Wednesday, May 9, 2012

Two Convenient Japanese Phrases

(posted; Etymology page) 
We have really useful two phrases in Japanese; 
One 宜しくお願いします。Yoroshiku onegai shimasu ",   The other " 頑張って。 ganbatte", both of which we always have trouble to translate into English.  I wonder if I can send the concepts of them to you correctly,

*Yoroshiku onegai shimasu………This phrase is kind of a all-rounder in  many situations.  Main concept of this phrase is asking favors to others. Culturally,  politeness and modesty is our virtue. So, these English phrases might be close.
I beg your kindness.  I thank you for your kindness.  I thank you for your hard work in advance.  (To someone 'whoever they are' going to do some job for you; doctor. gardener. painter. carpenter...) You are asking good job from them euphemistically, in a generous way in advance.
I beg your kindness for my children. (to your children's teacher)     Send my regards to ~. (sending regards can be also said "yoroshiku" in Japanese)

*Ganbatte………This is the phrase we use to back up people or cheer them up for whatever the situation of hardship they are in. 
Keep your chin up.  Go for it!   Hang in there!  Keep it up!
I know these phrases are used in some different situations, but this phrase can be used for all of them.

I'd appreciate it if you tell me somewhere you think it not correct here. Or, I am really glad if teach me some English phrase that you think it useful if non-English speaker to learn. Thank you very much from bottom of my heart for reading(^^;)

11 comments:

  1. Thank you for teaching us some Japanese phrases - I wonder if I will ever get to try them out. Sometimes we have visitors from all over the world who arrive on cruise ships in Greenock - I will write the phrases down and keep them in case I need them. If you ever want to know any Scottish phrases, just let me know!
    Liz @ Shortbread & Ginger

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  2. My dear friend Miyako, I would love to sit in on your class sometime where you can teach me some Japanese. I'm afraid my brain is already too hopelessly old to learn it, but I think it is a most exquisite sounding language and you are a wonderful and talented teacher. I learn from you! Thank you!

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  3. I love trying to learn other languages but fear I am getting too old for things to find a place to stay in this head of mine. When I was in school I studied several languages but once away from school and with nobody to practice with I started loosing what I had learned. I have always thought it would be wonderful to speak dozens of languages and am impressed by people who can speak more than one. I hope you are having a wonderful week. Love from your bs, Maddy

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  4. Hi Miyako san. Excellent translation and explanation for these words! I often find it difficult to translate 'Yoroshiku onegai shimasu' into English. It is such a convenient phrase but since it is used in many situations, we have to translate differently according to the situation. Learning different languages is hard but very interesting :-)

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  5. Dear Miyako, Oh, you have explained those phrases so well to us my dear friend. Your English really is so good - I already knew of the word 'ganbatte' from what you told me when my hubby was building the greehouse. Hee Hee! Lovely post, and, again, I have to say that your blog just looks so pretty.

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  6. You have made no English mistakes, Miyako. To thank someone before they do something for you doesn't have a phrase in our language as far as I know.

    To praise someone or cheer them up - I would say 'being supportive' is the best phrase for that. Have a lovely day, dear friend.

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  7. Dearest Miyako,

    As a non-English born person I'm for sure not the one to correct you on that. I only can admire you for the ability to interweave two such different cultures and languages together. You said it so well, culturally politeness and modesty is your virtue as a people.
    Often I had to explain that certain situations where Americans were not very polite, that the Japanese will always smile and be polite. The Americans assumed that they were correct and even funny all the time... Which they were NOT!
    But it is hard for those that don't know different cultures. Not only the words you speak, but the cultural feeling is laid into a language...
    Love to you dear friend,

    Mariette

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  8. Sweet Miyako, your translations are perfection! I am so impressed with you and your language skills. Thank you so much for sharing the beauty and kindness of your Japanese culture. I learn so much from you, my precious friend.

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  9. I like the idea of thanking someone in advance for what they are about to do! I am not sure I would be pronouncing the words correctly though.

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  10. Dearest Miyako san,
    It was all ways happy for reading about from you..
    All things wish for happy and some all times with too used for in some different situations.
    Miyako san,
    I think is so beautiful our words are thinking for Japanese language.
    You are doing very well with Home Page.
    Please take care for you ....
    Michiko




    Michiko

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  11. Thank you for this I find other languages to be fasanating I wish I could speak another language....

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