Skip to search.
  1. Home >
  2. All Categories >
  3. Society & Culture >
  4. Languages >
  5. Open Question
Leeya Leeya
Member since:
24 August 2013
Total points:
82 (Level 1)

Open Question

Show me another »

Could you help me translate this Japanese sentence?

I'm reading a kid's book to learn Japanese, called かぐやひめ. Here is the sentence I need help with:
nanto take no naka de wa kaga yakuyou ni utsukushii onanoko ga niko niko hohoendeirude wa arimasenka.
I think the English translation is something like "Inside of the bamboo, there was a smiling girl."
I need help translating word for word and picking apart the grammar.
1. First of all, what does "nanto" mean in this situation?
2. kaga-- why is ka added in front of ga?
3. yakuyou - I can't find what this means.
4. hohoendeiru dewa arimasenka - was not heart touching/ smiling? Why add "arimasen?" and also, why add "ka" at the very end?
Thanks for your help!

Answer Question

This question about "Could you help me tr… " was originally asked on Yahoo! Answers United States

Answers (1)

  • Daidokoro Hiroshi by Daidokoro Hiroshi
    A Top Contributor is someone who is knowledgeable in a particular category.
    Member since:
    07 May 2012
    Total points:
    11,086 (Level 6)
    Badge Image:
    A Top Contributor is someone who is knowledgeable in a particular category.
    Contributing In:
    Languages
    nanto take no naka de wa kagayaku youni utsukushii on'nanoko ga niko-niko hohoendeiru dewa arimasenka.

    "It's amazing! Inside of the bamboo, he found a sparklingly beautiful girl smiling toward him!"

    1. what does "nanto" mean in this situation?
    ・・"See, it's amazing!"
    ・・eg
    ・・What a beautiful house!
    ・・なんときれいなお家でしょう｡ (nanto kireina ouchi deshou!)

    2. kaga-- why is ka added in front of ga?
    3. yakuyou - I can't find what this means.
    ・・These should be read "kagayaku"(輝く), an adjective meaning "shining" plus "youna"（ような）, "as if/ like a"

    4. hohoendeiru dewa arimasenka - was not heart touching/ smiling? Why add "arimasen?" and also, why add "ka" at the very end?
    ・・This is a rhetorical expression of "hohoendeiru yo". In English you may say "Who knows?" for "There is not anyone who knows it."
    ・・eg
    ・・"You should know it!"
    ・・"anata wa sore wo shitteiru dewa arimasenka"
    ・・"あなたはそれを知っているではありませんか｡"

    Source(s):

    a japanese

Answer Questions in Languages

Answers International

Yahoo! does not evaluate or guarantee the accuracy of any Yahoo! Answers content. Click here for the Full Disclaimer.

Help us improve Yahoo! Answers. Tell us what you think.

Copyright © 2013 Yahoo! All Rights Reserved.