| From: | Avenger <Avenger@*******.DEMON.CO.UK> |
|---|---|
| Subject: | Japanese Language (Words for those who know none) |
| Date: | Fri, 28 Aug 1998 23:01:59 +0100 |
Japanese I use in some of my posts for the character Shado, and I
recently noticed a request for the Japanese for "vengeance". (Which I
don't know - yet) I appreciate that the following isn't of interest to
everyone, but I did think it sufficiently interesting (considering the
Japanese background of Shadowrun) to post to this list.
Apologies to those who couldn't give a damn, kindly discontinue reading.
The following is only a brief coverage of various words and phrases, and
while hardly comprehensive, might just help a few people to add a little
localised colour to their characters.
Unfortunately because off the limitations of mail transport through the
list, I cannot include accents, umlauts and other speech intonation
marks. Sorry.
I also have a *large* compilation of Cyberpunk/Shadowrun slang available
which will not be posted to this list (because of size) If anyone wants
it, mail me. (HTML version only)
There is a utility available from WinSite and a couple of other places
called WinTrans (Win 95/98 only) Which has around 24 (limited)
dictionaries for various languages - each library is around 1.2 mb too
download and does save quite a bit of trouble when searching for foreign
words. The dictionaries are not complete, but then that's to be
expected from shareware.
+++++++++
Anyway, Japanese word list. For those who use such things.
Yes = Hai
No = Iie
Thank you = Arigato
Thank you very much = Arigato gozaimasu
You're welcome = Douitashimashite
Please = Douzo
Excuse me = sumimasen, shitsurei shimasu
Hello = Kon-nichiwa
Goodbye = Sayounara
So long = jaamataashita
Good morning = O hayou gozaimasu
Good afternoon = Kon-nichiwa
Good evening = Konbanwa
Good night = Oyasuminasai
I do not understand = Wakarimasen
How do you say this in English? = Kore wa nihongo de nan to iimasuka?
Do you speak ... = Anata wa ...go wo hanasemasuka
English = Eigo
French = Furansugo
German = Doitsugo
Spanish = Supeingo
Chinese = Chuugokugo
I = watashi, watakushi
We = watashi tachi, wareware
You (singular, familiar) = kimi
You (singular, formal) = anata
You (plural) = anatagata
They = karera
What is your name? = Anata no namae wa nan to iimasu ka?
Nice to meet you. = O-ai dekite ureshii desu.
How are you? = O-genki desu ka
Good = Ii, Yoi
Bad = Warui, Yokunai
So so = Souda neh, Maamaa desu, Bochi-bochi desu
Wife = Kanai, Tsuma
Husband = Shujin, Otto
Daughter = Musume
Son = Musuko
Mother = Haha, Okaasan
Father = Chichi, Otousan
Friend = Tomodachi
Where is the bathroom? Where is the toilet? = Toire wa doko desu ka?
zero = zero
one = ichi
two = ni
three = san
four = yon
five = go
six = roku
seven = nana
eight = hachi
nine = kyuu
ten = juu
eleven = juu ichi
twelve = juu ni
thirteen = juu san
fourteen = juu yon
fifteen = juu go
sixteen = juu roku
seventeen = juu nana
eighteen = juu hachi
nineteen = juu kyu
twenty = ni juu
twenty one = ni juu ichi
thirty = san juu
forty = yon juu
fifty = go juu
sixty = roku juu
seventy = nana juu
eighty = hachi juu
ninety = kyuu juu
one hundred = hyaku
one thousand = sen
one million = hyaku man
How much does this cost? = Korewa ikura desuka.
What is this? = korewa nan desuka.
I'll buy it. = Sore wo kaimasu.
I would like to buy ... = Sore wo kaitai nodesu.
Do you have ... = ... wa arimasuka.
Do you accept credit cards? = Kurejiti to kahdo de kaemasuka.
Open = Aku
Closed = Shimatteiru
Postcard = E hagaki
Stamps = Kitte
A little = Sukoshi
A lot = Takusan
All = Zenbu
Breakfast = Chohshoku
Lunch = Chuushoku
Dinner = Yuushoku
Vegetarian = Saishoku shugisha
Cheers! = Kanpai
Please bring the bill. = Kanjouwo onegai shimasu.
