Sentence impact: Articles, Negation without verbWhich verb receives a negation in a Japanese sentence?Scope of negation with 〜したくないAdjective negation: difference between 〜くない and 〜くありませんvolitional + negative verb special meaning or kimarimonkuWhat does …なくはない mean?Understanding and translating 健気Negation in a verbてverbてはならない/いけない compoundIs ねえ negative in this sentence?Meaning of お世話になる vis a vis place of work or place where someone is being trainedDifference with and without は
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Sentence impact: Articles, Negation without verb
Which verb receives a negation in a Japanese sentence?Scope of negation with 〜したくないAdjective negation: difference between 〜くない and 〜くありませんvolitional + negative verb special meaning or kimarimonkuWhat does …なくはない mean?Understanding and translating 健気Negation in a verbてverbてはならない/いけない compoundIs ねえ negative in this sentence?Meaning of お世話になる vis a vis place of work or place where someone is being trainedDifference with and without は
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In English, abbreviated sentence structure can convey contempt, disgust, anger, etc. — "I'm a doctor, not a mechanic" has a much stronger impact than "I am a doctor. I am not a mechanic." Articles also strengthen impact - "I am the doctor" carries a strong implication, while "I am a doctor" is very mild.
How does that impact translate to Japanese, where negation is tied to the verb, and articles like 'a' and 'the' are implied/interchangeable? If I want to say "I am the wind, not the willow", it seems almost impossible to convey that same... ferocity? Or is there a way to express that impact?
私は風です seems fine enough to start.
私は風です、私は柳の木ではありません is the most literal translation, but feels like it has no impact.
私は風です、私は柳の木ではない has a little more impact, but seems to change the meaning.
私は風です、柳の木ではありません is stronger, but can I leave out 私は in that fashion?
私は風です、柳ではありません is the closest to what I'm trying to say, but does using 柳 for 柳の木 translate the same as saying Willow for Willow Tree in English? Or is that like saying "I am the blue". ...the blue what?
How do you convey the same impact of shortened English sentence structure?
meaning negation
asked 8 hours ago
James KingJames King
1061 bronze badge
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James King is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
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add a comment |
In English, abbreviated sentence structure can convey contempt, disgust, anger, etc. — "I'm a doctor, not a mechanic" has a much stronger impact than "I am a doctor. I am not a mechanic." Articles also strengthen impact - "I am the doctor" carries a strong implication, while "I am a doctor" is very mild.
How does that impact translate to Japanese, where negation is tied to the verb, and articles like 'a' and 'the' are implied/interchangeable? If I want to say "I am the wind, not the willow", it seems almost impossible to convey that same... ferocity? Or is there a way to express that impact?
私は風です seems fine enough to start.
私は風です、私は柳の木ではありません is the most literal translation, but feels like it has no impact.
私は風です、私は柳の木ではない has a little more impact, but seems to change the meaning.
私は風です、柳の木ではありません is stronger, but can I leave out 私は in that fashion?
私は風です、柳ではありません is the closest to what I'm trying to say, but does using 柳 for 柳の木 translate the same as saying Willow for Willow Tree in English? Or is that like saying "I am the blue". ...the blue what?
How do you convey the same impact of shortened English sentence structure?
meaning negation
asked 8 hours ago
James KingJames King
1061 bronze badge
New contributor
James King is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
1
Kindly consider that the best expertise probably comes from native Japanese, and some may be as bad in English as this non-native English speaker writing this, so while the "doctor" example was an "ESL-friendly one", the "wind / willow" one was not. Also, even in general, not needing to focus on 2 things: 1) translating sayings [Is that the right word? I mean, like, "you have guts" not being a medical statement] and 2) translating the "tone" , makes it easier to answer + makes the dialogue more helpful for also, not only Finns like me, but also other non-Japanese + non-English natives.
– Tuomo
7 hours ago
add a comment |
In English, abbreviated sentence structure can convey contempt, disgust, anger, etc. — "I'm a doctor, not a mechanic" has a much stronger impact than "I am a doctor. I am not a mechanic." Articles also strengthen impact - "I am the doctor" carries a strong implication, while "I am a doctor" is very mild.
