Wa-pedia Home > Japan Forum & Europe Forum
Page 1 of 2 12 LastLast
Results 1 to 25 of 56

Thread: 日本人のよく間違う英語 - common mistakes made by Japanese in English

Hybrid View

Previous Post Previous Post   Next Post Next Post
  1. #1
    Twirling dragon Maciamo's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 17, 2002
    Location
    西京
    Posts
    2,434

    日本人のよく間違う英語 - common mistakes made by Japanese in English

    Here are the most frequent mistakes made by Japanese people (regardless of their level) when they speak English.

    - "in 2 years / 2 years later" = 2年後
    ほとんど皆の僕の教えてる日本人は "later"と使う。例えば、「また二週間後」と言いたい� ネら、"See you 2 weeks later"と言う。これは間違ってるんです。未来というい意味� フ「-後」は"in ..."と言う。だから、"See you in 2 weeks"は正しい。
    "Later"は過去の「-後」で使われています。例えば、「5年前にA会社に入 ったけど、1年後辞職しました。」、英語でそうなる: "I joined company A 5 years ago, but I resigned 1 year later".その場合は"later"と使う。未来か将来の意味だ った"1 year later"を使えません。だが、"later"だけで、例えば"Se e you later"か"I will do it later"はもちろん使えます。期間が決めたら(例:1時 間、3週間、10年間。。。)、「"in"+期間」と言わ� ネければならない。

    -

    Visit Japan for free with Wa-pedia
    See what's new on the forum ?
    Eupedia : Europe Guide & Genetics
    Maciamo & Eupedia on Twitter

    "What is the use of living, if it be not to strive for noble causes and to make this muddled world a better place for those who will live in it after we are gone?", Winston Churchill.

  2. #2
    English Learner Mac's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 3, 2004
    Posts
    20
    Here are the most frequent mistakes made by Japanese people (regardless of their level) when they speak English.

    ここに日本の人々が英語を話すときにもっとも多く作ら れる(彼らのレベルに関わらず)、数多くの間違いが� ります。

    Hmm. I've heard "one month later" in a movie before.
    Of course I've heard "See you later" before as well.
    But I've never heard "See you 2 weeks later" before.

    I'll remember "See you in 2 weeks."

    Thank you for teaching English.
    Please continue teaching English. (^^;;
    Please continue "to teach" English. Can't it use in this case?
    I am learning English. If you find any mistakes, please let me know. [?] means I have no confidence in this sentence.

  3. #3
    Twirling dragon Maciamo's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 17, 2002
    Location
    西京
    Posts
    2,434
    Quote Originally Posted by Mac
    Hmm. I've heard "one month later" in a movie before.
    Somebody else told me that and when I asked, it appeared that it was in the subtitle. Keep in mind that the story of a movie is actually like a series of past events. For example, the movie start in 1984, then there is a transition and they write 20 years later (which means in 2004, now) and the story continues from there. "later" can be used for a transition from past to present or past to past, but not present to future.

    Please continue teaching English. (^^;;
    Please continue "to teach" English. Can't it use in this case?
    You can say "continue to do" or "continue doing".

  4. #4
    Danshaku Elizabeth's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 22, 2003
    Location
    アメリカ
    Posts
    298
    Thank you for teaching English.
    Please continue teaching English. (^^;;
    Please continue "to teach" English. Can't it use in this case?
    Grammatically these are great, but Please continue if you have a chance or Please continue if you have time are probably closer to natural speech patterns. Since it isn't necessary to emphasize English or repeat "teach."
    In this case, it appears Mac is an administrator trying to convince Maciamo to stay on at his present job -- Please continue teaching English here no matter what.

  5. #5
    English Learner Mac's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 3, 2004
    Posts
    20
    Thank you for helping me, Elizabeth.

    If you have a chance or time, please continue are probably closer to natural speech patterns.

    If you have a chance or time, please continueは恐らく、より自然な話し方に近づくでしょう 。

    Since it isn't necessary to emphasize English or repeat "teach."

