Wednesday, April 06, 2011

and/or/both??? や。。。と

Someone asked me a tough question about the translation of the Japanese 'ya' and 'to'  :(   I think many times it is difficult to translate them easily with simple grammar.

Here are some examples that I will write in English and then put the translations at the bottom.

1. I like Dusty and Kuro. = both

2. You can buy bagels and small cakes at Tsukuba Bagel. = both

3. I can play tennis and badminton. = both (but not at the same time!)

4. Let's eat spaghetti and salad for dinner. = both

5. I went to Ueno, Ginza and Shibuya. = all 3 places, only these places

6. Please catch Dusty and Kuro. = both

7. Please catch Dusty or Kuro. = 1 of them, either is ok

8. Please catch either Dusty or Kuro. = 1 of them, either is okay, nuance is there are also other cats here

9. I will buy bagels or sandwiches for lunch. = only 1, either is ok

10. Do you want spaghetti or pizza for dinner? = only 1, either is ok

11. I want spaghetti and pizza. = both

12. I want both spaghetti and pizza. = both (stronger feeling)

13. Sorry, you can have either spaghetti or pizza. = only 1, (stronger feeling)

14. I went to Ueno, Ginaza, Shibuya, etc. = 3 places plus other places





1. I like Dusty and Kuro. = both
ダスティとクロが好きです。

2. You can buy bagels and small cakes at Tsukuba Bagel. = both
つくばベーグルでは、ベーグルと小さなケーキが買えます。

3. I can play tennis and badminton. = both (but not at the same time!)
私はテニスとバトミントンができます。
私はテニスやバトミントンができます。

4. Let's eat spaghetti and salad for dinner. = both
夕食にはスパゲッティとサラダを食べましょう。

5. I went to Ueno, Ginza and Shibuya. = all 3 places, only these places
上野と銀座と渋谷に行きました。

6. Please catch Dusty and Kuro. = both
ダスティとクロを捕まえてください。

7. Please catch Dusty or Kuro. = 1 of them, either is ok
ダスティかクロを捕まえてください。

8. Please catch either Dusty or Kuro. = 1 of them, either is okay, nuance is there are also other cats here
ダスティかクロを捕まえてください。

9. I will buy bagels or sandwiches for lunch. = only 1, either is ok
昼食にはベーグルかサンドイッチを買います。

10. Do you want spaghetti or pizza for dinner? = only 1, either is ok
夕食はスパゲッティもしくはピザどちらにしますか。

11. I want spaghetti and pizza. = both
スパゲッティとピザが食べたい。

12. I want both spaghetti and pizza. = both (stronger feeling)
スパゲッティとピザの両方が食べたい。

13. Sorry, you can have either spaghetti or pizza. = only 1, (stronger feeling)
すみませんが、スパゲッティかピザどちらか食べれます。

14. I went to Ueno, Ginaza, Shibuya, etc. = 3 places plus other places
上野と銀座と渋谷に行きました。

15. Do you use refill packs for your household cleaners and toiletries?
家庭用洗剤と洗面用洗剤の詰め替えパックを使いますか?
家庭用洗剤や洗面用洗剤の詰め替えパックを使いますか?

In Japanese "to" is clearly a limit of ONLY those things. "ya" means those things plus other things. So "ya" is the same as "etcetera" in English :)  Sometimes we use etc or another word if we really want to show there are more choices, but most of the time it is not necessary.

3. I can play tennis and badminton. = 
私はテニスとバトミントンができます。
私はテニスやバトミントンができます。

Maybe I can play other sports, too, but I am focusing on tennis and badminton. If other sports are important, I can say:

I can play tennis, badminton, etc.
I can play tennis, badminton and some other sports.

Would you like tea and coffee? = both (this is strange English)
Would you like tea or coffee? = only 1
Would you like tea, coffee or something else to drink? = tea is ok, coffee is ok, a different thing is ok

"ya" is really difficult :(   I don't like it in Japanese so I never use it. I only use "to", "ka", "nado", "nanika"
You should read this Japanese page and study kokugo :)  Then you will agree with me that English is MUCH easier!



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