Replacing the bathroom lock with 交換

Manga panel from よつばと! showing example of Replacing the bathroom lock with 交換.
よつばと! » Volume 1 » Page 76

The bathroom door lock broke, leaving the door unable to open. With a bit of effort, Yousuke is finally able to unlock it.

葉介(ようすけ):
「こりゃさっさと交換(こうかん)した方(ほう)がいいな」
“Looks like I'd better replace it right away.”
「近(ちか)くで売(う)ってるトコあったっけなぁ…(あちィ…)」
“Was there somewhere nearby that sells them...? (Man, it's hot...)”

Key Points

1交換(こうかん) means replacing the broken lock here
  • 交換(こうかん) often means “exchange”, but here it means taking out the broken lock and putting in a new one.
  • The missing object is clear from the scene, so Yousuke does not say what he plans to replace.
2こりゃ is a casual form of これは
  • こりゃ points to the situation Yousuke has just dealt with, much like “this” or “the way things are”.
  • In the translation, “Looks like” captures his reaction to the state of the lock.
3さっさと交換(こうかん)した方(ほう)がいい expresses his judgment
  • 〜た方(ほう)がいい presents an action as the better choice. Here Yousuke decides that replacing the lock is better than leaving it as it is.
  • さっさと adds urgency. He thinks it should be done without delay.
  • Final な makes this sound like a thought to himself rather than advice directed at someone else.
4売(う)ってるトコ expands to 売(う)っているところ
  • 売(う)ってる drops the い from 売(う)っている in casual speech. Here it describes a place that sells replacement locks.
  • トコ is a clipped form of ところ, “place”.
  • あったっけ shows Yousuke searching his memory, and なぁ lets the question trail off as he thinks.

See Also

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