Japanese with Manga

Understanding my resolve as a man with 理解

Kanji Explanation: Separating and understanding with 解

Manga panel from それでも歩は寄せてくる showing example of Understanding my resolve as a man with 理解.
それでも歩は寄せてくる » Volume 2 » Page 98

Sakurako tells Takeru not to go to the shogi club as he’ll get in the way of Ayumu being with Urushi. However, as a new member of shogi club, and as a man, Takeru feels it’s his duty to show up. On his way to the shogi club room, he encounters Ayumu who implores him to come to the shogi club room.

タケル:
「理解(りかい)してくれたか！！」
“You understood me, huh?”
Literal: “You understood for me, huh!!”
「オレの男(おとこ)としての！」
“As a man, my (duty)!”
Literal: “My, as a man...!”
歩(あゆむ):
「いや全然(ぜんぜん)だ」
“No, not at all.”

Key Points

1理解(りかい)してくれた means understood me
  • 理解(りかい)する means to understand something by grasping its meaning or reasoning.
  • Takeru thinks Ayumu has understood his motivation for going to the shogi club.
2してくれた frames the understanding as a favor
  • 〜てくれる presents someone else’s action as beneficial to the speaker.
  • Takeru hears Ayumu’s invitation as support for his self-important resolve.
3オレの男(おとこ)としての leaves the noun implied
  • The phrase means “my … as a man”, with something like duty, resolve, or pride left unsaid.
  • The fragmentary follow-up makes Takeru sound dramatic.
4いや全然(ぜんぜん)だ undercuts the misunderstanding
  • Ayumu’s reply means “no, not at all”.

Vocabulary

(Understanding)

理解(りかい) means correctly grasping the logic, reasoning, and meaning behind things and internalizing them. It also means sensing and accepting another person’s feelings and circumstances.

See Also

それでも歩は寄せてくる © its respective creators. It is used here for educational commentary.