun
決定的証拠
Example:
We never did find a smoking gun in Iraq.
イラクに決定的証拠を結局見つからなかったな。
Clip
Comment:
The term smoking gun was used a lot by the media in the run up to the Iraq invasion.
Sunday, July 12, 2009
Idioms
Found this cool page at http://www.listen-it.com/ It focuses on English idioms, so it may be a little difficult, but the explanations are really good, so I highly recommend checking it out.
Saturday, July 11, 2009
Guess What
guess what?
ちょっと聞いて
Example:
Hey, guess what? I finally updated my blog.
ねえ、聞いて聞いて。やっとブログを更新した。
Clip
----
guess what?
どうなったと思う?
Example:
I walked into Starbucks and guess what? The professor was there sipping down a latte.
スターバックスに入って何だと思う？先生はそこにラッテをすすていた。
Clip
Comment:
Guess what is a casual phrase probably used to make a friend seem involved in an otherwise boring story.
ちょっと聞いて
Example:
Hey, guess what? I finally updated my blog.
ねえ、聞いて聞いて。やっとブログを更新した。
Clip
----
guess what?
どうなったと思う?
Example:
I walked into Starbucks and guess what? The professor was there sipping down a latte.
スターバックスに入って何だと思う？先生はそこにラッテをすすていた。
Clip
Comment:
Guess what is a casual phrase probably used to make a friend seem involved in an otherwise boring story.
Tuesday, May 26, 2009
Heart
heart of gold
思いやりのある心
Example:
You have a heart of gold, helping out those kids all the time.
あの子供たちをいつも手助けしてるって、君は思いやりのある心があるよ。
Clip
----
heart of the matter
事の核心
Example:
Aha! We've finally gotten to the heart of the matter.
はッ、やっと問題の核心に触れてきた。
Clip
----
at the heart of
の中心に
Example:
Centuries of misunderstanding are at the heart of the current conflict.
今の紛争の中心に数世紀にわたる誤解があります。
Clip
思いやりのある心
Example:
You have a heart of gold, helping out those kids all the time.
あの子供たちをいつも手助けしてるって、君は思いやりのある心があるよ。
Clip
----
heart of the matter
事の核心
Example:
Aha! We've finally gotten to the heart of the matter.
はッ、やっと問題の核心に触れてきた。
Clip
----
at the heart of
の中心に
Example:
Centuries of misunderstanding are at the heart of the current conflict.
今の紛争の中心に数世紀にわたる誤解があります。
Clip
Breath
out of breath
息を切らして
Example:
I'm out of breath after that long jog.
長くジョギングして息を切らせてた。
Clip
----
catch one's breath
息が正常にもどる。
Example:
I want to catch my breath a bit, wait up.
待て、ちょっと息ができるまで休憩したい。
Clip
Comment:
I don't think that Japanese was very good. Not sure if there's an ideal Japanese counterpart.
----
catch one's breath/take a breather
一息つく
Example:
I don't even get a chance to catch my breath with all the work that piles up.
こんだけ仕事が溜まってきて、一息つく機会もない。
Clip
息を切らして
Example:
I'm out of breath after that long jog.
長くジョギングして息を切らせてた。
Clip
----
catch one's breath
息が正常にもどる。
Example:
I want to catch my breath a bit, wait up.
待て、ちょっと息ができるまで休憩したい。
Clip
Comment:
I don't think that Japanese was very good. Not sure if there's an ideal Japanese counterpart.
----
catch one's breath/take a breather
一息つく
Example:
I don't even get a chance to catch my breath with all the work that piles up.
こんだけ仕事が溜まってきて、一息つく機会もない。
Clip
Saturday, May 23, 2009
Wednesday, May 20, 2009
Friday, January 23, 2009
Doubt
doubt
疑い
Examples:
There's no doubt that the culprit is in this room.
この部屋に犯人がいるということはまず間違いない。
Clip
I don't doubt your driving abilities.
君の運転能力には疑いはないよ。
Clip
When in doubt, tell the truth.
迷ったら本当の事を話しなさい。
Clip
Comment:
A (not so famous) quote by Mark Twain, author of Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn. One way of interpreting it is that it's better to tell the truth than to lie. Another way is that if you're sure it's for the better, you should lie. I like the second one.
疑い
Examples:
There's no doubt that the culprit is in this room.
この部屋に犯人がいるということはまず間違いない。
Clip
I don't doubt your driving abilities.
