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the great

09:58 Jun 4, 2001
English to Japanese translations [Non-PRO]
English term or phrase: the great
to explain something or someone
yityung


Summary of answers provided
na"O"
Albert Golub
naidainaru
J_R_Tuladhar
na大王 (dai ou)
Henry Dotterer
nao-, go-, idai-na, erai...
Petra Dr. Schmidt-Sarbutt
naerai
Amy Kasuga


  

Answers


1 hr
"O"


Explanation:
means great oyama=the great mountain
o uchi gari =judo term
small is "ko"
don't know if it will fit

Albert Golub
Local time: 05:07
Native speaker of: French
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1 hr
idainaru


Explanation:
e.g."the great Edison" would be
"ano idainaru edison" in Japanese,
written 偉大なる(in kanji),いだいなる(in hiragana)

Hope this helps.
Jina Tuladhar


J_R_Tuladhar
Local time: 08:52
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish, Native in NepaliNepali
PRO pts in pair: 14

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
Petra Dr. Schmidt-Sarbutt
5 hrs

cubby: this one.
2 days 13 hrs
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3 hrs
大王 (dai ou)


Explanation:
Literally, 'big/great king'
...as in 'Alexander the Great'

Henry Dotterer
United States
Local time: 23:07
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
Petra Dr. Schmidt-Sarbutt: "dai" = size, quantity
2 hrs
  -> Not in this case. Look it up...Alexander the Great is "dai ou"
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6 hrs
o-, go-, idai-na, erai...


Explanation:
Really, we'd need a little more information about what exactly you want to say. However, here are a few suggestions:
The honorific prefixes "o-" and "go-" are used to describe someone or something great or honorable. "o-" is used in case of a Japanese reading, while "go-" is used if a Japanese word or name is read in its Sino-Japanese reading of characters.
The adjective "idai" (together with the particle "na" and not with a verb naru) is used to describe a great man or character, in the sense of a "powerful" or "mighty" person.
The adjective "erai" describes someone who is "great", meaning he/she is a celebrated, eminent person, maybe an extraordinary character of learning etc.

There are many more ways to say that someone or something is great. If this hasn't provided an answer, maybe tell us more precisely what you'd like to say.
Hope this helps.


    7 years in Japan
Petra Dr. Schmidt-Sarbutt
Australia
Local time: 13:07
Native speaker of: Native in GermanGerman

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
J_R_Tuladhar: "o-" and "go-" do not mean "great"
21 hrs

Timothy Takemoto: I dissagree with the comment above. I think that they do mean a similar thing the suffix "- the great"
1 day 5 hrs

pds: Yes, I too, disagree. Depending on the context, o/go can very well mean great
1 day 6 hrs
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8 hrs
erai


Explanation:
The word "erai" can mean different things in different dialects in Japan.
In Tokyo it can mean someone great or worthy of admiration. In Gifu it means tired!
However, in this case, I believe that the best fit for the expression "erai" is "greatness, impressiveness, worthy of admiration".
Kare wa erana otoko desu nee. "He is a great man"



    Six years in Japan
Amy Kasuga
United States
Local time: 23:07
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in pair: 11

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
cubby: good.
2 days 6 hrs
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