    英語を強調すること、または"teach"を繰り返すことは� K要でないので。

    ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    「since = 〜ので、だから(文頭に置かれる場合、直接の原因を表 し、becauseより意味が弱く、asより強い)」
    ・Since you feel tired, you should rest.
    � なたは疲れているのだから、休養をとるべきだ。
    ・Since the car isn't working, we'll have to take the train.
    車が動かないのだから、私たちは電車に乗るべきだ。
    ・It must have rained, since the ground is wet.
    地面が湿っているところを見ると、雨が降ったに違いな い。

    「emphasize(えんふぁさいず) = 強調[力説]する; (言葉に)力を入れる; (形・色などを)目立たせる.」
    「necessary(ねせさーり)= 必要な」
    「pattern = 模範, 手本; 型, 基本型, 様式; 模型; 模様, 柄; (服などの)見本, 例; 機構; 情勢, 傾向.」
    ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    In this case, it appears Mac is an administrator trying to convince Maciamo to stay on at his present job -- Please continue teaching English here no matter what.

    この場合、MacがMaciamoに彼の現在の役目を留まるよう に納得させているようなAddministratorに見える。
    "no matter what" is difficult to translate to me. Hmm.

    ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    「It appears (that ... .) = どうも....らしい。(...のように見える)」
    「convince = 確信[納得]させる」
    「present = 現在の」
    ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Hmmm. It appears I have said a terrible thing to Maciamo.
    My friends have said "teach me is unnatural" as well before.
    But "If you have a chance or time, please continue" is enough to say?
    I think I don't know what I wish to him/her.
    How about "If you have enough time, please continue helping"? (^^;;;;

  6. #6
    Danshaku Elizabeth's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 22, 2003
    Location
    アメリカ
    Posts
    298
    Quote Originally Posted by Mac
    Thank you for helping me, Elizabeth.

    If you have a chance or time, please continue are probably closer to natural speech patterns.

    If you have a chance or time, please continueは恐らく、より自然な話し方に近づくでしょう 。

    Since it isn't necessary to emphasize English or repeat "teach."

    英語を強調すること、または"teach"を繰り返すことは� K要でないので。

    ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    「since = 〜ので、だから(文頭に置かれる場合、直接の原因を表 し、becauseより意味が弱く、asより強い)」
    ・Since you feel tired, you should rest.
    � なたは疲れているのだから、休養をとるべきだ。
    ・Since the car isn't working, we'll have to take the train.
    車が動かないのだから、私たちは電車に乗るべきだ。
    ・It must have rained, since the ground is wet.
    地面が湿っているところを見ると、雨が降ったに違いな い。

    「emphasize(えんふぁさいず) = 強調[力説]する; (言葉に)力を入れる; (形・色などを)目立たせる.」
    「necessary(ねせさーり)= 必要な」
    「pattern = 模範, 手本; 型, 基本型, 様式; 模型; 模様, 柄; (服などの)見本, 例; 機構; 情勢, 傾向.」
    ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    In this case, it appears Mac is an administrator trying to convince Maciamo to stay on at his present job -- Please continue teaching English here no matter what.

    この場合、MacがMaciamoに彼の現在の役目を留まるよう に納得させているようなAddministratorに見える。
    "no matter what" is difficult to translate to me. Hmm.

    ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    「It appears (that ... .) = どうも....らしい。(...のように見える)」
    「convince = 確信[納得]させる」
    「present = 現在の」
    ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Hmmm. It appears I have said a terrible thing to Maciamo.
    My friends have said "teach me is unnatural" as well before.
    But "If you have a chance or time, please continue" is enough to say?
    I think I don't know what I wish to him/her.
    How about "If you have enough time, please continue helping"? (^^;;;;
    Because in Maciamo's case you already said "Thank you for teaching English,"
    I just mean you don't need to repeat teaching or English. Mac probably didn't really mean for these sentences to be read together, though.....

  7. #7
    Danshaku Elizabeth's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 22, 2003
    Location
    アメリカ
    Posts
    298
    Quote Originally Posted by Mac
    If you have a chance or time, please continueは恐らく、より自然な話し方に近づくでしょう 。
    Is 近づくでしょう (approaches) better than 近くに感じでしょう、 近くに感じられる?