君の運転能力には疑いはないよ。
Clip
When in doubt, tell the truth.
迷ったら本当の事を話しなさい。
Clip
Comment:
A (not so famous) quote by Mark Twain, author of Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn. One way of interpreting it is that it's better to tell the truth than to lie. Another way is that if you're sure it's for the better, you should lie. I like the second one.
Monday, January 19, 2009
Confused
confused
混乱した
Example:
That's a really confusing textbook.
あれは本当に混乱させる教科書だな。
Clip
----
perplexed
まごついた
Example:
I'm perplexed by how humans can kill each other so easily.
俺は人間がそう簡単に人間を殺せることにまごついてる。
Clip
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baffled
困惑した
Example:
That student was baffled by the complex math problem.
あの学生は複雑な数学問題に困惑した。
Clip
----
puzzled
戸惑った
Example:
That girl has a puzzled look on her face.
あの女の子は戸惑い顔をしてるね。
Clip
----
bewildered
当惑した
Example:
He was bewildered by suddenly hearing that class was canceled.
彼は授業が中止になったっていきなり聞いて当惑した。
Clip
Comment:
While the Japanese and the English are all different, the meanings are all similar and they can probably be used interchangably. The most common of these words is confused, which you probably knew already. Perplexed and puzzled are also used fairly often, with baffled and bewildered probably less common or maybe more poetic.
混乱した
Example:
That's a really confusing textbook.
あれは本当に混乱させる教科書だな。
Clip
----
perplexed
まごついた
Example:
I'm perplexed by how humans can kill each other so easily.
俺は人間がそう簡単に人間を殺せることにまごついてる。
Clip
----
baffled
困惑した
Example:
That student was baffled by the complex math problem.
あの学生は複雑な数学問題に困惑した。
Clip
----
puzzled
戸惑った
Example:
That girl has a puzzled look on her face.
あの女の子は戸惑い顔をしてるね。
Clip
----
bewildered
当惑した
Example:
He was bewildered by suddenly hearing that class was canceled.
彼は授業が中止になったっていきなり聞いて当惑した。
Clip
Comment:
While the Japanese and the English are all different, the meanings are all similar and they can probably be used interchangably. The most common of these words is confused, which you probably knew already. Perplexed and puzzled are also used fairly often, with baffled and bewildered probably less common or maybe more poetic.
Sunday, January 18, 2009
Tips for writing papers
think outside the box
これまでとは全く違った観点で考える
He succeeds because he always thinks outside the box.
かれはいつも違う観点で考えてるから成功できるよ。
Clip
Comment:
Someone who thinks outside the box is very creative.
----
pay attention to details
細かいことに注意する
She's never made a mistake since she always pays attention to the details.
いつも細かいことに注意するおかげで彼女は間違ったことがない。
Clip
Comment:
I tend not to do this well enough.
----
Slow and steady wins the race.
急がば回れ。
Clip
Comment:
This originates from one of Aesop's fables where a turtle that moved slowly but constantly beat a rabbit who ran fast but took breaks to the finish line. Though I still think fast and steady is the best...
これまでとは全く違った観点で考える
He succeeds because he always thinks outside the box.
かれはいつも違う観点で考えてるから成功できるよ。
Clip
Comment:
Someone who thinks outside the box is very creative.
----
pay attention to details
細かいことに注意する
She's never made a mistake since she always pays attention to the details.
いつも細かいことに注意するおかげで彼女は間違ったことがない。
Clip
Comment:
I tend not to do this well enough.
----
Slow and steady wins the race.
急がば回れ。
Clip
Comment:
This originates from one of Aesop's fables where a turtle that moved slowly but constantly beat a rabbit who ran fast but took breaks to the finish line. Though I still think fast and steady is the best...
Friday, January 16, 2009
Leave alone
I think all of these have the same English, but the nuance or meaning is slightly different in each case.
leave alone
ほっておく
Example:
Just leave that guy alone; he's not going to listen.
あいつをもうほっておけ、言うことを書かないからさ。
Clip
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leave alone
そっとしておく
Example:
Let's leave him alone for now; he probably needs some time to think it over.
彼のこと、今はそっとしておいてあげよう、おそらく考える時間がいるだろう。
Clip
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leave alone
残す
Example:
She left the kids alone at home.
家に子供たちを残した。
Clip
----
leave alone
〜きりにしてあげる
Example:
Oh, uh, well I'll just go ahead and leave you two alone then.
