People and persons with 人 人 refers to human beings, human nature, other people, and numbers of people.
Etymology This kanji is a pictograph of a person standing with the body slightly bent. It’s an ancient human figure reduced to two simple strokes.
Crime 犯人 (Criminal)犯人( はんにん ) means the culprit or person who committed a crime.
It combines 犯 (offense ) with 人 (person ) to show the person who committed the crime .
Example 1 of 2: Don't reveal it with 〜てはだめだ Example 1 of 2
ご注文はうさぎですか? » Volume 1 » Page 72While telling ghost stories at night, Rize relays the tale from her childhood, of a frightened servant who felt she was being watched while walking home one night.
リゼ: 「犯人( はんにん ) はホフク前進( ぜんしん ) の練習( れんしゅう ) をしていた私( わたし ) だ」 “I was the culprit. I was practicing crawling on my stomach.” ◯: 「バラしちゃだめじゃん!!」 “You shouldn't reveal it!” Challenge Yourself Show translation
Challenge
Which interpretation best matches the highlighted line?
リゼ: 「犯人( はんにん ) はホフク前進( ぜんしん ) の練習( れんしゅう ) をしていた私( わたし ) だ」 ◯: 「バラし ちゃだめじゃん !!」 Clues バラしちゃだめじゃん バラしちゃだめ means the culprit should not be revealed What does the speaker mean? You shouldn't reveal the culprit! バラす means revealing a secret or giving something away. The others object because Rize has disclosed that she was the figure in the ghost story. The others warn Rize not to be discovered while crawling. The highlighted form is バラしちゃだめじゃん. Here バラしちゃだめ means the culprit should not be revealed, so this choice does not match the Japanese. The others tell Rize to reveal more details about the culprit. The highlighted form is バラしちゃだめじゃん. Here バラしちゃだめ means the culprit should not be revealed, so this choice does not match the Japanese. The others say the culprit should remain hidden in the closet. The highlighted form is バラしちゃだめじゃん. Here バラしちゃだめ means the culprit should not be revealed, so this choice does not match the Japanese.
バラしちゃだめ means the culprit should not be revealed. バラす means revealing a secret or giving something away. The others object because Rize has disclosed that she was the figure in the ghost story.
View Full Example Example 2 of 2: Don't suspect only me with 〜だけ Example 2 of 2
名探偵コナン » Volume 11 » Page 10In a snow-covered mountain villa, a room full of suspects listen as Detective Mouri explains how their host was murdered. The accused notes she has a receipt showing she was at the convenience store at the bottom of the mountain when the murder took place.
中原( なかはら ) :「それにまだ金澤( かなざわ ) 先生( せんせい ) のアリバイもあやふやよ!!」 “Moreover, Mr. Kanazawa's alibi is also vague!” 「私( わたし ) だけを犯人( はんにん ) 扱( あつか ) いしないでよ!!」 “Don't treat only me as the suspect!” Challenge Yourself Show translation
Challenge
What is Nakahara protesting?
中原( なかはら ) :「それにまだ金澤( かなざわ ) 先生( せんせい ) のアリバイもあやふやよ!!」 「私( わたし ) だけ を犯人( はんにん ) 扱( あつか ) いしないでよ!!」 Clues 私( わたし ) だけを only me 犯人( はんにん ) 扱( あつか ) いしないでよ do not treat me as the culprit What does the speaker mean? She is being singled out as the culprit. 私( わたし ) だけ and 犯人( はんにん ) 扱( あつか ) い identify her complaint directly. Nobody has checked her alibi yet. She presents her own evidence and complains about being singled out, not ignored. Kanazawa has already been cleared. She says Kanazawa's alibi is still vague, so he has not been cleared. Everyone is being treated as equally suspicious. だけ shows that she feels the suspicion is falling only on her. She wants to confess without the others present. しないで is a request to stop treating her as guilty, not an attempt to confess. She objects to being called a witness. The role named in the line is 犯人( はんにん ) , the culprit.
Nakahara objects to being treated as the only culprit. She points to another uncertain alibi to argue that the suspicion should not fall solely on her.
View Full Example 殺人 (Murder)殺人( さつじん ) is the crime of killing a person.
It combines 殺 (kill ) with 人 (person ) to show the killing of a person .
名探偵コナン » Volume 5 » Page 83After discovering who the murderer is, Conan explains why the murderer went after Ran. He pinpoints when Ran unknowingly discovered a vital clue.
コナン: 「あの時( とき ) 、蘭( らん ) はその事( こと ) を気( き ) にもとめてなかったが、もし思( おも ) い出( だ ) されたらせっかく組( く ) み立( た ) てたこの殺人( さつじん ) 計画( けいかく ) がすべて水( みず ) の泡( あわ ) になる…」 “Ran didn't think anything of it at the time, but if she remembered it, all the murderous plans he worked so hard on putting together would go up in smoke.” Challenge Yourself Show translation
Challenge
What would happen if Ran remembered the clue?
コナン: 「あの時( とき ) 、蘭( らん ) はその事( こと ) を気( き ) にもとめてなかったが、もし思( おも ) い出( だ ) されたらせっかく組( く ) み立( た ) てたこの殺人( さつじん ) 計画( けいかく ) がすべて水( みず ) の泡( あわ ) になる …」 Clues もし思( おも ) い出( だ ) されたら if she were to remember it この殺人( さつじん ) 計画( けいかく ) がすべて水( みず ) の泡( あわ ) になる the entire murder plan would come to nothing What does the speaker mean? The culprit's carefully prepared plan would be ruined. 水( みず ) の泡( あわ ) になる means that all the effort put into the plan would be wasted. Ran would forget the clue permanently. The condition is that Ran remembers it, not that she forgets it. The culprit would have time to rebuild the plan. The idiom describes the existing plan collapsing, not a chance to begin again. The murder would be mistaken for an accident. Remembering the clue would threaten the culprit's concealment rather than strengthen it. Conan's investigation would have to stop. The wasted effort belongs to the culprit's murder plan. Ran would become part of the plan willingly. Her memory would expose a clue and undermine the plan.
If Ran remembered what she had noticed, the culprit’s carefully assembled murder plan would fall apart. 水( みず ) の泡( あわ ) になる says that the invested effort would come to nothing.
