Level 2 · Reading series
Lesson 55 · The Word We Could Not Translate
Audio track 55
Listen first
Listen once before opening the English passage.
Open the English passage and hover for word help
During our online exchange, I wanted to explain "otsukaresama." I tried, "You are tired," but that sounded strange.
Then I said, "It is a phrase we use to show respect after someone's work or effort."
The other students nodded, but one asked, "Do you say it after piano practice too?"
"Yes," I answered. "After practice, after work, after a long day."
Some words are hard to translate because they carry a habit, not just a meaning.
Check your understanding
After reading, state the main idea in one sentence and find a line that supports it.
Chinese translation
线上交流时，我想解释‘辛苦了’这句话。我先试着说‘你累了’，可听起来怪怪的。
后来，我说：‘这句话用来表达对一个人工作或付出努力的尊重。’
其他学生点了点头，其中一人问：‘练完钢琴也会说吗？’
‘会的，’我回答，‘练习之后、工作之后，或者漫长的一天结束后，都可以说。’
有些话难翻译，是因为它们承载着一种生活习惯，而不只是字面意思。
Key words and expressions
Key terms have Chinese explanations. Hover over dotted words in the English passage for word help and pronunciation when available.
- translate
- 翻译；主人公试着解释一句话。
- sound strange
- 听起来奇怪；直译没有表达原意。
- phrase
- 短语、惯用表达；不一定能逐词对应。
- show respect
- 表达尊重；认可他人的劳动。
- effort
- 努力；练习或工作中的付出。
- nod
- 点头；听懂解释后的反应。
- after practice
- 练习后；钢琴练习结束也可使用。
- hard to translate
- 难以翻译；语境比字面意思更丰富。
- carry a habit
- 承载习惯；表达背后有使用场景。
- not just
- 不只是；意思之外还有生活习惯。
Background notes (Chinese)
英文原文用罗马字写出这句日语表达，中文译文用‘辛苦了’说明其常见用法。‘你累了’只是描述状态，不能完整传达对他人付出的体贴与认可。