    Since it isn't necessary to emphasize English or repeat "teach."

    英語を強調すること、または"teach"を繰り返すことは� K要でないので。
    Maybe 理由は英語を強調。。。 
    Or 必要でないから・ので・ためです。

    In this case, it appears Mac is an administrator trying to convince Maciamo to stay on at his present job -- Please continue teaching English here no matter what.

    この場合、MacがMaciamoに彼の現在の役目を留まるよう に納得させているようなAddministratorに見える。
    "no matter what" is difficult to translate to me. Hmm.
    Hmmm....Maybe just shigoto for job. And this tomaru (止まる), tsuzukeru for stay (continue) are also OK (?)
    Administrator -- Kanrishoku (?)
    No matter what -- Doushite mo (?)

    Also for convince -- Maciamoに言い聞かせる (?)


    以上です。 最近、私にとって日本語を勉強するのに一 番役に立つのはマクのポストを読む事です。 又は、マ クのポストを読む事は日本語の勉強方法のなかで最も役 に立ちます。
    でも、MaciamoにMacの前の返事についての文ですが� Aただ冗談言っているだけなんだったから。. 本気にするなよね。

    訂正してくださいね。後ね。。。

  8. #8
    English Learner Mac's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 3, 2004
    Posts
    20
    If you have a chance or time, please continue are probably closer to natural speech patterns.

    If you have a chance or timeは恐らく、より自然な話し方に近づくでしょう 。
    If you have a chance or timeは恐らく、より自然な話し方でしょう 。
    I think don't need to translate like "より近くに or something"
    So I think "are closer" = only "より" in this case.

    So I think より自然な話し方になるでしょう and より自然な話し方でしょう
    and より自然な話し方に近づくでしょう are correct in that case.

    It must be so difficult to English speakers.... (^^;;;;
    ---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    I don't like the word "Administrator" in Japanese.
    So I use "Administrator" instead of the Japanese.
    Well, Let's try to translate the sentence again.


    In this case, it appears Mac is an administrator trying to convince Maciamo to stay on at his present job -- Please continue teaching English here no matter what.

    Before
    この場合、MacがMaciamoに彼の現在の役目を留まるよう に納得させているようなAddministratorに見える。
    After
    この場合、MacがMaciamoに現在の仕事を続けるように説 得しているようなAddministratorに見える。

    Ah...I've missed to understand "stay on"
    "stay on" = on の状態のままでいる[� る]

    I think the sentence which I retranslated is better.

    convince A to do = Aを説得して・・・させる。("persuade A to do" is better)
    I convinced him to buy the house.
    私は彼を説得して家を買わせた。
    I convince to Maciamo to stay on at his present job.
    私はMaciamoを説得してに現在の仕事を続けさせる。

    ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    「最近、私にとって日本語を勉強するのに一 番役に立つのはマクのポストを読む事です。 又は、マ クのポストを読む事は日本語の勉強方法のなかで最も役 に立ちます。」

    � りがとー。そう言われるとうれしいです。
    Last edited by Mac; Apr 24, 2004 at 03:40.

  9. #9
    English Learner Mac's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 3, 2004
    Posts
    20
    Ah... I see.
    英語を教えてくれて� りがとー。
    英語を教え続けてください。(Please continue teaching English. *But This sentence is bad.)
    続けてください。(Please continue)

    また今度英語を教えてくださいね。 would be better. Hmm. This is difficult to translate though....
    Please teach English again? next time?...hmmmm.

    英語を教えてくれて� りがとう。続けてください。
    Thank you for teaching English. Please continue...
    Hmm I think this sentence is natural.
    Okay I think this is good.