View Full Example 無差別殺人 (Indiscriminate murder)無差別殺人( むさべつさつじん ) is killing people at random, without choosing particular victims.
It combines 無差別 (indiscriminate ) with 殺人 (murder ) to show killing without choosing victims .
名探偵コナン » Volume 5 » Page 110Sonoko is invited to a band’s after party. During the get-together, the band’s singer Tatsuya eats a rice ball only to collapse and die. The police are called in, and Inspector Megure discovers the victim was poisoned. He accuses the man who prepared the food, but Conan bites into a rice ball to show it’s safe. The victim’s manager, Mari, agrees.
麻理( まり ) :「無差別( むさべつ ) 殺人( さつじん ) ならともかく、たまたま達也( たつや ) が食( た ) べたオニギリだけに、あらかじめ毒( どく ) を仕込( しこ ) むのは不可能( ふかのう ) じゃありません?」 “If it were indiscriminate murder, that's one thing but since it was just the rice ball Tatsuya happened to eat, wouldn't it be impossible to poison it beforehand?” 目暮( めぐれ ) :「た、確( たし ) かにそうだが…」 “Th-that's true, but...” Challenge Yourself Show translation
Challenge
Why does Mari say the rice ball could not have been poisoned beforehand?
麻理( まり ) :「無差別( むさべつ ) 殺人( さつじん ) ならともかく 、たまたま達也( たつや ) が食( た ) べたオニギリだけに、あらかじめ毒( どく ) を仕込( しこ ) むのは不可能( ふかのう ) じゃありません?」 目暮( めぐれ ) :「た、確( たし ) かにそうだが…」 Clues 無差別( むさべつ ) 殺人( さつじん ) ならともかく indiscriminate murder would be one thing たまたま達也( たつや ) が食( た ) べたオニギリだけ only the rice ball Tatsuya happened to eat What does the speaker mean? Nobody could predict which rice ball Tatsuya would happen to choose. たまたま and だけ make the targeted choice too specific to arrange blindly in advance. Every rice ball had already been tested and found safe. Mari argues from the unpredictability of Tatsuya's choice, not from laboratory testing. Tatsuya prepared all of the rice balls himself. The line does not say who prepared every rice ball. It focuses on which one he happened to eat. The poison could only work in a drink. Mari questions how poison could be placed in the chosen rice ball, not whether food can carry it. The poison was added after Tatsuya ate. She discusses whether it could have been planted beforehand. An indiscriminate poisoning would also have been impossible. 〜ならともかく treats indiscriminate murder as the more imaginable case.
Mari contrasts an indiscriminate attack with the precise poisoning of the one rice ball Tatsuya happened to eat. Without knowing his choice, planting the poison beforehand seems impossible.
View Full Example Identity 人間 (Human being)人間( にんげん ) means a human being or humanity. It can also refer to someone’s character or personality.
It combines 人 (person ) with 間 (between ) to show human beings living among one another .
ARIA The MASTERPIECE » Volume 2 » Page 129Alicia and Akari visit an island that’s modeled after part of Japan back on Earth. There, an elderly local woman tells the two of the fox spirits that visit the human world there. Akari is excited at the prospect of meeting one, but the old woman gives her a warning: on rare occasion, a fox will take a person back home with them.
おばあさん: 「神( かみ ) さまの世界( せかい ) と人間( にんげん ) の世界( せかい ) は違( ちが ) うやさかい」 “Since the god world and the human world are different...” 「連( つ ) れて行( い ) かれたらあかん」 “...you mustn't get taken away.” View Full Example 別人 (Different person)別人( べつじん ) means a different person. Figuratively, it can describe someone whose appearance or behavior has changed beyond recognition.
It combines 別 (different ) with 人 (person ) to show a different person .
三ツ星カラーズ » Volume 8 » Page 107Sacchan and Kotoha notice Yui walking with a couple of her friends from school. The two decide to sneak and follow after them. Sacchan notices Yui doesn’t act quite the same with these friends as she does with Sacchan and Kotoha.
さっちゃん: 「潜入( せんにゅう ) 作戦( さくせん ) とかで別人( べつじん ) になりきることがあるかもしれないから」 “Maybe it's because she's in an undercover operation or something that she sometimes pretends to be a different person....” 「学校( がっこう ) の時( とき ) の結衣( ゆい ) は結衣( ゆい ) らしさを消( け ) してすごしてるのかもしれない」 “...that Yui at school might be trying to hide her true self.” Challenge Yourself Show translation
Challenge
What explanation does Sacchan invent for Yui acting differently at school?
さっちゃん: 「潜入( せんにゅう ) 作戦( さくせん ) とかで別人( べつじん ) になりきることがある かもしれないから」 「学校( がっこう ) の時( とき ) の結衣( ゆい ) は結衣( ゆい ) らしさを消( け ) してすごしてるのかもしれない」 Clues 潜入( せんにゅう ) 作戦( さくせん ) とかで別人( べつじん ) になりきることがあるかもしれない perhaps she sometimes fully plays another person for an infiltration mission 結衣( ゆい ) らしさを消( け ) してすごしてるのかもしれない perhaps she spends school time hiding what makes her Yui What does the speaker mean? Yui may be playing a different person as part of an undercover mission. 潜入( せんにゅう ) 作戦( さくせん ) names an infiltration mission, and 別人( べつじん ) になりきる describes fully taking on another persona. Yui has forgotten how she normally acts around Sacchan. Sacchan speculates that Yui is deliberately hiding her usual self, not that she has forgotten it. Yui's school friends are pretending to be different people. Yui is the implied subject of 別人( べつじん ) になりきる and the named subject of the next line. Yui is secretly investigating Sacchan and Kotoha. The imagined mission explains Yui's behavior at school. The line does not name Sacchan and Kotoha as targets. Yui behaves differently because school rules require it. Sacchan mentions a possible mission, not a school rule. Yui is preparing to leave school and become someone else. 〜ことがある describes something that may happen on some occasions, not a plan to leave permanently.
Sacchan imagines that Yui sometimes plays a different person for an undercover mission. In that theory, Yui hides her usual personality while she is at school.
