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k0e3@lemmy.ca

[ja > en] What is the character on the left saying? (lemmy.ca)

submitted 6 days ago by k0e3@lemmy.ca to c/translators@lemmy.ca

7 comments fedilink hide all child comments

Note: This is just an example of a translation request.

What is the character on the left saying? I can read the character, but I can't understand what that single sound is supposed to mean.

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[–] k0e3@lemmy.ca 9 points 6 days ago* (last edited 6 days ago) (1 children)

Note: This is just an example of how to respond to a translation request. I like to write a detailed explanation when I think the topic is interesting, but it's not a requirement

tl;dr: He is agreeing with what Doraemon is saying.

Detailed explanation: The character on the left (Sewashi, Nobita's grandson from the future) is basically repeating the last bit of what Doraemon is saying. 〜な (as well as 〜ね) ending is used to imply that you want the listener to agree with you. If they agree, they would say そうだな、そうですな (less common)、or そうだ・ですね. We can just shorten it to な or ね.

For fellow Canadians, it's like saying:

"He's not very bright, eh?"

"Yeah, eh."

[–] scuppie@lemmy.blahaj.zone 3 points 6 days ago (1 children)

I just realised you are the OP on this and the last post I commented on, and you're posting questions and answering them yourself to provide examples. Derp on my part.

For anyone interested in why, Nobita (right) is already aware Doraemon (middle) is from the future and should understand the possibility of meeting his grandchild when time travel is available. Hence Doraemon calling him an idiot.

[–] k0e3@lemmy.ca 3 points 6 days ago (1 children)

Haha, yeah, I had to "fake" activity to get the ball rolling. I really appreciate you joining in and adding more context!

[–] scuppie@lemmy.blahaj.zone 2 points 5 days ago

Oh thank you. In that case excuse the pun but

k0e desu

k0e san

[–] scuppie@lemmy.blahaj.zone 2 points 5 days ago

It's also convenient between japanese and English that "ga aru mon (mono) ka" is an established colloquial phrase. Both languages have the equivalent phrase "is that a thing/nah that's not a thing"

[–] JohnnyEnzyme@piefed.social 4 points 6 days ago* (last edited 6 days ago) (1 children)

Just for fun, let's see how Google Translate did on this:

(btw, I'm amazed how closely this work resembles Tezuka's style!)

[–] k0e3@lemmy.ca 3 points 6 days ago

Won't be losing my job to Google Translate just yet, it seems lol