How does that impact translate to Japanese, where negation is tied to the verb, and articles like 'a' and 'the' are implied/interchangeable? If I want to say "I am the wind, not the willow", it seems almost impossible to convey that same... ferocity? Or is there a way to express that impact?
私は風です seems fine enough to start.
私は風です、私は柳の木ではありません is the most literal translation, but feels like it has no impact.
私は風です、私は柳の木ではない has a little more impact, but seems to change the meaning.
私は風です、柳の木ではありません is stronger, but can I leave out 私は in that fashion?
私は風です、柳ではありません is the closest to what I'm trying to say, but does using 柳 for 柳の木 translate the same as saying Willow for Willow Tree in English? Or is that like saying "I am the blue". ...the blue what?
How do you convey the same impact of shortened English sentence structure?
meaning negation
asked 8 hours ago
James KingJames King
1061 bronze badge
New contributor
James King is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
In English, abbreviated sentence structure can convey contempt, disgust, anger, etc. — "I'm a doctor, not a mechanic" has a much stronger impact than "I am a doctor. I am not a mechanic." Articles also strengthen impact - "I am the doctor" carries a strong implication, while "I am a doctor" is very mild.
How does that impact translate to Japanese, where negation is tied to the verb, and articles like 'a' and 'the' are implied/interchangeable? If I want to say "I am the wind, not the willow", it seems almost impossible to convey that same... ferocity? Or is there a way to express that impact?
私は風です seems fine enough to start.
私は風です、私は柳の木ではありません is the most literal translation, but feels like it has no impact.
私は風です、私は柳の木ではない has a little more impact, but seems to change the meaning.
私は風です、柳の木ではありません is stronger, but can I leave out 私は in that fashion?
私は風です、柳ではありません is the closest to what I'm trying to say, but does using 柳 for 柳の木 translate the same as saying Willow for Willow Tree in English? Or is that like saying "I am the blue". ...the blue what?
How do you convey the same impact of shortened English sentence structure?
meaning negation
meaning negation
asked 8 hours ago
James KingJames King
1061 bronze badge
New contributor
James King is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
asked 8 hours ago
James KingJames King
1061 bronze badge
New contributor
James King is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
asked 8 hours ago
James KingJames King
1061 bronze badge
New contributor
James King is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
asked 8 hours ago
James KingJames King
1061 bronze badge
asked 8 hours ago
James KingJames King
1061 bronze badge
1061 bronze badge
New contributor
James King is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
New contributor
James King is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
1
Kindly consider that the best expertise probably comes from native Japanese, and some may be as bad in English as this non-native English speaker writing this, so while the "doctor" example was an "ESL-friendly one", the "wind / willow" one was not. Also, even in general, not needing to focus on 2 things: 1) translating sayings [Is that the right word? I mean, like, "you have guts" not being a medical statement] and 2) translating the "tone" , makes it easier to answer + makes the dialogue more helpful for also, not only Finns like me, but also other non-Japanese + non-English natives.
– Tuomo
7 hours ago
add a comment |
1
Kindly consider that the best expertise probably comes from native Japanese, and some may be as bad in English as this non-native English speaker writing this, so while the "doctor" example was an "ESL-friendly one", the "wind / willow" one was not. Also, even in general, not needing to focus on 2 things: 1) translating sayings [Is that the right word? I mean, like, "you have guts" not being a medical statement] and 2) translating the "tone" , makes it easier to answer + makes the dialogue more helpful for also, not only Finns like me, but also other non-Japanese + non-English natives.
– Tuomo
7 hours ago
1
1
Kindly consider that the best expertise probably comes from native Japanese, and some may be as bad in English as this non-native English speaker writing this, so while the "doctor" example was an "ESL-friendly one", the "wind / willow" one was not. Also, even in general, not needing to focus on 2 things: 1) translating sayings [Is that the right word? I mean, like, "you have guts" not being a medical statement] and 2) translating the "tone" , makes it easier to answer + makes the dialogue more helpful for also, not only Finns like me, but also other non-Japanese + non-English natives.