View Full Example 怪人 (Mysterious person)怪人( かいじん ) means a mysterious or suspicious person, often one with strange powers in fiction.
It combines 怪 (strange ) with 人 (person ) to show a person marked by eerie abnormality.
名探偵コナン » Volume 14 » Page 15A client tells Detective Mouri about the condition in which she found her deceased husband. Hearing the details, Conan identifies the likely poison, including the composition, the dosage required to kill, and the internal effects it has on a person. When Ran asks how he knows all this, Conan covers by saying the monster villain on the kid’s TV show he watched explained it.
蘭( らん ) :「随分( ずいぶん ) 丁寧( ていねい ) な怪人( かいじん ) ね… 毒( どく ) の成分( せいぶん ) まで教( おし ) えてくれるなんて…」 “What a polite villain... Going so far as to tell the poison's composition...” コナン: 「そんな怪人( かいじん ) いねーよ…」 “No such monster exists...” Challenge Yourself Show translation
Challenge
What makes Ran sarcastically call the television villain considerate?
蘭( らん ) :「随分( ずいぶん ) 丁寧( ていねい ) な怪人( かいじん ) ね… 毒( どく ) の成分( せいぶん ) まで教( おし ) えてくれるなんて…」 コナン: 「そんな怪人( かいじん ) いねーよ…」 Clues 毒( どく ) の成分( せいぶん ) まで even the poison's composition 教( おし ) えてくれるなんて to think that he would tell you What does the speaker mean? He supposedly explained even the poison's composition. まで shows that the implausibly detailed explanation went as far as the chemical composition. He warned viewers never to use poison. Ran focuses on the technical information he supposedly provided, not a safety warning. He gave Conan an antidote. No antidote is mentioned. Conan claims the show supplied his knowledge. He politely apologized to every victim. 丁寧( ていねい ) is sarcastic here because of the thorough explanation. He concealed the poison's identity from Conan. The supposed villain did the opposite by explaining its composition. He taught Ran how to make a television program. The information concerns the poison, not producing the show.
Ran mocks Conan’s excuse by imagining a villain helpful enough to explain even the poison’s chemical makeup. Conan’s reply admits that no such villain exists.
View Full Example 一人 (One person)一人( ひとり ) means one person or being alone. It can function as a counter expression or describe doing something by oneself.
It combines 一 (one ) with 人 (person ) to show one person .
名探偵コナン » Volume 24 » Page 83Following a murder made to look like an accidental death, Conan reviews the whereabouts of the four suspects at the time.
コナン: 「犯行( はんこう ) 可能( かのう ) 時( じ ) にあの四人( よにん ) の中( なか ) でアリバイが成立( せいりつ ) しているのは…」 “Among those four, the one with an established alibi during the time the crime could have been committed is...” 「あの人( ひと ) ただ一人( ひとり ) …」 “...that person alone...” Challenge Yourself Show translation
Challenge
How many of the four suspects have an alibi that holds up?
コナン: 「犯行( はんこう ) 可能( かのう ) 時( じ ) にあの四人( よにん ) の中( なか ) でアリバイが成立( せいりつ ) しているのは…」 「あの人( ひと ) ただ一人( ひとり ) …」 Clues あの四人( よにん ) の中( なか ) で among those four people アリバイが成立( せいりつ ) しているのは…あの人( ひと ) ただ一人( ひとり ) that person alone has an established alibi What does the speaker mean? Only one of them. ただ一人( ひとり ) limits the valid alibi to a single person among the four. All four of them. Conan singles out one person rather than clearing the whole group. Exactly two of them. 一人( ひとり ) gives the count as one. Three of them. The line identifies only one established alibi. None of them. Conan says one person's alibi does hold up. The number is still completely unknown. He has already narrowed the valid alibis to one person.
Among the four suspects, Conan says only one person has an alibi that is established as valid during the possible time of the crime.
View Full Example 四人 (Four people)四人( よにん ) is four people.
It combines 四 (four ) with 人 (person ) to show four people .
名探偵コナン » Volume 24 » Page 83Following a murder made to look like an accidental death, Conan reviews the whereabouts of the four suspects at the time.
コナン: 「犯行( はんこう ) 可能( かのう ) 時( じ ) にあの四人( よにん ) の中( なか ) でアリバイが成立( せいりつ ) しているのは…」 “Among those four, the one with an established alibi during the time the crime could have been committed is...” 「あの人( ひと ) ただ一人( ひとり ) …」 “...that person alone...” Challenge Yourself Show translation
Challenge
How many of the four suspects have an alibi that holds up?
コナン: 「犯行( はんこう ) 可能( かのう ) 時( じ ) にあの四人( よにん ) の中( なか ) でアリバイが成立( せいりつ ) しているのは…」 「あの人( ひと ) ただ一人( ひとり ) …」 Clues あの四人( よにん ) の中( なか ) で among those four people アリバイが成立( せいりつ ) しているのは…あの人( ひと ) ただ一人( ひとり ) that person alone has an established alibi What does the speaker mean? Only one of them. ただ一人( ひとり ) limits the valid alibi to a single person among the four. All four of them. Conan singles out one person rather than clearing the whole group. Exactly two of them. 一人( ひとり ) gives the count as one. Three of them. The line identifies only one established alibi. None of them. Conan says one person's alibi does hold up. The number is still completely unknown. He has already narrowed the valid alibis to one person.
Among the four suspects, Conan says only one person has an alibi that is established as valid during the possible time of the crime.
View Full Example 数人 (Several people)数人( すうにん ) means several people or a few people. It gives an approximate small number rather than an exact count.
It combines 数 (several ) with 人 (people ) to show an unspecified small number of people .
名探偵コナン » Volume 9 » Page 120Detective Mouri is invited as a special guest to the birthday party for Reika, daughter of the Yotsui Group’s chairman. At the event, Reika announces her intent to marry.
麗花( れいか ) :「そう思( おも ) って今日( きょう ) のパーティーにも、有能( ゆうのう ) そうな男性( だんせい ) を数人( すうにん ) 、お招( まね ) きしてますわ…」 “With that in mind, I've invited several promising gentlemen to today's party...” Challenge Yourself Show translation
Challenge
What kind of men has Reika invited to the party?