Bread = Pan
Beverage = Nomimono
Coffee = Koohii
Tea = Ocha, Koucha
Juice = Juusu
Water = Mizu
Beer = Biiru
Wine = Wain
Salt = Shio
Pepper = Kosho
Meat = Niku
Beef = Gyuu niku, Biifu
Pork = Buta niku, Pooku
Fish = Sakana
Poultry = Tori
Vegetable = Yasai
Fruit = Kudamono
Potato = Jagaimo, Poteto
Salad = Sarada
Dessert = Desaato
Ice cream = Aisu kuriimu
Where is ...? = ... wa doko desuka.
How much is the fare? = Unchin wa ikura desuka.
Ticket = Kippu
One ticket to ..., please. = Kippu wo ichimai onegaishimasu.
Where are you going? = Dokoe ikimasuka.
Where do you live? = Dokoni sunde imasuka.
Train = Kisha, Ressha
Bus = Basu
Subway, Underground = Chikatetsu
Airport = Kuukou
Train station = Eki
Bus station = Basu tei
Subway station, Underground station = Chikatetsu no eki
Departure = Shuppatsu
Arrival = Touchaku
Car rental agency = Renta car no eigyousho
Parking = Chuusha
Hotel = Hoteru
Room = Heya
Reservation = Yoyaku
Are there any vacancies for tonight? = Aita heyaga arimasuka.
No vacancies = Aita heyawa arimasen.
Passport = Pasupooto
Left = Hidari
Right = Migi
Straight = Massugu
Up = Ue
Down = Shita
Far = Tooku
Near = Chikaku
Long = Nagai
Short = Mijikai
Map = Chizu
Tourist Information = (Ryokou)Annaisho
Post office = Yuubinkyoku
Museum = Hakubutsu kan
Bank = Ginkou
Police station = Keisatsusho
Hospital = Byouin
Pharmacy, Chemists = Yakkyoku
Store, Shop = Mise
Restaurant = Resutoran, Shokudou
School = Gakkou
Church = Kyoukai
Restrooms = Toire
Street = Toori
Square = Hiroba
Mountain = Yama
Hill = Oka
Valley = Tani(ma)
Ocean = Umi
Lake = Mizu umi
River = Kawa
Swimming Pool = Puuru
Tower = Tawaa, Tou
Bridge = Hashi
What time is it? = Nanji desuka.
7:13, Seven thirteen = 7:13, Shichi ji juu san pun desu.
3:15, Three fifteen = 3:15, San ji juu go fun desu.
3:15, A quarter past three = 3:15, San ji juu go fun sugi desu.
11:30, Eleven thirty = 11:30, Juu ichi ji sanju pun desu.
11:30, Half past eleven = 11:30, juu ichi ji han desu.
1:45, One forty-five = 1:45, Ichi ji yonjuu go fun desu.
1:45, A quarter till two = 1:45, Ni ji juu go fun mae desu.
Day = Hi, Nichi
Week = Shuu
Month = Tsuki
Year = Nen, Toshi
Monday = Getzuyou bi
Tuesday = Kayou bi
Wednesday = Suiyou bi
Thursday = Mokuyou bi
Friday = Kin'you bi
Saturday = Doyou bi
Sunday = Nichiyou bi
January = Ichi gatsu
February = Ni gatsu
March = San gatsu
April = Shi gatsu
May = Go gatsu
June = Roku gatsu
July = Shichi gatsu
August = Hachi gatsu
September = Ku gatsu
October = Juu gatsu
November = Juu ichi gatsu
December = Juu ni gatsu
Spring = Haru
Summer = Natsu
Fall, Autumn = Aki
Winter = Fuyu
Today = Kyou
Yesterday = Kinou
Tomorrow = Asu
Birthday = Tanjoubi
Happy Birthday! = Tanjoubi omedetou!
------------
Other useful things....
