Wondrous Japanese-English Translations

I love reading English subtitles that are translated from Japanese. BUT NO I DON’T MEAN IT IN THE SILLY WAY!

I’ve always read the english translations whenever I hear a Japanese song, and their interesting wording– even though each translator comes up with unique word choices– always fascinates me. Well, in real life, you’ll never hear someone say that they are going to make a wish to the star that runs through darkness. (That’s from Black Rock Shooter haha) Sometimes, the translation sounds all nonsensical and odd, but mostly they make sense, and they sound really poetic and inspirational! 

Like how.. ever since you came, my ordinary life was painted in scarlet. 

Because I met you, a fragrant wind the color of the sky blows through my heart.

But then you hurt me, and I hurt you. And I just want to let you go. But I doubt even myself.

Will your shadow fade in the rain?

All I want… is to take back your smiling face…

BA DUM TSS. AIN’T THAT NICE?! Those words in italics are the english-translated Japanese lyrics and each phrase is from a different song! They give such a lovely, romantic and expressive touch, don’t they? And they definitely make sense. Here’s one more cool sentence.

Even if we’re under different skies, even in a broken world, we won’t be alone.

OOOOOOOooooozing with amazingness! The terms like ‘broken world’ and ‘smiling face’ are among the most common ones i’ve come across. Oh yeah, and you know, the translations/lyrics use the image of roses blooming as a metaphor for blood being spilt really often too! I was packing my stuff just a moment ago, and found a short prose-story thing that used that idea. In fact it was that whole short story that inspired this post lol. I’m going to share it! I wrote it earlier this year.

What an incredibly lovely, frilly, pure white gown she was wearing! Along with that beaming smile, she looked so perfect next to her impeccably-dressed groom. Excited chatter was all I could hear, and I made polite conversation with the guests.

“Gorgeous girl, that bride!”

“Ain’t it like sending a sister off, Sara?”

Definitely.

It’s time, I thought, making my way towards the couple. John and Greg and my friends all smiled. They told me not to cry, but wish Alice and her husband-to-be the best of luck. How could I not cry though? Alice was like a sister to me.

So when I was finally before the couple, I didn’t cry, I smiled.

I took out my dagger and let beautiful roses blossom upon Alice. Red frills are more gorgeous after all.

Done. Okay ignore my lame story. See, thing is, don’t you think the ending paragraph (uhh I mean two sentences xD) sounds much more elegant but sinister this way? Or of course I could write something like:

I took my dagger out and started stabbing Alice wildly. STAB. STAB. STAB STAB STAB. A crazed frenzy made me oblivious to the surrounding astonished gasps, which soon escalated to horrified shrills. Blood sprayed out like that miniature water fountain I saw at their new apartment. Pretty little thing it was, and is. The groom’s face was stained crimson, and boy he did look like a petrified little cat! I cackled. This was amusing.

Lol. D-don’t you prefer the first one? Haha……..

Random Shiro interjects. He shields Sara with his umbrella and it too, turns a dark, vivid red. The end.

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