麗花( れいか ) :「そう思( おも ) って今日( きょう ) のパーティーにも、有能( ゆうのう ) そうな男性( だんせい ) を数人( すうにん ) 、お招( まね ) きしてますわ…」 Clues 有能( ゆうのう ) そうな男性( だんせい ) men who seem capable 数人( すうにん ) 、お招( まね ) きしてます I have invited several of them What does the speaker mean? Several men who appear capable and promising. 有能( ゆうのう ) そうな describes men who give the impression of being capable. Several men she already knows are incompetent. 有能( ゆうのう ) means capable, and そうな describes that appearance. Every male employee in the Yotsui Group. 数人( すうにん ) means several people, not every employee. Only men who have refused to marry. The line evaluates their apparent ability, not a history of refusing marriage. Several musicians hired to perform. Reika presents the men as possible partners, not entertainers. Men who invited her to their own parties. Reika is the one who invited them to today's party.
Reika says she invited several men who look capable. 有能( ゆうのう ) そうな describes her favorable impression rather than proven knowledge of their ability.
View Full Example 人 (Person)人( ひと ) is a person, or people in general. It also means other people.
Example 1 of 4: Leaving the room while Yukiko was out with 〜間 Example 1 of 4
名探偵コナン » Volume 14 » Page 93A murder victim was last heard from via phone call at 9PM. Her body was found outside later that night. Yukiko was in the main room with everyone except when she was bathing.
有希子( ゆきこ ) :「私( わたし ) が入( はい ) ってる間( あいだ ) 、誰( だれ ) か部屋( へや ) から出( で ) た人( ひと ) はいた?」 “While I was in the bath, was there anyone who left the room?” 広美( ひろみ ) :「いいえ誰( だれ ) も…」 “No, no one...” Challenge Yourself Show translation
Challenge
What does Yukiko ask about the time she was bathing?
有希子( ゆきこ ) :「私( わたし ) が入( はい ) ってる間( あいだ ) 、誰( だれ ) か部屋( へや ) から出( で ) た人( ひと ) はいた?」 広美( ひろみ ) :「いいえ誰( だれ ) も…」 Clues 私( わたし ) が入( はい ) ってる間( あいだ ) while I was in the bath 誰( だれ ) か部屋( へや ) から出( で ) た人( ひと ) はいた? was there anyone who left the room? What does the speaker mean? Whether anyone left the room. 部屋( へや ) から出( で ) た人( ひと ) asks about a person who went out of the room. Whether anyone entered the bath after her. The verb attached to the possible person is 部屋( へや ) から出( で ) た, left the room. Who prepared the bathwater. Her bath sets the time window. She is asking about movement from the room. How long everyone stayed outside. The question is whether anyone left, not how long they were gone. Whether the victim called during the bath. No phone call appears in Yukiko's question. Who was the last person to bathe. 間( あいだ ) marks the period when Yukiko was bathing, not the order of bathers.
Yukiko asks whether anyone left the room during the time she was in the bath. Hiromi answers that nobody did.
View Full Example Example 2 of 4: Better to give up fortune telling with 〜た+方がいい Example 2 of 4
ご注文はうさぎですか? » Volume 1 » Page 100Cocoa did fortune telling for her friends, only for all their fortunes to happen to her in a bad way.
チノ: 「ココアさんは人( ひと ) の不幸( ふこう ) の身代( みが ) わりになる才能( さいのう ) があるんですか?」 “Cocoa, do you have a talent for taking on other people's misfortune?” リゼ: 「今後( こんご ) 占( うらな ) いやめた方( ほう ) がいいぞ自分( じぶん ) のために」 “For your own sake, you had better stop fortune telling from now on.” ココア: 「なんで!?」 “Why!?” Challenge Yourself Show translation
Challenge
What does リゼ mean in the highlighted line?
チノ: 「ココアさんは人( ひと ) の不幸( ふこう ) の身代( みが ) わりになる才能( さいのう ) があるんですか?」 リゼ: 「今後( こんご ) 占( うらな ) いやめた方( ほう ) がいい ぞ自分( じぶん ) のために」 ココア: 「なんで!?」 Clues 占( うらな ) いやめた方( ほう ) がいい 占( うらな ) いやめた方( ほう ) がいい advises Cocoa to stopWhat does the speaker mean? For your own sake, you had better stop fortune telling from now on. Rize recommends giving up fortune telling after its predictions have caused Cocoa trouble. Rize advises Cocoa to keep telling fortunes from now on. The highlighted form is 占( うらな ) いやめた方( ほう ) がいい. Here 占( うらな ) いやめた方( ほう ) がいい advises Cocoa to stop, so this choice does not match the Japanese. Rize says Cocoa has already stopped fortune-telling. The highlighted form is 占( うらな ) いやめた方( ほう ) がいい. Here 占( うらな ) いやめた方( ほう ) がいい advises Cocoa to stop, so this choice does not match the Japanese. Rize tells Chino to give up fortune-telling for Cocoa's sake. The highlighted form is 占( うらな ) いやめた方( ほう ) がいい. Here 占( うらな ) いやめた方( ほう ) がいい advises Cocoa to stop, so this choice does not match the Japanese.
占( うらな ) いやめた方( ほう ) がいい advises Cocoa to stop. Rize recommends giving up fortune telling after its predictions have caused Cocoa trouble.
View Full Example Example 3 of 4: Limited amusement park admission with 入場制限 Example 3 of 4
俺物語!! » Volume 4 » Page 50Takeo and his friends board the train bound for the amusement park, MM Land.
凛子( りんこ ) :「すっごい人( ひと ) だね。みんなMMランド行( い ) くのかな」 “There's a lot of people here. I wonder if everyone's going to MM Land.” 隼人( はやと ) :「連休( れんきゅう ) だから混( こ ) むよねー」 “It's a long holiday, so it'll be crowded.” 愛( あい ) :「入場( にゅうじょう ) 制限( せいげん ) とかなんないといーけど」 “I hope they don't restrict admission or anything.” Challenge Yourself Show translation
Challenge
What problem does Ai worry they may face at the amusement park?
