Saturday 9 March 2019

A trip to Tokyo



If you went to Nara, what would you like to do there?
もし奈良に行ったら、何をしたいですか?

If you went to Osaka, what would you like to eat?
もし大阪に行ったら、何を食べたいですか?

If you went to Tokyo, what would you like to see?
もし東京に行ったら、何を見たいですか?

Saturday 2 March 2019

原級比較 “as〜as...” と、比較級 “〜than” のニュアンスの違



大阪城と二条城の雰囲気と形は違うが、美しさは同じだと思う。これを英語では、
Their atmosphere and shape are different, but Osaka castle is as beautiful as Nijo Castle, と言います。

でも、「大阪城より姫路城の方が美しいです」と言いたい時、たいてい日本人は “Himeji Castle is more beautiful than Osaka Castle” と言います。これだと、英語では『雰囲気は姫路城はとても美しいですけど、大阪城はあまり美しくない』と言っている事になります。でも、もちろん大阪城にも美しさはありますので、”Osaka Castle isn't as beautiful as Himeji Castle” と原級比較の否定形を使った方が、ニュアンスは正確に伝わります。
例えば

Sashimi is as delicious as sushi.
Sushi is more delicious than natto.
Generally, British food isn't as delicious as Japanese food.

They are different, but the British Autumn is as beautiful as the Japanese Autumn.
The summer is more humid in Tokyo than in London.
Kyoto isn't as cold as Birmingham in the winter.