– Tuomo
7 hours ago
Kindly consider that the best expertise probably comes from native Japanese, and some may be as bad in English as this non-native English speaker writing this, so while the "doctor" example was an "ESL-friendly one", the "wind / willow" one was not. Also, even in general, not needing to focus on 2 things: 1) translating sayings [Is that the right word? I mean, like, "you have guts" not being a medical statement] and 2) translating the "tone" , makes it easier to answer + makes the dialogue more helpful for also, not only Finns like me, but also other non-Japanese + non-English natives.
– Tuomo
7 hours ago
add a comment |
1 Answer
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It is actually much simpler than you appear to somewhat firmly believe. To give you the answer first, you can say:
「私は、柳やなぎ（の木き）ではなく、風かぜである/です。」
「なく」is the 連用形れんようけい ("continuative form") of the adjective 「ない」; therefore, it can be correctly used mid-sentence and the sentence can still continue on. Use of 連用形 would surely help you write impactful sentences. For instance,
「空そらは青あおく広ひろい。」 is more concise and impactful than 「空は青い、そして広い。」. 「青く」 is, of course, the 連用形 of 「青い」.
All of your own attempts are grammatical and they convey your intended meaning, but they sound too wordy. Using 「私」 twice in such a short passage makes your writing sound very "foreign".
Japanese is an extremely contextual language. If it is clear from the context that the speaker is talking about none other than himself, you will not have to use 「私」 even once. 「柳（の木）ではなく、風です。」 is a perfectly natural-sounding and grammatical sentence in Japanese.
but does using 柳 for 柳の木 translate the same as saying Willow for Willow Tree in English?
No, it does not. 「柳」 can refer both to the species of tree and the actual tree itself.
answered 7 hours ago
l'électeurl'électeur
133k9 gold badges177 silver badges288 bronze badges
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It is actually much simpler than you appear to somewhat firmly believe. To give you the answer first, you can say:
「私は、柳やなぎ（の木き）ではなく、風かぜである/です。」
「なく」is the 連用形れんようけい ("continuative form") of the adjective 「ない」; therefore, it can be correctly used mid-sentence and the sentence can still continue on. Use of 連用形 would surely help you write impactful sentences. For instance,
「空そらは青あおく広ひろい。」 is more concise and impactful than 「空は青い、そして広い。」. 「青く」 is, of course, the 連用形 of 「青い」.
All of your own attempts are grammatical and they convey your intended meaning, but they sound too wordy. Using 「私」 twice in such a short passage makes your writing sound very "foreign".
Japanese is an extremely contextual language. If it is clear from the context that the speaker is talking about none other than himself, you will not have to use 「私」 even once. 「柳（の木）ではなく、風です。」 is a perfectly natural-sounding and grammatical sentence in Japanese.
but does using 柳 for 柳の木 translate the same as saying Willow for Willow Tree in English?
No, it does not. 「柳」 can refer both to the species of tree and the actual tree itself.
answered 7 hours ago
l'électeurl'électeur
133k9 gold badges177 silver badges288 bronze badges
add a comment |
It is actually much simpler than you appear to somewhat firmly believe. To give you the answer first, you can say:
「私は、柳やなぎ（の木き）ではなく、風かぜである/です。」
「なく」is the 連用形れんようけい ("continuative form") of the adjective 「ない」; therefore, it can be correctly used mid-sentence and the sentence can still continue on. Use of 連用形 would surely help you write impactful sentences. For instance,
「空そらは青あおく広ひろい。」 is more concise and impactful than 「空は青い、そして広い。」. 「青く」 is, of course, the 連用形 of 「青い」.
All of your own attempts are grammatical and they convey your intended meaning, but they sound too wordy. Using 「私」 twice in such a short passage makes your writing sound very "foreign".