凛子( りんこ ) :「すっごい人( ひと ) だね。みんなMMランド行( い ) くのかな」 隼人( はやと ) :「連休( れんきゅう ) だから混( こ ) むよねー」 愛( あい ) :「入場( にゅうじょう ) 制限( せいげん ) とかなんないといーけど」 Clues 連休( れんきゅう ) だから混( こ ) む it will be crowded because of the long holiday 入場( にゅうじょう ) 制限( せいげん ) とかなんないといーけど I hope it does not turn into admission restrictions or anything like that What does the speaker mean? The park may restrict admission because of the crowds. 入場( にゅうじょう ) 制限( せいげん ) is limiting entry, and the preceding crowd discussion supplies the reason for the concern. The train may stop before reaching the park. Ai names an admission problem at the destination, not a disruption to the train. The park may close for the entire holiday. Restricting how many people enter is not the same as closing completely. Their group may be required to split up. The line worries about entry limits generally and does not describe a group rule. Only adults may be allowed into the park. No age restriction appears. The concern comes from crowding. The park may charge extra during the holiday. Ai discusses whether admission will be limited, not whether the price will change.
Ai worries that the long-holiday crowds could make the park restrict admission. The contracted といー expresses her hope that this problem will not occur.
View Full Example Example 4 of 4: Thank you for the water with ありがとうございました Example 4 of 4
ひらやすみ » Volume 1 » Page 114Natsumi tried making new friends from college only to end up drunk and abandoned. At class one day, she finds herself face to face with the helpful person who had found her and briefly helped her afterward.
なつみ: 「……… ……… あのっ。」 “Um...” 「この前( まえ ) 水( みず ) くれた方( かた ) …ですよね?」 “You're the one who gave me water before...right?” 女( おんな ) :「…はい。」 “...yes.” なつみ: 「あ…あの時( とき ) はありがとうございました。」 “Ah... Thank you for what you did back then.” 女( おんな ) :「イエ…同( おな ) じ科( か ) の人( ひと ) が倒( たお ) れてると思( おも ) って…」 “Not at all... I thought it was someone from the same department who had collapsed...” Challenge Yourself Show translation
Challenge
What is Natsumi thanking the woman for?
なつみ: 「……… ……… あのっ。」 「この前( まえ ) 水( みず ) くれた方( かた ) …ですよね?」 女( おんな ) :「…はい。」 なつみ: 「あ…あの時( とき ) はありがとうございました。」 女( おんな ) :「イエ…同( おな ) じ科( か ) の人( ひと ) が倒( たお ) れてると思( おも ) って…」 Clues この前( まえ ) 水( みず ) くれた方( かた ) the person who gave Natsumi water the other day あの時( とき ) はありがとうございました thanks her politely for help on that earlier occasion What does the speaker mean? Giving her water when she needed help earlier. 水( みず ) くれた identifies the helpful act, and あの時( とき ) は links Natsumi's thanks to that past occasion. Bringing water for their class today. この前( まえ ) and あの時( とき ) place the help in the past, not on the current day. Taking her to a different college department. The woman mentions their department only to explain why she stopped to help. Natsumi thanks her for the water. Introducing herself after class. Natsumi recognizes the woman through the earlier act of giving her water, not through an introduction. Keeping quiet about seeing her collapse. The thanks concerns help Natsumi received. Nothing in the line asks the woman to keep the incident secret. Helping her prepare for a class assignment. The specific act named is giving Natsumi water. No assignment appears in the exchange.
Natsumi recognizes the woman as the person who gave her water when she was in trouble. あの時( とき ) は frames that earlier incident, and ありがとうございました thanks her for the completed act of help.
View Full Example 大人 (Adult)大人( おとな ) means an adult. 大人になる means to grow up, and 大人 can also describe a mature, calm person.
The reading おとな belongs to 大人 as a whole. 大 (big ) and 人 (person ) show a grown person .
あしたは土曜日 » Volume 春・夏 » Page 36Mina buys a can of coffee, even though she’s bad at bitter drinks. When her friends question her, she says she’s grown up a bit and should be able to drink it.
サナエ: 「どのへんが大人( おとな ) になったのよ。」 “What part of you has grown up?” ミナ: 「私( わたし ) だっていろいろ成長( せいちょう ) してるの!」 “I've grown in lots of ways!” Challenge Yourself Show translation
Challenge
How does Mina answer Sanae's challenge?
サナエ: 「どのへんが大人( おとな ) になったのよ。」 ミナ: 「私( わたし ) だっていろいろ成長( せいちょう ) してるの!」 Clues 私( わたし ) だって even I or me too いろいろ in various ways 成長( せいちょう ) してる has grown or developed 〜の! an emphatic, insistent ending What does the speaker mean? She insists that she has grown in many different ways. 私( わたし ) だって pushes back against Sanae, while いろいろ成長( せいちょう ) してる makes a broad claim about Mina's growth. She says she has only grown taller. いろいろ broadens the claim to various kinds of growth. Mina does not limit it to height. She agrees that she has not grown up at all. 成長( せいちょう ) してる is a positive claim that her growth is already evident. She claims that Sanae has become an adult. 私( わたし ) だって makes Mina herself the person whose growth is at issue. She asks Sanae which part of her should change. Sanae asks the question. Mina answers with an emphatic statement rather than another question. She says drinking coffee is what made her grow. The scene links coffee with Mina's attempt to act grown-up, but her line does not say coffee caused her 成長( せいちょう ) .
Mina defensively insists that even she has grown in various ways. The contracted してる presents that growth as a current result, and the final の adds force.
View Full Example Relationships 二人 (Two people)二人( ふたり ) means two people.
It combines 二 (two ) with 人 (person ) to show two persons .
Example 1 of 3: Compatability fortune with 相性 Example 1 of 3
それでも歩は寄せてくる » Volume 15 » Page 17At the school festival, Ayumu and Urushi stop by the affinity fortune telling booth while Maki is on duty. Maki holds out a box with an opening on top, and says they need to pull out a single card together.
マキ: 「0〜100の点数( てんすう ) が書( か ) いてるからそれで相性( あいしょう ) がわかるんだよ」 “Your compatibility is determined by the score written from 0 to 100.” 「もちろん100点( てん ) が一番( いちばん ) いいやつ」 “Of course, 100 points is the best score.” 歩( あゆむ ) :「二人( ふたり ) でですか?」 “Together?” Challenge Yourself Show translation
Challenge
How does Maki's compatibility fortune work?
