A comet-viewing telescope with 望遠鏡

Kanji Explanation: Reflection and optics with 鏡

Asuka Jr. receives a challenge notice from Saint Tail, stating her intent to steal Graham Comet on Christmas Eve. One of his friends wonders how Saint Tail will steal a comet. Asuka Jr. thinks it over for a moment.

アスカ Jr.:: 「これは　天文台(てんもんだい)の天体(てんたい)望遠鏡(ぼうえんきょう)を盗(ぬす)むってことだ！！」; “That means stealing the observatory's telescope!!”; Literal: “This means stealing the observatory's astronomical telescope!!”; 「このへんで彗星(すいせい)を見(み)る方法(ほうほう)はそれしかないからな！！」; “Since that's the only way to see a comet around here!!”; Literal: “Because around here, that is the only way to see a comet!!”

Key Points

1望遠鏡(ぼうえんきょう) = “telescope”

In this scene, 望遠鏡(ぼうえんきょう) means the observatory’s telescope, the instrument Saint Tail would have to steal in order to “steal” the comet.
The kanji are literally “distance + see + mirror”, which fits an optical device used to view faraway objects.

2〜ってことだ = casual “that means…”

ってことだ is a casual spoken way to say ということだ.

3このへんで = “in this area”

このへんで sets the local context: he means that in this area, there is only one practical way to view a comet.

4それしかないからな = “because that’s the only option”

それしかない means “there’s nothing but that” or “that’s the only option”.
The ending からな gives his reasoning in a firm, casual, matter-of-fact tone.

Vocabulary

天体 (Celestial body)

天体(てんたい) is a general term for stars and other matter found in outer space. This includes not only the Sun, Moon, planets, stars, and comets located outside Earth’s atmosphere, but also galaxies and nebulae.

方法 (Method)

方法(ほうほう) means a method, way, or means of doing something. It is one of the most common abstract uses of 方.

望遠鏡 (Telescope)

望遠鏡(ぼうえんきょう) is an optical instrument that uses a combination of lenses and mirrors to magnify distant objects, allowing them to be observed as if they were close by.

A comet-viewing telescope with 望遠鏡

Key Points

Vocabulary

天体 (Celestial body)

方法 (Method)

望遠鏡 (Telescope)

See Also