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居場所

English translation: gives people a place to be (place to go to)

22:00 Mar 8, 2009

Japanese to English translations [PRO]
Social Sciences - Education / Pedagogy

Japanese term or phrase: 居場所

This is about a small community center in Nara with attached library room. Is it something like 'drop-in center'? Study area? Place to stay?

スタッフが「『遊』文庫」にいる日が多くなれば、「『遊』文庫」に立ち寄る修学旅行中の中高生など地元以外の訪問者への対応も、より可能となり、居場所の提供にもつながる.

Steven F Smith KudoZ activity Questions: 117 (none open) (5 closed without grading) Answers: 229 United Kingdom
Local time: 21:04

English translation:gives people a place to be (place to go to)

Explanation:

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Note added at 3 hrs (2009-03-09 01:36:09 GMT)
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as Kurt suggest "a place to go" sounds better

Selected response from:

william taylor
Japan
Local time: 06:04

Grading comment

Thanks. I'll go with the majority opinion on this one.
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer

Summary of answers provided

4 +7

gives people a place to be (place to go to)

william taylor

4 +2

A place to hang around

humbird

Lounge

conejo

3 +1

a place to interact

sheri abbott

Answers

57 mins confidence:

peer agreement (net): +1

a place to interact

Explanation:
Although the literal translation as William proposed, 'a place to go', in the context, the writer seems to be addressing the fact that those from out of town can come - besides just the locals. That is why I chose 'interact'. the implication is that they can provide a place for non-locals to familiarize themselves with what this library is offering. It's not a place to stay just to spend time because they need a place to get out of the rain.
Of course I may be reading too much into the intent of the piece.

sheri abbott
United States
Local time: 15:04
Works in field
Native speaker of:

English,

Japanese

21 mins confidence:

peer agreement (net): +7

gives people a place to be (place to go to)

william taylor
Japan
Local time: 06:04
Native speaker of:

English
PRO pts in category: 4

Grading comment

Thanks. I'll go with the majority opinion on this one.

5 hrs confidence:

peer agreement (net): +2

A place to hang around

Explanation:
居場所 is 居る場所、a place to visit, or stay. In this case it is more lilely to hang around.
The library has given its patrons a legitimate place for hanging around.

humbird
United States
Local time: 13:04
Works in field
Native speaker of:

Japanese,

English

21 hrs confidence:

Lounge

Explanation:
The description reminds me of things like the student 'lounges' you can find in university libraries and other buildings on a university campus. The ones at the school I went to typically had drink machines, food machines, a little store that sold limited food and notebooks, pens, etc. It was a place where students met to study, but half of the purpose of being there was to socialize, as well.

There was another 'lounge' that I remember that had computers in it, like a computer lounge, but it also had couches where people could sit and socialize.

So this would seem to fit the partially functional, partially social description of 居場所.

If staff are going in there, it could be a 'staff lounge'. I have also heard of 'employee lounges' at places like grocery stores, where they have a closed-off room for employees to sit and eat their lunches, that sometimes has a TV.

Hope this helps.

conejo
United States
Local time: 15:04
Works in field
Native speaker of:

English