ProZ.com global directory of translation services
The translation workplace
Ideas
KudoZ home » Japanese to English » Poetry & Literature

抱きしめんと


Login or register (free and only takes a few minutes) to participate in this question.

You will also have access to many other tools and opportunities designed for those who have language-related jobs
(or are passionate about them). Participation is free and the site has a strict confidentiality policy.
05:03 Sep 15, 2011
This question was closed without grading. Reason: Other

Japanese to English translations [PRO]
Art/Literary - Poetry & Literature / Song Lyrics
Japanese term or phrase: 抱きしめんと
Greetings,

It's from the song 知床旅情:
君を今宵こそ　抱きしめんと
岩陰によれば　ピリカが笑う

Please, would this 抱きしめん be the same as the Classical Japanese 抱きしめむ (which, I believe, can correspond to 抱きしめよう although it can also be a straightforward future)? Apparently the final む was often pronounced (and written) as ん.
My source: Komai and Rohrlich’s “An Introduction to Classical Japanese” p.136.

All the best, and many thanks,

Simon
SeiTT
United Kingdom
Local time: 05:26


Summary of answers provided
5 -1do not embrace
Ryan Layman
Summary of reference entries provided
FYI
Mami Yamaguchi

Discussion entries: 3





  

Answers


46 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 5/5 peer agreement (net): -1
do not embrace


Explanation:
抱きしめる is the original verb here meaning "to embrace." 抱きしめん is the negative conjugation of the word, similar to 抱きしめない　or 抱きしめぬ.　　Thus, the line is "If I do not embrace you tonight..."

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 4 hrs (2011-09-15 09:37:11 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

As Tomoyuki Kono brought up a good point, I feel I should add that this and similar negative structures can be used to describe volition or intent. For example, in the sentence 「早く行かないと！」, while it literally means "If (we) don't go. . . !" with the logical consequence being implied, thus implying a meaning similar to "I must go!"

Japanese does this quite frequently compared to English, and particularly in poetry in song, while it is helpful in syllable conservation, it can be a pain in the neck for a translator, requiring creative solutions.


    Reference: http://dictionary.infoseek.ne.jp/jeword/%E6%8A%B1%E3%81%8D%E...
Ryan Layman
Local time: 13:26
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 4

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Julian Rippon: Good clear explanation.
2 hrs
disagree  Tomoyuki Kono: It's not negative; it expresses an intention.
2 hrs
  -> I actually agree with you, as it's easily both here like in the expression 「～しないと！」. It's a common means of expressing a need to do something in Japanese and we're limited in characters. I focused on the grammar structure but you have the function part.
disagree  humbird: 180 degree opposite! This "ん" is not negative conjugation. Please be confident when you answer.
1 day8 hrs
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)




Reference comments


2 hrs peer agreement (net): +1
Reference: FYI

Reference information:
Probably, ん（む） of 「抱きしめんと」 is 助動詞（auxiliary verb）
抱きしめ（動詞の連体形）＋助動詞む（ん）
http://yslibrary.cool.ne.jp/haroajapa009010.htm
文法

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 3 hrs (2011-09-15 08:40:45 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

Probably ん（む） means 意志(willingness)…［～う・～よう] here.


--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 3 days19 hrs (2011-09-19 00:54:24 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

According to Kuno's reference...
「今日こそ君を抱きしめようと（下心を持って）美しい（ピリカとかかっている）女性（出てこないけど男を抱きしめる訳ない）を岩陰に誘ったら..

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 3 days19 hrs (2011-09-19 00:55:11 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

Sorry → Kono's

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 3 days22 hrs (2011-09-19 03:34:56 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

So む（ん）is Author's intention, willingness, I think.

Mami Yamaguchi
Japan
Native speaker of: Native in JapaneseJapanese

Peer comments on this reference comment (and responses from the reference poster)
agree  Tomoyuki Kono: There is an interpretation of the passage here: http://www.mag2qa.com/qa2940127.html
1 hr
  -> Thank you very much! Kono-san.
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)




Return to KudoZ list


KudoZ™ translation help
The KudoZ network provides a framework for translators and others to assist each other with translations or explanations of terms and short phrases.



See also:
ProZ.com term search
Search millions of term translations

Terminology | Jobs and directories | Member activities | Education | Tools
About ProZ.com | ProZ.com basics | Advertising | Support | FAQ | Terms of use
ProZ.com social network linksFacebookLinkedInTwitterDiggStumbleUpondel.icio.us
Print page
Copyright © 1999-2012 ProZ.com - All rights reserved. Privacy