How on earth you can classify one word as the most difficult word to translate in the world, I have no idea, but linguists have had a go. And the winner is ... "ilunga" from the Tshiluba language spoken in south eastern Congo. It means, rather generously, "a person who is ready to forgive any abuse for the first time, to tolerate it a second time, but never a third time". I do catch the nearest and dearest (aka the Bloggs fam.) saying the third word in that linguist's list now and then, that of "naa" - used only in the Kansai area of Japan (that's us folks) to emphasise statements or agree with someone.
Posted by Joe at June 23, 2004 03:08 PMA case of "hotoke-no-kao-mo-sando", methinks.
Posted by: martin at June 23, 2004 08:34 PMOkay, who can translate/inteprete Tony Blackburn's (a name I had "gladly" not heard in years and years) penchant for Cliff Richard tracks in one readily understandable word? I can think of a few, but I wish to hear the illustrious voices of Mr. Bloggs' many readers.
Posted by: martin at June 24, 2004 09:48 AMInteresting to see shlimazl in there at No. 2, and without its companion, shlmeil. These are simple. Both refer to people with bad luck. If you're at a party and spill coffee, you're shlmeil. If you're at a party and someone spills coffee on you, you're shlimazl. It's Laurel and Hardy, folks.
Well, I've always contended I don't know Kansai-ben, and my unfamiliarity with the expression 'naa' just proves it.
But I must say that compared to these examples, there are words and phrases in Japanese I find much harder to interpret. 'Mendokusai', for example, has a much darker feeling than the usual English equivalent of 'I can't be bothered.'
Posted by: DJ at June 24, 2004 11:55 AMWell, Tony Blackburn would definitely be "schadenfreude", because he must be taking pleasure in his listeners' pain.
As for Japanese words, absolutely. The simple one likes 'yoroshiku' can be murder to interpret depending on the circumstances.
Posted by: Joe at June 24, 2004 03:31 PMYoroshiku is impossible.
Posted by: DJ at June 25, 2004 09:48 AMJoey says 'naa' is not just kansai-ben.
Posted by: DJ at June 25, 2004 09:50 AMI tend to agree with Joey. I'm sure I've heard 'naa' elsewhere.
As for 'yoroshiku', the only time I DON'T have a problem is the "please give (someone) my regards". Otherwise you need a sentence or two to explain it.
Posted by: Joe at June 25, 2004 10:37 AMAnd how do you explain 'yoroshiku' in terms of 'hajimemashita. yoroshiku onegaishimasu'? The first bit is easy: Pleased to meet you. But in that context, what do you do with 'yoroshiku'? Just gloss over it?
Posted by: DJ at June 25, 2004 12:17 PMIn that particular case, I think the whole phrase just translates as 'pleased to meet you'. If not, I certainly just ignore the 'yoroshiku'.
Posted by: Joe at June 25, 2004 01:58 PM