前置きがEven the slightest slip-up can turn a compliment into a curseとなっているReader's Digest 4月号の記事 "Translation trip-ups" がありました。 この "slip-up" と "trip-ups" は同じく間違いを示しているようです。しかし今日採り上げる単語は記事の中にあります。 記事は間違いの実例を幾つか示していますが、その内から日本に関する話題の箇所を引用します。
"CHOCOLATE FOR HIM" In the 1950s, when chocolate companies began encouraging people in Japan to celebrate Valentine's Day, a mistranslation from on confectionary maker conveyed the message that it was customary for women to give chocolates to men on the holiday. And that's what they do to this day. On February 14, women shower their men with treats, and on March 14, the men return the favour.
バレンタインデイに女性が男性にチョコレートを渡す日本の習慣は日本人には常識なのでここでの "shower" の意味は分かりますが、この様な使い方ができるのは知りませんでした。辞書で確認します。
・Macmillan Dictionary: to give a large number of things or a large amount of something to someone: shower someone with something: He showered her with flowers and jewelry.
・Collins English Dictionary: (transitive) to give (gifts, etc) in abundance or present (a person) with (gifts, etc) ⇒ they showered gifts on him
・Cambridge English Dictionary: to give someone a lot of presents or praise: She only sees her niece occasionally, so she showers her with presents when she does.
"CHOCOLATE FOR HIM" In the 1950s, when chocolate companies began encouraging people in Japan to celebrate Valentine's Day, a mistranslation from on confectionary maker conveyed the message that it was customary for women to give chocolates to men on the holiday. And that's what they do to this day. On February 14, women shower their men with treats, and on March 14, the men return the favour.
バレンタインデイに女性が男性にチョコレートを渡す日本の習慣は日本人には常識なのでここでの "shower" の意味は分かりますが、この様な使い方ができるのは知りませんでした。辞書で確認します。
・Macmillan Dictionary: to give a large number of things or a large amount of something to someone: shower someone with something: He showered her with flowers and jewelry.
・Collins English Dictionary: (transitive) to give (gifts, etc) in abundance or present (a person) with (gifts, etc) ⇒ they showered gifts on him
・Cambridge English Dictionary: to give someone a lot of presents or praise: She only sees her niece occasionally, so she showers her with presents when she does.
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