Question "Reverse translation" question...

Discussion in 'Translator's Corner' started by ElefantVerd, Jul 29, 2019.

  1. ElefantVerd

    ElefantVerd It's not me, and it's not you.

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    In all those isekais where the MC awakes as a child, the most common phrase is "an unknown ceiling".

    How do you say "an unknown ceiling" in japanese (romaji, please)?
     
  2. Athanes

    Athanes Well-Known Member

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    If you mean it in a sense like a limit, a barrier or a wall that is hard to overcome, wouldn't it be "genkai"? Don't take my word for it though, It's only what I remember from watching anime and might not be correct.
     
  3. Barnnn

    Barnnn Well-Known Member

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    知らない天井 (does not know)
    or
    見知らない天井 (does not recognize)
     
  4. Xane

    Xane Well-Known Member

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    Laying in bed, you wake up to an unfamiliar ceiling.
     
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  5. jrjonairos

    jrjonairos Active Member

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    Ceiling is tenjo so probably "shiranai tenjo" or maybe "shiranai basho"?
     
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  6. ElefantVerd

    ElefantVerd It's not me, and it's not you.

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    upload_2019-7-29_17-34-26.jpeg

    You wake up and don't recognize the ceiling of the room you are.
     
  7. ElefantVerd

    ElefantVerd It's not me, and it's not you.

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    upload_2019-7-29_17-35-25.jpeg

    Like, you was taking care of your life, then Truck-Sama does it's thing, and next time you open your eyes, you are in another world, but you still doesn't know it. All you can see is a ceiling different from all ceilings you ever saw in your (japanese) life.

    Then you say in japanese "a ceiling I don't know".
     
  8. ElefantVerd

    ElefantVerd It's not me, and it's not you.

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    Exactly! That is the trope.
     
  9. novalance

    novalance Well-Known Member

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    Kinda alot of ways to say that or impart the same meaning. ALOT of ways, kinda depens on the author and how dramatic they want it to be.

    見ず知らず天井
    Mizushirazu tenjou
    Strange/unfamiliar ceiling

    不思議天井
    Fushigi na tenjou
    Mysterious/wondrous ceiling

    思い出天井
    Oboedasanai tenjou
    A ceiling I dont remember/recognize.

    Etc... Etc...

     
  10. ElefantVerd

    ElefantVerd It's not me, and it's not you.

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    The setting is someone murmuring to himself/herself, no drama, only a finding, more like voicing a reflection.
     
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  11. ElefantVerd

    ElefantVerd It's not me, and it's not you.

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    I mean, all those "reincarnated in a fantasy world" that have this scene, there's that part where the "personality of the old world awakens".
     
  12. Wujigege

    Wujigege *Christian*SIMP*Comedian

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    Are you a writer? I am interested in reading your work
     
  13. ElefantVerd

    ElefantVerd It's not me, and it's not you.

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    I'm writing a short story. They are twins but one of them is a reincarnator, but I want the perspective of the other twin, the "normal" one. What he/she would hear when the reincarnator "awakens" in another world?

    The setting is echi+smut+wish-fulfilment+"please, take this trash and burn it, NOW" (incest, the girl is bi and makes a yuri garden for her and her brother, the world is otome-based, and the boy is a lucky bastard that fucks every girl from the lily garden and some others).

    Well, maybe I will change some things...

    BTW, everybody is a writer, all you need is a keyboard...
     
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  14. novalance

    novalance Well-Known Member

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    A sentence like.

    Are, okashiii na, Sono tenjou ha mitomenai na.
    What the, that's strange, I don't recognize that ceiling.
    Is like a super simple way of saying it. Something like that?
     
  15. ElefantVerd

    ElefantVerd It's not me, and it's not you.

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    Too long.

    If you are thinking all of it and says only the most important things, what would that be?
     
  16. DocB

    DocB "I see you, little mouse! Run along"

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    look up, into the corner pointing to north/ west in your room there should be an incription there, it is in morse code but it should read "made in earth" in your local language, this measure was implemented in the 50s after a bunch of kids dissapear into a closet

    For the south hemisphere the prefered corner is actually north/east
     
  17. Anra7777

    Anra7777 All powerful magic grammar hamster queen pirate.

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    Eh, in anime don’t they usually say, “ここはどこ” meaning “where is this place” or simply, “ここは...?” meaning “this place...?”
     
  18. novalance

    novalance Well-Known Member

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    Errr...

    Hen na


    Hen na tenjou
    Strange/peculiar ceiling

    Is what I think ur after? Most used phrase for strange or unfamiliar settings items... Etc.
     
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  19. zdracko

    zdracko Active Member

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    There are several ways to say that but the trope comes from Evangelion so it should be 知らない天井だ (shiranai tenjou da). Sometimes the da is omitted
     
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  20. ElefantVerd

    ElefantVerd It's not me, and it's not you.

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    It's decided! Thanks for the help of everybody! New questions will arise, and I will post them in this very thread.