Don't be stupid Fuzakendai-deyo
It's risky! Yabai
Nice to see you again. Mata atta-ne. [f] Mata atta-na. [m]
What a pity! Kawaiso
Too bad Okinodoku, Hidoi-ne [f] Hidoi-na [m]
Calm down Ochitsuite, Asenna-yo
Do you understand Wakarimasu-ka
I understand. All right Wakatta
I don't understand Wakaranai
I know Wakatteru, Shitteru
I don't know Shiranai
Stop your babbling Gatagata itten-ja neyo
Stop complaining! Quit yer bitchin' Butsu butsu iwanai-de! [f]
Butsu butsu iu-na! [m] Monku bakkari iu-nayo! [m]
Never mind Ki-ni shinai-de. [f/m] Ki-ni sunna-yo. [m]
Wizzer. Cool Shibui, Kakkoii
("Kakkoii" is said especially about boys and cars)
Not-so-wizzer. Uncool Dasai
Awesome Sugoi. [f/m] Suge. [m] Hampa-ja nai. [m]
Ugly Kakko warui
What do you want Nani-yo ?! [f] Nanda-yo ! [m] Nanka monku aru-no-
ka ? [m]
Do you want to say something Nanka yo
Don't look at me! Kochi minai-deyo! [f] Kochi miruna-yo! [m] Miten-ja
neyo! [m]
Don't stare at me! Jiro jiro minai-deyo! [f] Jiro jiro miruna-yo! [m]
Gan tobashiten-ja neyo! [m]
What did you say? Nante itta-noyo ? [f] Nante ittan-dayo ? [m]
Who do you think you're talking to? Dare-ni mukatte mono itten-dayo?
Why do you talk like that? Nande sonna-koto iu-noyo?! [f] Nande sonna-
koto iun-dayo?! [m]
You're stupid Baka-ja nai! [f] Baka! [f/m] Tako! [f/m] Baka-yaro! [m]
You look stupid Baka-mitai
That's stupid Baka-mitau!, Baka-jan
What you did was stupid Baka-da
You're crazy Kichigai
Don't act stupid Baka yamete-yo! [f] Baka yamero-yo! [m] Baka yamena-
yo! [f] Baka yatten-ja neyo! [m] Fuzakenai-deyo! [f] Fuzakeruna-yo!
[m] Fuzaken-ja neyo! [m]
Don't say stupid things Baka iwanai-deyo! [f] Baka ittenna-yo! [m]
Netenna-yo! [m] (Netenna-yo! translates as, "Wake up")
Liar Usotsuki
You've got a big mouth! Oshaberi!
Get your head out of your hoop! Neboken-ja neyo
That's a lie Sonna-no uso-yo! [f] Sonna-no uso-dayo! [m] Uso bakkari!
[f/m] Fukashi-jan! [m]
Forget it! (I've had enough!) Mo ii-yo
Bulldrek Yoku iu-yo
You shouldn't do that! Dame-yo! [f] Dame-dayo! [m]
Why did you do such a thing? Nande sonna-koto shita-no ?
Do as I say Itta-tori-ni shite! [f] Itta-tori-ni shiro-yo! [m]
Stop it Yamete-yo! [f] Yamero-yo! [m] Shitsukoi! [f/m]
Leave me alone Hottoite-yo! [f] Hottoite-kure-yo! [m]
Leave us alone Watashitachi-dake-ni shite-yo! [f] Bokutachi-dake-ni
shite-kure-yo! [m]
Leave him/her alone Hottoke-ba! [f/m] Hottoke-yo! [m]
Stop bothering me Jama shinai-deyo! [f] Jama shinai-dekure! [m]
Take your hand(s) off Te-o dokete-yo!
Don't touch me Sawannai-de
Get out of here Muko-ni itte-yo! [f] Achi itte-yo! [f] Achi ike-yo!
[m] Dokka ichime-yo! [m]
Come here Chotto kochi kite! [f] Kochi oide-yo! [f] (b>g) Kochi koi-
yo! [m]
You're noisy Urusai-wane! [f] Uruse-na! [m] Uruse-yo! [m] Urusen-
dayo! [m]
You're boring Anata tsumannai! [f] Kimi tsumanne! [m]
Shut up! Damatte-yo! [f] Damare-yo! [m]
Be quiet! Shizuka-ni shite-yo [f] Shizuka-ni shiro-yo! [m]
You A-hole! Kono kuso-ttare! [m]
You bitch! Kono ama! (b/g>g)
You whore! Yariman! (b/g>g) "Yariman" means a girl who will go to bed
with anyone.
