Lesson 1 「Lost in Translation」の総合演習です。リーディング・文法の2部構成、本番のレッスンテストと同じ形式で出題します。 ボリュームと推測要素を少し増やし、本番より少し高めの難易度に設定しています。
Student B: Professor, I've been thinking about Japanese words like "komorebi" and "tsundoku." Even though they describe daily things, I find it difficult to share their real meaning with my friends abroad.
Professor A: That is a very common challenge. As you said in our last lesson, translation is not just about replacing one word with another. It also carries the cultural background behind the word. According to one linguist, what we call "translation" often fails when the original word is too personal or aesthetic. A bilingual friend may give you a quick equivalent, but the deeper feeling can still be lost.
Student B: Take "komorebi" for example. When I just said "sunlight through leaves," my friend in Canada looked puzzled. He didn't seem to find the image fascinating at all.
Professor A: Of course. The image is so detailed and quiet that one short English phrase cannot deliver the whole atmosphere. When you stroll through a forest and breathe in the fresh air, "komorebi" includes the warm light, the wind, and even your peaceful mood. It is similar to how "wabi-sabi" goes beyond a simple translation. By the way, "tsundoku" is also tricky. It is not exactly the same as "having unread books" — there is a quiet joy in piling them up. Non-native speakers often find this idea interesting, even though Japanese speakers may not feel it is unique.
Student B: So we need many words just to describe one Japanese feeling.
Professor A: Exactly. And here is a piece of advice before concluding: when you want to share these words, do not try to find a perfect English equivalent. Instead, describe the situation and let your friend feel it. Translation may sometimes fail, but a careful explanation allows others to see the world in a new way.