マキ: 「0〜100の点数( てんすう ) が書( か ) いてるからそれで相性( あいしょう ) がわかるんだよ」 「もちろん100点( てん ) が一番( いちばん ) いいやつ」 歩( あゆむ ) :「二人( ふたり ) でですか?」 Clues 0〜100の点数( てんすう ) が書( か ) いてるから a score from 0 to 100 is written on the card それで相性( あいしょう ) がわかる "You can tell your compatibility from that score." もちろん100点( てん ) が一番( いちばん ) いい "Of course, 100 points is the best." What does the speaker mean? A card gives a score from 0 to 100, with 100 showing the best match. The written 点数( てんすう ) measures their 相性( あいしょう ) , and Maki states that 100 points is best. Each person draws a separate card, and the lower score wins. Ayumu checks that they draw together, and Maki says 100 is the best score, not the lowest. The card predicts how many years they will remain friends. The number measures 相性( あいしょう ) , compatibility, not a number of years. They write their own score after answering questions. Maki says the score is already written on the card. Only a score of exactly zero reveals compatibility. The scale runs from 0 to 100, and Maki identifies 100 as the best result. The booth compares their individual shogi rankings. The score concerns how well the two people fit together, not their shogi ability.
Ayumu and Urushi draw a card together. Its number from 0 to 100 represents their 相性( あいしょう ) , and a score of 100 is the best possible match.
View Full Example Example 2 of 3: Staying with relatives with 〜先 Example 2 of 3
ふらいんぐうぃっち » Volume 3 » Page 34Makoto introduces Chinatsu and Kei to Anzu while the group is meeting one another.
真琴( まこと ) :「こっちの二人( ふたり ) は居候( いそうろう ) 先( さき ) の親戚( しんせき ) で千夏( ちなつ ) ちゃんと圭( けい ) くんです」 “These two are the relatives I'm staying with, Chinatsu-chan and Kei-kun.” 千夏( ちなつ ) :「こんにちはっ!」 “Hello!” 圭( けい ) くん:「どうも」 “Hi.” 杏子( あんず ) :「椎名( しいな ) 杏子( あんず ) です よろしく」 “I'm Shiina Anzu. Nice to meet you.” Challenge Yourself Show translation
Challenge
How does Makoto introduce Chinatsu and Kei?
真琴( まこと ) :「こっちの二人( ふたり ) は居候( いそうろう ) 先( さき ) の親戚( しんせき ) で千夏( ちなつ ) ちゃんと圭( けい ) くんです」 千夏( ちなつ ) :「こんにちはっ!」 圭( けい ) くん:「どうも」 杏子( あんず ) :「椎名( しいな ) 杏子( あんず ) です よろしく」 Clues こっちの二人( ふたり ) は these two people here are 居候( いそうろう ) 先( さき ) の親戚( しんせき ) relatives from the household where Makoto is staying What does the speaker mean? They are the relatives she is staying with. 居候( いそうろう ) 先( さき ) identifies the place where Makoto lodges, and の親戚( しんせき ) connects Chinatsu and Kei to that household. They are relatives who are staying at Makoto's home. The direction is reversed. Makoto is the person lodging with their household. They are friends she met while traveling. Makoto calls them 親戚( しんせき ) , relatives, not friends from a trip. They own the inn where Makoto works. 居候( いそうろう ) 先( さき ) is the household where she stays as a guest. It does not describe an inn or job. They are Anzu's cousins from another town. Makoto introduces Chinatsu and Kei through her own lodging arrangement, not as Anzu's relatives. They will show Makoto where she should stay next. 居候( いそうろう ) 先( さき ) names her current host household, not a future destination.
Makoto introduces Chinatsu and Kei as relatives from the household where she is lodging. 居候( いそうろう ) 先( さき ) names the place of her stay, and の links that household to the two relatives.
View Full Example Example 3 of 3: The limit of teamwork with 限界 Example 3 of 3
ARIA The MASTERPIECE » Volume 4 » Page 275On a snowy day, Alicia starts making a snowball. As it gets bigger, Akari joins in. They continue to roll the snowball until it grows too big for them to keep pushing. At that moment, a random person passing by notices their effort.
灯里( あかり ) :「アリシアさん… 二人( ふたり ) の力( ちから ) ではこれが限界( げんかい ) かと」 “Alicia... This is the limit of what we can do together.” 男( おとこ ) :「おおっ 大( おお ) きいな」 “Oh! That's a big one.” View Full Example 二人とも (Both)二人( ふたり ) とも means both of the two people.
ご注文はうさぎですか? » Volume 1 » Page 67Chiya and Syaro visit Cocoa at the coffee shop.
ココア: 「二人( ふたり ) とも こんな天気( てんき ) なのに遊( あそ ) びに来( き ) てくれてありがとね」 “Thanks, both of you, for coming to visit even in weather like this.” シャロ: 「ちょうどバイトの予定( よてい ) が空白( くうはく ) になっただけだし」 “I just happened to have a gap in my work schedule.” Challenge Yourself Show translation
Challenge
What does ココア mean in the highlighted line?
ココア: 「二人( ふたり ) ともこんな天気( てんき ) なのに遊( あそ ) びに来( き ) て くれてありがとね」 シャロ: 「ちょうどバイトの予定( よてい ) が空白( くうはく ) になっただけだし」 Clues 遊( あそ ) びに来( き ) て 遊( あそ ) びに来( き ) て means coming to visitWhat does the speaker mean? Thanks, both of you, for coming to visit even in weather like this. The set expression uses "come to play" for a social visit, so "visit" fits the scene. Cocoa thanks Syaro for coming only to work her scheduled shift. The highlighted form is 遊( あそ ) びに来( き ) て. Here 遊( あそ ) びに来( き ) て means coming to visit, so this choice does not match the Japanese. Cocoa asks Chiya and Syaro to leave because of the weather. The highlighted form is 遊( あそ ) びに来( き ) て. Here 遊( あそ ) びに来( き ) て means coming to visit, so this choice does not match the Japanese. Cocoa says they visited because the weather was especially good. The highlighted form is 遊( あそ ) びに来( き ) て. Here 遊( あそ ) びに来( き ) て means coming to visit, so this choice does not match the Japanese.