Japanese is an extremely contextual language. If it is clear from the context that the speaker is talking about none other than himself, you will not have to use 「私」 even once. 「柳（の木）ではなく、風です。」 is a perfectly natural-sounding and grammatical sentence in Japanese.
but does using 柳 for 柳の木 translate the same as saying Willow for Willow Tree in English?
No, it does not. 「柳」 can refer both to the species of tree and the actual tree itself.
answered 7 hours ago
l'électeurl'électeur
133k9 gold badges177 silver badges288 bronze badges
add a comment |
It is actually much simpler than you appear to somewhat firmly believe. To give you the answer first, you can say:
「私は、柳やなぎ（の木き）ではなく、風かぜである/です。」
「なく」is the 連用形れんようけい ("continuative form") of the adjective 「ない」; therefore, it can be correctly used mid-sentence and the sentence can still continue on. Use of 連用形 would surely help you write impactful sentences. For instance,
「空そらは青あおく広ひろい。」 is more concise and impactful than 「空は青い、そして広い。」. 「青く」 is, of course, the 連用形 of 「青い」.
All of your own attempts are grammatical and they convey your intended meaning, but they sound too wordy. Using 「私」 twice in such a short passage makes your writing sound very "foreign".
Japanese is an extremely contextual language. If it is clear from the context that the speaker is talking about none other than himself, you will not have to use 「私」 even once. 「柳（の木）ではなく、風です。」 is a perfectly natural-sounding and grammatical sentence in Japanese.
but does using 柳 for 柳の木 translate the same as saying Willow for Willow Tree in English?
No, it does not. 「柳」 can refer both to the species of tree and the actual tree itself.
answered 7 hours ago
l'électeurl'électeur
133k9 gold badges177 silver badges288 bronze badges
It is actually much simpler than you appear to somewhat firmly believe. To give you the answer first, you can say:
「私は、柳やなぎ（の木き）ではなく、風かぜである/です。」
「なく」is the 連用形れんようけい ("continuative form") of the adjective 「ない」; therefore, it can be correctly used mid-sentence and the sentence can still continue on. Use of 連用形 would surely help you write impactful sentences. For instance,
「空そらは青あおく広ひろい。」 is more concise and impactful than 「空は青い、そして広い。」. 「青く」 is, of course, the 連用形 of 「青い」.
All of your own attempts are grammatical and they convey your intended meaning, but they sound too wordy. Using 「私」 twice in such a short passage makes your writing sound very "foreign".
Japanese is an extremely contextual language. If it is clear from the context that the speaker is talking about none other than himself, you will not have to use 「私」 even once. 「柳（の木）ではなく、風です。」 is a perfectly natural-sounding and grammatical sentence in Japanese.
but does using 柳 for 柳の木 translate the same as saying Willow for Willow Tree in English?
No, it does not. 「柳」 can refer both to the species of tree and the actual tree itself.
answered 7 hours ago
l'électeurl'électeur
133k9 gold badges177 silver badges288 bronze badges
edited 7 hours ago
answered 7 hours ago
l'électeurl'électeur
133k9 gold badges177 silver badges288 bronze badges
answered 7 hours ago
l'électeurl'électeur
133k9 gold badges177 silver badges288 bronze badges
answered 7 hours ago
l'électeurl'électeur
133k9 gold badges177 silver badges288 bronze badges
133k9 gold badges177 silver badges288 bronze badges
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James King is a new contributor. Be nice, and check out our Code of Conduct.
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James King is a new contributor. Be nice, and check out our Code of Conduct.
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Kindly consider that the best expertise probably comes from native Japanese, and some may be as bad in English as this non-native English speaker writing this, so while the "doctor" example was an "ESL-friendly one", the "wind / willow" one was not. Also, even in general, not needing to focus on 2 things: 1) translating sayings [Is that the right word? I mean, like, "you have guts" not being a medical statement] and 2) translating the "tone" , makes it easier to answer + makes the dialogue more helpful for also, not only Finns like me, but also other non-Japanese + non-English natives.
– Tuomo
7 hours ago