  10. #10
    Danshaku Elizabeth's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 22, 2003
    Location
    アメリカ
    Posts
    298
    Quote Originally Posted by Maciamo
    "Later"は過去の「-後」で使われています。例えば、「5年前にA会社に入 ったけど、1年後辞職しました。」、英語でそうなる: "I joined company A 5 years ago, but I resigned 1 year later".その場合は"later"と使う。未来か将来の意味だ った"1 year later"を使えません。だが、"later"だけで、例えば"Se e you later"か"I will do it later"はもちろん使えます。期間が決めたら(例:1時 間、3週間、10年間。。。)、「"in"+期間」と言わ� ネければならない。
    上の質問ですが、英語で「。。。After」とMaciamoさん の言うように「later」は、ほぼ同じ意味の場合が� る� ニ思います。 I joined company A 5 years ago, but resigned after a yearと意味は同じです。でも、"After"は過去か将来の� u-後 (で、に)」でも使われる場合が多い。文の時制に よって違う。 After Miki comes home from school, she goes to cram school. Although after only an hour (after spending an hour, after an hour has/had passed) of cram school, she is/was ready to go home.

    一方では、[Let's meet back here after shopping for an hour」と言い方は� まい使いませんね。理由は正確にし らないけど。 おそらく、買い物のような活動を強調するために、その 使い方でOKと思います。 
     

  11. #11
    Twirling dragon Maciamo's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 17, 2002
    Location
    西京
    Posts
    2,434
    Another common mistake made by Japanese :

    "My/your most favourite something" => "favourite" means 一番好きな, so there is only one "favourite" thing. "most favourite" sounds like 一番一番好きな, which is redundant.

  12. #12
    English Learner Mac's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 3, 2004
    Posts
    20
    Thank you for helping English, Maciamo.

    Hmm. My most favorite thing is ABC.
    それを使ってしまうところだった!
    I was just going to use that! (I think....(^^;;;)
    I understood. I will never use that.

    redundant (りだんだんとぅ) = 余計な、くどい

  13. #13
    Danshaku Elizabeth's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 22, 2003
    Location
    アメリカ
    Posts
    298
    Quote Originally Posted by Mac
    Thank you for helping English, Maciamo.

    redundant (りだんだんとぅ) = 余計な、くどい
    More correctly : Thank you for helping (me) with my English, Maciamo.
    Also 不必要 for redundant?

    "Most favorite" is still something used in lighthearted conversation or as a joke in idle banter between friends, especially children, but it is obviously redundant.

  14. #14
    English Learner Mac's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 3, 2004
    Posts
    20
    Thank you for helping with my English, Elizabeth.

    A new machine was installed and some of the workmen were made redundant.
    新しい機械が入ってきて(取り付けられて)一部の労働 者は不要になった。
    (from in my dictionary. "from in" my dictionary )

    "Most favorite" is still something used in lighthearted conversation or as a joke in idle banter between friends, especially children, but it is obviously redundant.

    「most favorite(一番一番好き)」はそれにもかかわらず、陽気 な会話、また特に子供たちの友達の間で「暇な冗談を言 う者の冗談」として使われるが、それは明白に(間違いなく)不要 で� る。

    be something? How can it translate?

    ------------------------------------------------------
    lighthearted(らいとぅはーでぃっとぅ) = 陽気な、気軽な
    conversation = 会話
    joke = 冗談
    idle = 暇な
    banter = 冗談(を言う)(冗談を言う者?)
    obvious = 明白な、すぐ分かる。

  15. #15
    Danshaku Elizabeth's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 22, 2003
    Location
    アメリカ
    Posts
    298
    Quote Originally Posted by Mac
    "Most favorite" is still something used in lighthearted conversation or as a joke in idle banter between friends, especially children, but it is obviously redundant.

    「most favorite(一番一番好き)」はそれにもかかわらず、陽気 な会話、また特に子供たちの友達の間で「暇な冗談を言 う者の冗談」として使われるが、それは明白に(間違いなく)不要 で� る。
    そういう感じです。

    � る意味では、[More correctly]を私の使い方もちょっと余計な言い方ですね。ただ会話を柔らかくしています。た だ「ただしくは」と言うより「もっとただしくは」と言 い方が優しい感じがします。時々日常会話では自然に使 われることも� ります。

    Be somethingは、どこから、その表現が見つかったのか知� 轤ネいのですが。。。。

  16. #16
    English Learner Mac's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 3, 2004
    Posts
    20
    Hehe. Hmm....
    be something = 〜 are/is/ something 〜
    I don't understand these sentences.
    "It is still something used...."