Home boy! Hick! Kono imo! Literally means, "you potato!"
"imo na-chan" & "imo ne-chan" are "potato boy!" &
"potato girl!" meaning
they are unfashionable
Playboy Onna-tarashi! (g>b)
Shorty Chibi
Short legs! Tansoku
Weakling Yowa-mushi
You ain't got cojones Konjo nashi!
(Means you are lacking in the "brave" department)
You're ugly Busu! (b/g>g) (ugly girl) Geso! (b/g>b) (ugly boy)
You pig Buta! Debu!
Fag! Effeminate Okama! [f/m] Originally said "(b/g>b)" to a boy who
dresses in a feminine manner (also Japanese slang for Elf)
Tomboy Otoko onna! (b/g>g) Otemba! (b/g>b)
White boy! Westerner Haku-jin! Yanki! Shiro! Kimpatsu!
["Yanki!" and "Shiro!" are Japanese slurs for white people.
"Yanki" which comes from "yankee," is for Americans in general,
while "Shiro" & "Haku-jin" are for all caucasians.
"Kimpatsu" means
"blond hair."]
You're narrow minded Ketsu-no ana-no chisai-yaro
(literally "tight assed)
Don't be so cocky Namaiki iun-ja naiyo
You're a dirtbag Kitanai
Don't frag with me Namenna-yo! Namen-ja neyo! Nametenna-yo!
Frag off! (Get away!) Muko itte-yo! [f] Dokka itte-yo! [f] Dokka ike-
yo! [m] Hayaku inakunare-yo! [m] Hayaku kiena! [m] Urochoro
shittenna! [m] Totto-to usero! [m]
Frag you!/Go to hell! Kutabare!, Shinjimae!
Let's finish this now Kerio tsuke-yoze!
I'm going to kick your ass! Bukkoroshite yaru
(Literally "I'm going to hit you till you die!")
You dog (insult) Teme kono-yaro!
You little rat! (Check this geek out!) Nani koitsu
Who do you think you are Nani-yo anta?! [f] Nani-teme?! [m]
Damn it! Chikusho
Drek Unko! Kuso! (Faeces... Kuso can be said to self)
Drek, I fragged up! Oh, drek! Ikkenai! [f] Ikkene! [m]
Lewd! Vulgar! Sukebe! [f]
Sexual perversion. Abnormality Hentai! [f/m]
(Placing "Kono" in front of the above two, will direct the attention to
one person, such as "Kono sukebe!" (You freak!) or "Kono hentai!" (You
pervert!))
You're dirty! You're unclean Kitanai-wane!
Your "tool" is small! Tansho
Think about it! (aggressively) Kangaete-mite!, Kangaeta-mina!
++++++++++++
Iwanu ga hana
Literally: not-speaking is the flower (-nu is a negative ending, like -
nai)
Meaning: some things are better left unsaid; Silence is golden
Baka wa shinanakya naoranai
Literally: a fool is only cured by dying
Meaning: Once a fool, always a fool
Oya-baka
Literally: parent fool
Meaning: a doting parent, one who believes that everything their child
does is wonderful. This is not usually intended as an insult, or at
least not a strong one.
I no naka no kawazu taikai wo shirazu
Literally: a frog in a well doesn't know the ocean
Meaning: either to suggest that someone is parochial/provincial, or to
encourage someone to get a wider perspective.
