MetaChat - Subtleties of translation...

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25 April 2011

Subtleties of translation... I was given this super-cute set of stamps for my birthday (Photo 1, Photo 2).

There's just one problem: →[More:]I want to use them to stamp on my students (Australian) tests, but I don't know what they mean.

I can get a literal translation easily but I don't think it carries the gist.

So, I turn to you and ask:

1. What is the intended meaning?
2. If you were a year 7 science student would you think it really weird to have a Japanese stamp on your test?

Stamps are fun, and I loved getting cool stamps on tests when I was a student, but I guess not everyone does.

Are you a stamp lover?

post by: Betony at: 19:39 | 9 comments

Whatever it says (as long as it's not something obscene), if I were a 7th grader I would LOVE stamps like that!!

posted by Stewriffic 25 April | 19:42

Yes, use them! But write a note beside so I know whether this is a good moment for me or not. Some of those characters look perplexed, which would have confused year 7 me.

posted by jeoc 25 April | 19:47

Those characters are from the movie My Neighbor Totoro. Hopefully the Japanese says something cute in keeping with the movie.

posted by DarkForest 25 April | 20:22

wasurezu ni (don't forget)
mimashita (seen/watched)
taihen yoku dekimashita (you did very well)
yoku dekimashita (well done)

posted by plinth 25 April | 20:40

The characters a hiragana. I'd guess that the stamps are teacher stamps for grading 1st grade or 2nd grade work.

posted by plinth 25 April | 20:43

Awesome, plinth!

posted by Miko 25 April | 22:05

I was going to leave notes on the photos for you but it won't let me.

≡ Click to see image ≡

As plinth said (but in order):

わすれずに　(wasurezu ni) - don't forget
みました　(mimashita) - seen/watched

These are very much consolation stamps - as in "you did crap but hey at least some effort was made".

≡ Click to see image ≡

たいへんよくできました (taihen yoku dekimashita) - You did a great job!
よくできました (yoku dekimashita) - you did well
がんばりました (ganbarimashita) - you tried hard

posted by gomichild 25 April | 22:55

Oh yeah the characters are from Totoro but the comments are pretty bog standard ones.

posted by gomichild 25 April | 22:57

Aw, you guys are awesome!

Thanks gomichild!!

Now I just need to think up some slogans for the consolation stamps... hmmm.

posted by Betony 25 April | 23:30

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