遊( あそ ) びに来( き ) て means coming to visit. The set expression uses “come to play” for a social visit, so “visit” fits the scene.
View Full Example Society 人達 (People)人達( ひとたち ) means people or a group of people.
It combines 人 (person ) with 達 (plural group ) to show people as a group of persons .
名探偵コナン » Volume 1 » Page 120After Shin’ichi was forced to take a deadly drug that instead shrank him back to a child, he took on the undercover name Conan and went to stay with his childhood friend Ran and her detective father in the hope of a lead to the black-clad men who drugged him. He later discusses with Professor Agasa about how useless Detective Mouri is. The professor reminds Conan that the poison was supposed to have killed him, so he can’t rush and let others know his true identity.
コナン: 「オレだけじゃなく、オレのまわりの人達( ひとたち ) も危( あぶ ) ないっていうんだろ?」 “You're saying it won't be just me, but the people around me will be in danger too, right?” 「心配( しんぱい ) すんな!ちゃんと蘭( らん ) にもおっちゃんにも、江戸川( えどがわ ) コナンでとおしてるよ!!」 “Don't worry! I'm keeping up the Conan Edogawa act with Ran and the old man, too!!” Challenge Yourself Show translation
Challenge
Who does Conan say would be in danger if his situation became known?
コナン: 「オレ だけじゃなく 、オレのまわりの人達( ひとたち ) も 危( あぶ ) ないっていうんだろ?」 「心配( しんぱい ) すんな!ちゃんと蘭( らん ) にもおっちゃんにも、江戸川( えどがわ ) コナンでとおしてるよ!!」 Clues オレだけじゃなく not just me オレのまわりの人達( ひとたち ) も危( あぶ ) ない the people around me would be in danger too What does the speaker mean? Both Conan and the people around him. だけじゃなく...も expands the danger from Conan to the people around him. Only Conan himself. だけじゃなく explicitly says the danger would not stop with Conan. Only Ran and Kogoro. Conan refers more broadly to the people around him, not only those two. Only the men dressed in black. The black-clad men are the threat. Conan is describing who could be harmed by them. Nobody, because Conan has already revealed his identity. Conan says he is still maintaining his cover identity with Ran and Kogoro. Professor Agasa, but not Conan. Conan includes himself first, then adds the people around him.
Conan understands Agasa’s warning to mean that exposing his identity would endanger more than Conan alone. The paired pattern だけじゃなく…も includes everyone around him as well.
View Full Example 職人 (Craftsperson)職人( しょくにん ) means a skilled craftsperson or artisan trained in a manual trade.
It combines 職 (profession ) with 人 (person ) to show a person of a trade .
Example 1 of 3: Craftman's efforts making glassware with 職人 Example 1 of 3
ARIA The MASTERPIECE » Volume 4 » Page 226Akari picks up a box containing glassware items for her to transport. One of the employees from the shop making the glassware takes the box from her to place in her gondola. After he does this a second time, Akari says she can help carry the boxes, but he refuses.
職人( しょくにん ) :「このガラス達( たち ) は親方( マエストロ ) が精魂( せいこん ) 込( こ ) めて作( つく ) った」 “These pieces of glass were made with the maestro's heart and soul poured into them.” 「僕達( ぼくたち ) 職人( しょくにん ) の努力( どりょく ) の結晶( けっしょう ) なんス」 “They're the crystallization of our craftsmen's efforts.” View Full Example Example 2 of 3: Skilled clock maker with 職人 Example 2 of 3
名探偵コナン » Volume 17 » Page 118Having received a letter requesting help solving a mystery, Kogoro finds himself in a house filled with animal designs everywhere, including the doors, the chairs, and the plates. His attention turns to the clocks covering the walls.
小五郎( こごろう ) :「しかし動物( どうぶつ ) もさることながら、時計( とけい ) もたくさんありますなー...」 “But aside from the animals, there are also a lot of clocks, huh...” 男( おとこ ) :「当( あ ) たり前( まえ ) ですよ... 祖父( そふ ) は時計( とけい ) 職人( しょくにん ) だったんですから...」 “Of course there are... Grandfather was a clock maker, after all...” Challenge Yourself Show translation
Challenge
Why does the house contain so many clocks?
小五郎( こごろう ) :「しかし動物( どうぶつ ) もさることながら、時計( とけい ) もたくさんありますなー...」 男( おとこ ) :「当( あ ) たり前( まえ ) ですよ... 祖父( そふ ) は時計( とけい ) 職人( しょくにん ) だったんですから...」 Clues 当( あ ) たり前( まえ ) ですよ of course 祖父( そふ ) は時計( とけい ) 職人( しょくにん ) だったんですから because Grandfather was a clockmaker What does the speaker mean? The grandfather was a clockmaker. だったんですから gives the grandfather's work as the reason the clocks are unsurprising. The grandfather collected clocks but never worked on them. 時計( とけい ) 職人( しょくにん ) identifies his occupation as a skilled clock artisan. Kogoro brought the clocks for the investigation. The clocks were already part of the house because of its former resident. Every animal design in the house hides a clock. The speaker explains the abundance through the grandfather's trade, not a design trick. The house currently operates as a clock shop. The line tells us what the grandfather used to do, not the building's present business. The clocks were gifts from Kogoro's clients. Their source is tied to the grandfather being a clockmaker.
The many clocks are natural to the household because the speaker’s grandfather was a clockmaker. だったんですから supplies that explanatory reason.
View Full Example Example 3 of 3: Skilled mirror maker with 職人 Example 3 of 3
怪盗セイント・テール » Volume 3 » Page 148Following the theft of the Mirror of Queen Rosa, Sawatari writes an article for the school paper accusing Saint Tail. As Asuka Jr. demands proof from Sawatari, a notification appears from Saint Tail, announcing her intent to steal the stolen mirror. Later, Asuka Jr. goes to Sawatari to learn about the mirror’s backstory.