    I thought "It is still used something." =
    それはまだ何かに使われています。
    But the result of my translator wasn't good.
    So, I got? confused.

  17. #17
    Danshaku Elizabeth's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 22, 2003
    Location
    アメリカ
    Posts
    298
    Quote Originally Posted by Mac
    Hehe. Hmm....
    be something = 〜 are/is/ something 〜
    I don't understand these sentences.
    "It is still something used...."

    I thought "It is still used something." =
    それはまだ何かに使われています。
    But the result of my translator wasn't good.
    So, I got? confused.
    日本語でさえ難しいですね。  英語でなんて言うのかな>> 

    Maybe....Is it still used for something? たとえば、 "だいぶ前から使われていない表現を見つかったら ”� サれはまだ何かに使われています?”と聞いたらいいと� vいます。



     

  18. #18
    English Learner Mac's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 3, 2004
    Posts
    20
    眠いので日本語で・・・
    I'm sleepy, so I'm going to write in Japanese.

    うーん・・・Hmm....
    The problem was solved by her.
    The room is cleaned every day.
    The letter is written in English....

    There are those sentences in the English world. (^^; the English world?
    ""Most favorite" is still something used in lighthearted conversation." was used by Elizabeth.

    is と usedの間にsomethingが入っています。
    There is "something" between "is" and "used".
    それがどうしてなのかがよく理解できません。
    I can't understand why that is.

    Well, Good Night. (^^; I'm going to bed. Hmmm....

  19. #19
    Regular Member
    Join Date
    Jan 8, 2003
    Location
    I live in Kansai.
    Posts
    25
    こんにちわ みなさん!
    わたしもこの英会話教室、楽しく拝見させてもらっています。

    Quote Originally Posted by Mac
    ""Most favorite" is still something used in lighthearted conversation." was used by Elizabeth.

    is と usedの間にsomethingが入っています。
    There is "something" between "is" and "used".
    それがどうしてなのかがよく理解できません。
    I can't understand why that is.

    わたしは「"Most favorite"は、それでも軽い会話で使われることがあります 」という訳ではないかと思いました。"something" は、「何か」という意味以外に「多少」という意味があります。だからこの場合の"someth ing" は、「まだ時々使われている」という意味で使われているのだと思いました。「使われることがあります」は、 「時々使われている」の変形です。正しいですか?

    I thought the translation is 「"Most favorite"は、それでも軽い会話で使われることがあります 」. "something" has a meaning "多少" in addition to "何か". Since I thought "something" was used as 「まだ時々使われている」 in this case. "使われることがあります" is the transformation form of "時々使われている". Is this the right? or correct?

    南木

  20. #20
    Danshaku Elizabeth's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 22, 2003
    Location
    アメリカ
    Posts
    298
    I'm confused as well. The "most favorite" part of the lesson has no connection to "still used for something."    

    However, you can say "「"Most favorite]は、それでも軽い会話で使われることが� ります。
    (But)most favorite is still sometimes used (事が� る)in lighthearted conversation、different than "used for" (何かに)。 こういう意味で使われている(But。。。 still)は教科書に出てくるようなお手本のような文で� ヘなかもしれません。Sentences with the expression "(but)....still," as it is used here, may not be examples which popularly appear in textbooks.

    [Most favorite]は厳密にいうと間違ったが、よく使ってるんじゃないね .      
    Last edited by Elizabeth; Apr 25, 2004 at 12:08.

  21. #21
    English Learner Mac's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 3, 2004
    Posts
    20
    Hello, Nangi-san and Elizabeth.

    I know something about cars.
    私は車のことなら少しは知っている
    (「よく知っている」の控えめな表現)

    You look something like that actor.
    � なたはちょっと(少し)� の俳優に似ている。
    (something like A = いくぶん(少し、ちょっと)Aのような)


    He is something of a poet.
    彼はちょっとした詩人で� る。
    (be something of an A = ちょっとした(� る能力・性質を持つ人)で� る。)

    (I looked them up from in my dictionary.)