Usually abbreviated to `i no naka no kawazu'
Sumeba miyako
Literally: If residing, capital/metropolis
Meaning: Wherever you live, you come to love it
Yabu wo tsutsuite hebi wo dasu
Literally: Poke around in a bush and a snake will come out
Usage: 'yabu hebi da' (ie: that'll teach you, you should have keep
quiet), or yabu hebi ni naru' (ie: watch out, you'll only make work for
yourself)
Saba wo yomu
Literally: to read the mackerel
Meaning: to manipulate figures to one's advantage
Me wo sankaku ni suru
Literally: to make triangle eyes
Meaning: to 'look daggers' at someone
Usage: also 'me wo sankaku ni shite okoru' to be really angry
Me wo manmaru ni suru
Literally: make ones eyes perfect circles
Meaning: to be very surprised
Neko no hitai no you na
Literally: like a cat's forehead
Meaning: very small (particularly of a room or flat, ie: opposite of
'hiroi') eg: 'neko no hitai no you na apaato'
'Odeko' is another word for forehead, but 'neko no odeko' doesn't work
Nana korobi, ya oki
Literally: seven falls, eight getting up (from the verbs 'korobu' and
'okiru' respectively)
Meaning: an encouragement to persevere (ganbaru)
Saru mo ki kara ochiru
Literally: even monkeys fall from trees
Meaning: even an expert can make mistakes; also sometimes used as a
warning that 'pride comes before a fall'
Kappa mo kawa nagare)
Literally: even a 'Kappa'can get carried away by the river (a 'kappa' is
a water-sprite, but also used for a good swimmer)
Meaning: similar to 'saru mo ki kara ochiru'', ie: anyone can make
mistakes.
Note: often written as 'Kappa no kawanagare
Koubou mo fude no ayamari
Literally: even Koubou made mistakes with his brush (Koubou was a
Buddhist priest famous for his calligraphy)
Meaning: similar to 'saru mo ki kara ochiru', ie: even experts can make
mistakes (and to a lesser extent 'pride leads to a fall')
Baka mo ichi-gei
Literally: even a fool has one talent (this is the 'gei' of geisha)
Meaning: even a fool may be good at something
Juu-nin to-iro
Literally: ten people, ten colours
Meaning: Everyone has their own tastes; 'Different strokes for different
folks'
Incidentally, apart from colour, 'iro' is also used to mean sexy or
exciting; eg: 'iroppoi' = sexy. Another digression: '-ppoi' can be
translated as '-ish' (eg: 'aka-ppoi' = reddish) or sometimes as `has a
strong impression of X' (eg: 'uso-ppoi' = sounds like a lie)
Toranu tanuki no kawa zan'you
Literally: count the skins of badgers which haven't been caught
Notes: (1) -nu is a negative ending, and 'toranu' modifies 'tanuki';
(2) `tanuki' is a Japanese animal somewhat like a badger or a racoon;
(3) zan'you (usually san'you) means to calculate, or estimate.
Meaning: 'don't count your chickens before they've hatched''
Isseki ni chou
Literally: one stone, two birds
Meaning: 'to kill two birds with one stone'
Neko ni koban
Literally: a coin to a cat
Meaning: 'pearls before swine''; ie: don't offer things to people who
are incapable of appreciating them.
Notes: (1) a 'koban' was an old gold coin; (2) the expression 'buta ni
shinju'' (literally: a pearl to a pig) is also used.
Nakitsura ni hachi
Literally: a bee to a crying face
Note: 'nakitsura' is a compound of two kun readings: 'naku' to cry, and
'tsura' face ('men' is an on reading).
Meaning: misfortunes seldom come alone; 'When it rains, it pours'
Isogaba maware
Literally: If hurried, go around
Meaning: When hurried it is often faster to take a roundabout route,
(ie: 'more haste, less speed')
Ame futte ji katamaru
Literally: rained on ground hardens
Meaning: adversity builds character; this is one of the kotowaza which
ageing relatives impart to newlyweds
Uma no mimi ni nembutsu
Literally: a sutra (Buddhist prayer) in a horse's ear
Meaning: a wasted effort; 'pearls before swine'
Nou aru taka wa tsume wo kakusu
Literally: the hawk with talent hides its talons ('nou' is talent, and
modifies 'taka' hawk)
Meaning: well, fairly obvious really ... a wise man keeps some of his
talents in reserve; one shouldn't show off; the person who knows most
often says least.