佐渡( さわたり ) :「そのむかしローザ王女( おうじょ ) は街( まち ) の鏡( かがみ ) 職人( しょくにん ) の若者( わかもの ) と恋( こい ) におちたんだ」 “Long ago, Princess Rosa fell in love with a young mirror maker from the town.” Challenge Yourself Show translation
Challenge
Who does Sawatari say Princess Rosa fell in love with?
佐渡( さわたり ) :「そのむかしローザ王女( おうじょ ) は街( まち ) の鏡( かがみ ) 職人( しょくにん ) の若者( わかもの ) と恋( こい ) におちたんだ」 Clues 街( まち ) の鏡( かがみ ) 職人( しょくにん ) の若者( わかもの ) a young person from town whose trade was making mirrors 若者( わかもの ) と恋( こい ) におちた she fell in love with that young man What does the speaker mean? A young mirror artisan from the town. 街の鏡職人の若者 describes one person: a young townsman who worked as a skilled mirror maker. A young prince who gave her the Mirror of Queen Rosa. The man is identified as a 職人, an artisan, rather than a prince. A merchant who sold mirrors throughout the kingdom. 鏡職人 describes someone who makes mirrors as a craft, not a merchant who sells them. An older artisan employed inside the royal palace. 若者 identifies him as young, and 街の places him in the town rather than the palace. A reporter who later wrote about the stolen mirror. Sawatari is telling the mirror's old legend. The person Rosa loved was the young artisan in that story. A thief who stole a mirror to prove his love. The line says only that he was a mirror artisan from town. It does not call him a thief.
The long noun phrase 街の鏡職人の若者 describes a single young man: a townsman skilled in making mirrors. The particle と connects him to 恋におちた as the person Princess Rosa fell in love with.
View Full Example 外国人 (Foreigner)外国人( がいこくじん ) means a foreign national or citizen of another country.
It combines 外国 (foreign country ) with 人 (person ) to show a person from another country .
名探偵コナン » Volume 1 » Page 61Shin’ichi’s teenage friend Ran enters Professor Agasa’s house looking for him, unaware that he was forced to take a poison that inadvertently turned the teenager into a young child. When Ran sees the boy and asks his name, Shin’ichi recalls Agasa’s suggestion to not reveal who he is. Panicking, he gives the name “Conan”, explaining the oddness of it by saying his father is a fan of author Arthur Conan Doyle.
蘭( らん ) :「コナンねー…」 “Conan, huh?” 阿笠( あがさ ) :「なにがコナンだ!! 外国人( がいこくじん ) じゃあるまいし」 “What's with 'Conan'!? It's not like you're a foreigner...” コナン: 「しかたねーだろ? ほかに思( おも ) いつかなかったんだから…」 “It couldn't be helped, all right? I couldn't think up anything else...” Challenge Yourself Show translation
Challenge
Why does Agasa object to the name Conan?
蘭( らん ) :「コナンねー…」 阿笠( あがさ ) :「なにがコナンだ!! 外国人( がいこくじん ) じゃあるまいし 」 コナン: 「しかたねーだろ? ほかに思( おも ) いつかなかったんだから…」 Clues なにがコナンだ what is this 'Conan' supposed to be? 外国人( がいこくじん ) じゃあるまいし it is not as if you are a foreigner What does the speaker mean? The foreign-sounding name seems unsuitable for Shin'ichi. Agasa contrasts the name Conan with the fact that Shin'ichi is not a foreigner. Conan is already the name of someone in Ran's family. Agasa objects to the foreign name itself, not to a duplicate family name. Shin'ichi pronounced the name incorrectly. Nothing in the line concerns pronunciation. The name would reveal Shin'ichi's real identity. The improvised name hides his identity, even though Agasa finds it ridiculous. Ran asked for a traditional foreign name. Ran only asks who he is. Shin'ichi chooses the name in a panic. Agasa thinks Shin'ichi should admit that he is a foreigner. じゃあるまいし states the opposite: Shin'ichi is not a foreigner.
Agasa finds the conspicuously foreign name absurd for Shin’ichi. 外国人( がいこくじん ) じゃあるまいし means “it is not as if you are a foreigner”.
View Full Example 人類 (Humanity)人類( じんるい ) refers to the collective group of all humans on Earth, or, biologically speaking, the genus Homo (Homo sapiens) within the order Primates. It represents the entire human species as a single entity, transcending differences in nationality, race, culture, and other factors.
It combines 人 (person ) with 類 (kind / class ) to show the human kind .
ちびまる子ちゃん » Volume 8 » Page 42Maruko learns about Nostradamus and his predictions from a classmate. She tells her family about it, leading to them watching a TV show about it that night.
アナウンサー: 「ノストラダムスの大予言( だいよげん ) によれば1999年( ねん ) 7月( がつ ) に空( そら ) から恐怖( きょうふ ) の大王( だいおう ) が降( お ) りてきて」 “According to Nostradamus's great prophecy, in July 1999 a great king of terror will descend from the sky,” 「人類( じんるい ) は滅亡( めつぼう ) するという事( こと ) であります」 “and humanity will perish.” Challenge Yourself Show translation
Challenge
How does the announcer use Nostradamus's prophecy in this report?
アナウンサー: 「ノストラダムスの大予言( だいよげん ) によれば 1999年( ねん ) 7月( がつ ) に空( そら ) から恐怖( きょうふ ) の大王( だいおう ) が降( お ) りてきて」 「人類( じんるい ) は滅亡( めつぼう ) するという事( こと ) であります」 Clues 〜によれば according to; names the source of information 1999年( ねん ) 7月( がつ ) に in July 1999; に marks when an event occurs 〜という事( こと ) だ it is said that; reports the content of information What does the speaker mean? It supplies the prediction about July 1999. によれば identifies the prophecy as the source. The following clauses report the predicted descent and humanity's extinction. The prophecy itself causes the disaster. によれば names the source of the report. It does not say that the prophecy causes the events it predicts. Nostradamus made the prophecy in July 1999. 1999年( ねん ) 7月( がつ ) に gives the time of the predicted events. The sentence does not date the making of the prophecy.
The announcer cites Nostradamus’s prophecy with によれば, then reports its prediction that a king will descend from the sky in July 1999 and humanity will perish. という事( こと ) であります gives the report a formal ending.
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