あ、え、じゃ二人きりにしてあげとくよ。
Clip
----
leave alone
手を出さない
Example:
You better leave my girlfriend alone.
彼女に手を出さないんだぞ。
Clip
Comment:
Though I think "You better not lay your hands on my girlfriend" is the better English translation (and is probably easier to remember too).
leave alone
ほっておく
Example:
Just leave that guy alone; he's not going to listen.
あいつをもうほっておけ、言うことを書かないからさ。
Clip
----
leave alone
そっとしておく
Example:
Let's leave him alone for now; he probably needs some time to think it over.
彼のこと、今はそっとしておいてあげよう、おそらく考える時間がいるだろう。
Clip
----
leave alone
残す
Example:
She left the kids alone at home.
家に子供たちを残した。
Clip
----
leave alone
〜きりにしてあげる
Example:
Oh, uh, well I'll just go ahead and leave you two alone then.
あ、え、じゃ二人きりにしてあげとくよ。
Clip
----
leave alone
手を出さない
Example:
You better leave my girlfriend alone.
彼女に手を出さないんだぞ。
Clip
Comment:
Though I think "You better not lay your hands on my girlfriend" is the better English translation (and is probably easier to remember too).
Thursday, January 15, 2009
Naturals
a natural ~
生まれながらの
Example:
He's a natural soccer-player.
彼は生まれながらのサッカー選手だぜ。
Clip
----
have a talent for
の才能がある
Example:
She has some real talent for the piano.
彼女は本当にピアノの才能があるね。
Clip
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have a knack for
の才がある
Example:
You've got a knack for learning languages.
君は語学の才があるよ.
Clip
Comment:
I think the strength of the expression goes from top to bottom; that is, a natural probably has the most ability, followed by a talented person, and someone with a knack probably has the least ability of the three. But they're all still high compliments.
生まれながらの
Example:
He's a natural soccer-player.
彼は生まれながらのサッカー選手だぜ。
Clip
----
have a talent for
の才能がある
Example:
She has some real talent for the piano.
彼女は本当にピアノの才能があるね。
Clip
----
have a knack for
の才がある
Example:
You've got a knack for learning languages.
君は語学の才があるよ.
Clip
Comment:
I think the strength of the expression goes from top to bottom; that is, a natural probably has the most ability, followed by a talented person, and someone with a knack probably has the least ability of the three. But they're all still high compliments.
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
Slow
It's pretty common in English to use a simile to describe slowness. Some common ones are:
as slow as molasses
糖蜜の動きのようにひどく遅い
as slow as a turtle
亀の動きのようにひどくのろい
as slow as a snail
カタツムリの動きのようにひどくのろい
Example:
That train is moving as slow as a snail due to the snow.
雪のせいであの電車はひどくのろい。
Clip
Comment:
This is just my opinion, but molasses is faster than a turtle which is faster than a snail.
In Tokyo without microphone, so no clips until end of the week.
as slow as molasses
糖蜜の動きのようにひどく遅い
as slow as a turtle
亀の動きのようにひどくのろい
as slow as a snail
カタツムリの動きのようにひどくのろい
Example:
That train is moving as slow as a snail due to the snow.
雪のせいであの電車はひどくのろい。
Clip
Comment:
This is just my opinion, but molasses is faster than a turtle which is faster than a snail.
In Tokyo without microphone, so no clips until end of the week.
Monday, January 12, 2009
Continuing the blog
Well, it's been a long time since I've posted to this blog, and hopefully I can make shorter but more consistent posts. From now on, I'm going to try recording sound files of the example sentences. I'll say the sentence once slowly, and then once at my normal English speaking speed.
So without further ado, on with the blog!
----
without further ado
さっさと
Example:
So without further ado, on with the blog!
さっさとブログを続けましょう！
Clip
Comment:
This line has a sort of fancy nuance attached.
----
back by popular demand
よくある要求で戻った (アルクでなくて、適当翻訳；；）
Example:
So the blog is back by popular demand.
よくある要求によってブログが戻ってきた。
Clip
So without further ado, on with the blog!
----
without further ado
さっさと
Example:
So without further ado, on with the blog!
さっさとブログを続けましょう！
Clip
Comment:
This line has a sort of fancy nuance attached.
----
back by popular demand
よくある要求で戻った (アルクでなくて、適当翻訳；；）
Example:
So the blog is back by popular demand.
よくある要求によってブログが戻ってきた。
Clip
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