Deru kugi wa utareru
Literally: the nail which sticks out will get hammered
Notes: (1) 'deru' (to come out/stick out) modifies 'kugi' (nail)
(2) 'utareru' is the passive form of 'utsu' (to hit/strike)
(3) sometimes 'kui' (stake) is used instead of 'kugi'
Meaning: used to encourage conformity.
Onna sannin yoreba kashimashii
Literally: if three women visit, noisy
Meaning: wherever three women gather it is noisy
Notes:
(1) this is a sort of pun, since the kanji for `kashimashii'
(noisy/boisterous) is made up of three small kanji for woman.
Interestingly, the meaning of this kanji in compounds usually implies
craftiness or wickedness. Eg: kanjin = villain/scoundrel; kampu =
adultress.
(2) 'yoreba' is a conditional form of 'yoru' = to visit/drop in
He wo hitte, shiri tsubome
Literally: breaking wind, closing buttocks
Notes:
(1) 'he' can also be read 'onara', a fart
(2) 'tsubomeru' is to make narrow or to shut
(3) the linking of two '-te' form verbs like this gives the idea of
doing X and then doing Y
Meaning: there's no use squeezing your buttocks after you have farted;'
no use shutting the stable door after the horse has bolted'
Fuku sui bon ni kaerazu
Literally: overturned water doesn't return to the tray
Meaning: What's done is done; 'There's no use crying over spilt milk'
Rakka eda ni kaerazu, hakyou futatabi terasazu
Literally: fallen blossom doesn't return to the branch, a broken mirror
can not be made to shine.
Meaning: what's done is done; 'There's no use crying over spilled milk'
Atama kakushite, shiri kakusazu
Literally: cover/hide your head, and not cover your bottom
Meaning: Don't cover your head but expose your bottom, ie: you have to
be careful not to expose your weak point while attempting to protect
yourself.
Tonari no shibafu wa aoi
Literally: the neighbour's lawn is green
Meaning: 'the grass is always greener on the other side'
Ningen banji saiou ga uma
iterally: humans everything 'Saiou' horse
Meaning: All human affairs are like 'Saiou's horse; One's fortune/luck
is unpredictable and changeable.
Notes: 'Saiou ga uma'' refers to an old story about a man and a horse,
where what at first appears to be good luck turns out to be bad luck.
Gou ni itte wa, gou ni shitagae
Literally: Entering the village, obey the village
Meaning: 'When in Rome, do as the Romans'
Hana yori dango
Literally: dumplings rather than flowers
Meaning: people are generally more interested in the food than the
flowers (ie: the practical over the aesthetic)
Notes: the particle 'yori' is used for comparison, eg: 'Igirisu yori
Nihon wa atatakai desu' (Japan is warmer than England)
Tade kuu mushi mo suki-zuki
Literally: knotweed eating insect also various tastes
Meaning: There is even an insect which likes to eat knotweed, ie:
``there's no accounting for tastes'
Kouin ya no gotoshi
Literally: time, like an arrow
Meaning: `Time flies like an arrow' (and fruit fly's like a banana)
`Time and tide wait for no man', ie: life is short.
Jishin, Kaminari, Kaji, Oyaji
Literally: Earthquakes, Thunder, Fires, Fathers
Meaning: this proverb compares the traditional Japanese father with
other things which are generally feared.
Hotoke no kao mo san do
Literally: Buddha's face too three times
Meaning: ``To try the patience of a saint'' -- even a Buddha's face will
loose it's composure if you ask something too many times.
San nin yoreba Monju no chie
Literally: if three people gather, Monju's wisdom
Meaning: When three people get together they have the wisdom of Monju;
or 'Two heads are better than one'
He to kaji wa moto kara sawagu
Literally: Fart and fire, from the origin, make a fuss
Meaning: With farts and fires, it is often the originator who kicks up a
fuss (ie: complains loudest)
(Thanks to Tim Duncan, AI Applications Institute, University of
Edinburgh for the proverbs)
Hope that helps someone...
--
Avenger
http://www.shalako.demon.co.uk/index.htm
(Newbies Survival Guide to Stk & SR stuff)
http://freespace.virgin.net/p.siems/index.htm
(Shadowrun Culture Shock, and UK Survival Guide)
