Comments on: Non-existance is so unfair! http://www.guidetojapanese.org/blog/2009/01/12/non-existance-is-so-unfair/ Japanese, Chinese, and a dash of Korean Fri, 19 Mar 2010 15:15:21 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Jack http://www.guidetojapanese.org/blog/2009/01/12/non-existance-is-so-unfair/comment-page-1/#comment-5560 Jack Thu, 20 Aug 2009 00:43:08 +0000 http://www.guidetojapanese.org/blog/?p=310#comment-5560 Near the beginning of Hayate no Gotoku Episode 40: ハヤテ：ハヤテのごとくジャイアントが始まります！ Hayate no Gokotu GIANT is starting now! なぎ：じゃない！ It isn't! (Humor fail) Near the beginning of Hayate no Gotoku Episode 40:
ハヤテ：ハヤテのごとくジャイアントが始まります！
Hayate no Gokotu GIANT is starting now!
なぎ：じゃない！
It isn’t!

(Humor fail)

]]> By: furrykef http://www.guidetojapanese.org/blog/2009/01/12/non-existance-is-so-unfair/comment-page-1/#comment-5549 furrykef Wed, 19 Aug 2009 09:06:05 +0000 http://www.guidetojapanese.org/blog/?p=310#comment-5549 So is ねーよ the equivalent to the classic Wayne's World "...NOT!"? :P So is ねーよ the equivalent to the classic Wayne’s World “…NOT!”? :P

]]> By: Dasein http://www.guidetojapanese.org/blog/2009/01/12/non-existance-is-so-unfair/comment-page-1/#comment-3324 Dasein Thu, 23 Apr 2009 15:11:11 +0000 http://www.guidetojapanese.org/blog/?p=310#comment-3324 I believe the 'nothingness' in these examples are directed towards the 'situation'. Thus, don't think of "nai" as the absence of a particular object. Rather, it is the negation of the situation as a whole. (i.e. negating that it is likely to receive an engagement ring, or negating an entire situation where the last chocolate was consumed.) This topic in general is very interesting and sheds light on the subtleties of translating languages. Personally, I think the Japanese language is infused with Buddhist (and Existential) notions of nothingness; very difficult to put into words. I believe the ‘nothingness’ in these examples are directed towards the ’situation’. Thus, don’t think of “nai” as the absence of a particular object. Rather, it is the negation of the situation as a whole. (i.e. negating that it is likely to receive an engagement ring, or negating an entire situation where the last chocolate was consumed.) This topic in general is very interesting and sheds light on the subtleties of translating languages. Personally, I think the Japanese language is infused with Buddhist (and Existential) notions of nothingness; very difficult to put into words.

]]> By: bubblebath http://www.guidetojapanese.org/blog/2009/01/12/non-existance-is-so-unfair/comment-page-1/#comment-1882 bubblebath Mon, 12 Jan 2009 19:58:01 +0000 http://www.guidetojapanese.org/blog/?p=310#comment-1882 最近「複数の日本語」という本を読んでるんだけど、その本の中に面白い話がありましたよ。 青森県の五所川原方言では『文が表している内容が「一回的か」「恒常的か」という違い』について異なる形態素を用いるらしいんですね。例えば、 a)隣の人、元気でら = 現在の一時的な状態 b)隣の人、元気だ = 恒常 a)の文章は「『最近体の調子を崩している隣人が、今日は珍しく元気に挨拶してくれた』というような場合が想像できる。』、b)の場合は「いつも元気な人だ」、もしくはa)の様に一時的状態を表す意味になるそうです。英語のHe is kind とHe is being kindの違いに近いらしいです。 最近「複数の日本語」という本を読んでるんだけど、その本の中に面白い話がありましたよ。
青森県の五所川原方言では『文が表している内容が「一回的か」「恒常的か」という違い』について異なる形態素を用いるらしいんですね。例えば、
a)隣の人、元気でら = 現在の一時的な状態
b)隣の人、元気だ = 恒常
a)の文章は「『最近体の調子を崩している隣人が、今日は珍しく元気に挨拶してくれた』というような場合が想像できる。』、b)の場合は「いつも元気な人だ」、もしくはa)の様に一時的状態を表す意味になるそうです。英語のHe is kind とHe is being kindの違いに近いらしいです。

]]> By: taekk http://www.guidetojapanese.org/blog/2009/01/12/non-existance-is-so-unfair/comment-page-1/#comment-1881 taekk Mon, 12 Jan 2009 19:39:46 +0000 http://www.guidetojapanese.org/blog/?p=310#comment-1881 Stupid WP interface, please check out the FINISHED post now. Stupid WP interface, please check out the FINISHED post now.

]]> By: qklilx http://www.guidetojapanese.org/blog/2009/01/12/non-existance-is-so-unfair/comment-page-1/#comment-1880 qklilx Mon, 12 Jan 2009 12:19:06 +0000 http://www.guidetojapanese.org/blog/?p=310#comment-1880 In Korean we get lost in the depths of all those kinds of words: Implied 이다 있다 Aaaaand that's it I think. It's beautiful, ain't it. :D In Korean we get lost in the depths of all those kinds of words:

Implied
이다
있다

Aaaaand that’s it I think. It’s beautiful, ain’t it. :D

]]> By: Aaron http://www.guidetojapanese.org/blog/2009/01/12/non-existance-is-so-unfair/comment-page-1/#comment-1873 Aaron Sun, 11 Jan 2009 11:34:03 +0000 http://www.guidetojapanese.org/blog/?p=310#comment-1873 The concept of 'nothing,' while trying not to get into metaphysics or anything, is rather interesting. I can't speak for much more than English and Japanese, but in order to talk about 'nothing' we have to make it 'something', by turning it into a noun/adjective/etc. Thus, we are able to talk about something linguistically but cannot fully comprehend logically. 以上です :P The concept of ‘nothing,’ while trying not to get into metaphysics or anything, is rather interesting. I can’t speak for much more than English and Japanese, but in order to talk about ‘nothing’ we have to make it ’something’, by turning it into a noun/adjective/etc. Thus, we are able to talk about something linguistically but cannot fully comprehend logically.

以上です :P

]]> By: ノーガス http://www.guidetojapanese.org/blog/2009/01/12/non-existance-is-so-unfair/comment-page-1/#comment-1871 ノーガス Sat, 10 Jan 2009 23:09:10 +0000 http://www.guidetojapanese.org/blog/?p=310#comment-1871 Maybe 'to put it behind you' would be a good translation. Maybe ‘to put it behind you’ would be a good translation.

]]> By: David http://www.guidetojapanese.org/blog/2009/01/12/non-existance-is-so-unfair/comment-page-1/#comment-1870 David Sat, 10 Jan 2009 21:58:55 +0000 http://www.guidetojapanese.org/blog/?p=310#comment-1870 How would you translate 「なかったことにする」？ Looking at my dictionary i think it could be translated as "I decided to ignore it" or something like that. Thanks for writing about a meaning of 「ない」i didn't know ;-) How would you translate 「なかったことにする」？ Looking at my dictionary i think it could be translated as “I decided to ignore it” or something like that.
Thanks for writing about a meaning of 「ない」i didn’t know ;-)

]]> By: Mike http://www.guidetojapanese.org/blog/2009/01/12/non-existance-is-so-unfair/comment-page-1/#comment-1869 Mike Sat, 10 Jan 2009 18:14:03 +0000 http://www.guidetojapanese.org/blog/?p=310#comment-1869 勉強になりましたよ 勉強になりましたよ

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