Thursday, January 22, 2009

Example Sentences

I had a big test today, and I passed a couple of example sentences to a friend to check. They're apparently okay. I don't have time to translate them right now, but here they are.
[Edit: Okay, that wasn't entirely true. It was actually that I couldn't translate them while talking to my mom on the phone.. Close enough, though, right?]

そのクリームパンはまさにおいしかった
そのクリームパンは非常においしかった
そのクリームパンはいかにもおいしかった
These first three mean "That custard bread was really delicious." I haven't found anybody who can tell me how the meaning is different between masa ni, hijou ni, and ikanimo, except that ikanimo can be used in a similar fashion to tashika ni.

端的に言ってもいいよ
"It's okay for you say it directly."

さて、この新しいソフトについて、どうですか?
Well then, what do you think of this new software?"

ディジタル一眼レフ、すなわち大型のカメラのほうのセンサーが大きいのだ
Digital single-lens reflex, aka "large cameras", have bigger sensors.

それにもかかわらず、写真家が下手なら、まだダメな写真ばかりを取れる
"In spit of that, if the photographer has no skill, you'll still get pictures that are no good."

DSLRもしくはヂジカメラ、どちらでも禁止だ
"DSLRs and digicams are prohibited."
Though there's a typo in this one. When I went to write di, I simply typed D and I (ヂ dzi), rather than deli, which is how you have to input the ディ (di) in "digital" when you write it in Japanese. It sounds really random and complex and kind of stupid, but there's a system to it.
The reason for having to type deli to get di is because we're 1) mapping 46 characters onto 26 letters and crossing our fingers and 2) because di in Japanese is a dipthong, but not the traditional kind, and so it's been kind of forked into the system as a whole fairly recently.

Labels: , ,

4 Comments:

Blogger thots about stuff said...

クリームパン makes a great topic anytime.

I hope your test went well!

7:14 PM GMT+9  
Blogger Washii said...

In spit of that, huh?

4:04 AM GMT+9  
Blogger thots about stuff said...

I wouldn't recommend using spit for taking pictures, but I guess if you're very skilled at that...

4:18 AM GMT+9  
Blogger Komitadjie said...

Eh, that's what you get for using bubblegum, baling wire, and JB weld to build a language. I mean, look at English.

9:42 AM GMT+9  

Post a Comment

<< Home