    Ahh. I was surprised there were a lot of meanings of "something".
    I was surprised a lot of meanings of "something existed .
    I was surprised "something" had a lot of meanings.

    Let's retranslate the sentences once again.

    "Most favorite" is still something used in lighthearted conversation or as a joke in idle banter between friends, especially children, but it is obviously redundant.

    "Most favorite"はそれでも軽い会話の中や、暇で(冗談を言� 「合っている)からかい� っている、友達の間、特に子� 氓スちの間で、冗談として少し使われます。しかし、そ� 黷ヘ明白に不要で� る。

  22. #22
    Regular Member
    Join Date
    Apr 6, 2004
    Location
    Japan
    Posts
    4
    みなさん、こんにちは。突然ですがお邪魔します。とてもためになるスレッドですね。
    前の話題に戻してすみませんが質問させてください。
    「2週間後に会いましょう」と言うときに、次に会うのは2週間以上は先になるという意味で言いたいときは、 どのような表現になるのでしょうか?
    "See you after 2 weeks" でいいのでしょうか?
    "See you after 2 weeks or later" ですか?
    よろしくお願いします。

  23. #23
    Danshaku Elizabeth's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 22, 2003
    Location
    アメリカ
    Posts
    298
    Quote Originally Posted by akihabara
    みなさん、こんにちは。突然ですがお邪魔します。とて もためになるスレッドですね。
    前の話題に戻してすみませんが質問させてください。
    「2週間後に会いましょう」と言うときに、次に会うの は2週間以上は先になるという意味で言いたいときは、 どのような表現になるのでしょうか?
    "See you after 2 weeks" でいいのでしょうか?
    "See you after 2 weeks or later" ですか?
    よろしくお願いします。
    こんにちわ 秋葉原さん!

    Maybe "See you in two weeks, or later" but generally we try to put more resolution on the date so it isn't left this open ended. If it's around two weeks (closer to two than three), "See you in a couple weeks" or "See you sometime in the next couple weeks" is more polite. So it doesn't look like you're either putting someone off by making them wait for you or implying that they are making you wait for them.

    "Later" in relation to meeting someone is either now or something that has already happened after a certain defined period. 三年後に彼と再会した。 I met him again three years later. OR I met him again after three years.

    Let's met again after you get home from school.  学校から帰宅してから(した後で)
    また会いましょう。 Or four days, hours, weeks after you get home. But not 'after' a set amount of time from now. Confusing enough yet ?
    Last edited by Elizabeth; Apr 27, 2004 at 11:21.

  24. #24
    Regular Member
    Join Date
    Apr 6, 2004
    Location
    Japan
    Posts
    4
    エリザベスさん、ていねいな説明ありがとうございます。
    だんだんニュアンスがわかってきました。

  25. #25
    English Learner Mac's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 3, 2004
    Posts
    20
    I have some questions as well. (^^;

    See you in two weeks("week" was typo.). (〜後に)
    We'll be able to meet each other within 2 weeks(〜以内に)

    We may be able to see each other after over 2 weeks.(〜以上後に) or
    We may be able to see each other over 2 weeks later.(〜以上後に)

    Are they correct?
    Last edited by Mac; Apr 26, 2004 at 02:19.

Page 1 of 2 12 LastLast

Similar Threads

  1. Common Japanese misconceptions regarding foreigners
    By Maciamo in forum Immigration & Foreigners
    Replies: 123
    Last Post: Sep 22, 2010, 09:47
  2. Replies: 60
    Last Post: Oct 20, 2006, 20:36
  3. Amusing mistakes while speaking Japanese
    By Maciamo in forum Japanese Language & Linguistics
    Replies: 17
    Last Post: May 16, 2004, 18:20
  4. Japanese-made hydrogen car
    By Maciamo in forum Miscellaneous
    Replies: 2
    Last Post: Jan 9, 2004, 09:57

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •