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Let’s learn Japanese with Lelouch’s quote from Code Geass.

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Lelouch’s Quote

Japanese: 撃っていいのは撃たれる覚悟がある奴だけだ
Romaji: utte ii no wa utareru kakugo ga aru yatsu dake da.
English: The only ones who can shoot are those who are prepared to be shot.

Analysis

The sentence looks long but it’s actually a very simple sentence structure, “A wa B da” which means “A is B”.

So first we are going to look at the A part “撃っていいの”.

撃って is the te-form of the verb 撃つ meaning “to shoot” and the verb te-form followed by いい means “can do something”. So 撃っていい means “can shoot”.

And the の particle makes what comes before into a noun​. It can be translated to “the one who” or “the thing which”. So 撃っていいの means “the ones who can shoot”.

Now we are going to look at the B part “撃たれる覚悟がある奴だけ”.

撃たれる is the passive form of 撃つ and it modifies 覚悟 meaning “mental preparation”, so 撃たれる覚悟 literally means “mental preparation to be shot”.

がある following a noun means “to have something”.

So 撃たれる覚悟がある literally is “to have mental preparation to be shot” which can be translated to “to be prepared to be shot” and this is the clause that modifies 奴 meaning “a person” in a casual and blunt way. So “撃たれる覚悟がある奴” means “those who are prepared to be shot”.

だけ means “only”.

Examples

Verb Te-Form + いい (can do something)

美術館びじゅつかんで写真しゃしん撮とっていいの？

bijutsukan de shashin totte ii no?

Can we take photos in the art museum?

宿題しゅくだいが終おわったらゲームしていいよ。

shukudai ga owattara gēmu shite ii yo.

You can play games if you finish your homework.

手術しゅじゅつが終おわったらお酒さけ飲のんでいいよ。

shujutsu ga owattara osake nonde ii yo.

Once the operation is done, you can drink alcohol.

の (makes what comes before into a noun)

verb + の

日本語にほんごを話はなすのは楽たのしい。

nihongo o hanasu no wa tanoshii.

(The action of) Speaking Japanese is fun.

i-adjective + の

お茶ちゃは薄うすいのより濃こいのが好すき。

ocha wa usui no yori koi no ga suki.

As for tea, I like strong ones more than weak ones. 

na-adjective + な + の

ドライヤーが欲ほしいんですが、音おとが静しずかなのありますか？

doraiyā ga hoshii n desu ga, oto  ga shizuka na no arimasu ka?

I want a hair dryer but is there one which is quiet?

Noun + がある (to have something)

あの先生せんせいに反抗はんこうするなんて度胸どきょうがあるね。

ano sensei ni hankō suru nante dokyō ga aru ne.

You have guts to stand up against that teacher. 

告白こくはくする勇気ゆうきがない。

kokuhaku suru yūki ga nai.

I don’t have the courage to confess my feelings.

息子むすこさんはとても教養きょうようがありますね。

musuko-san wa totemo kyōyō ga arimasu ne.

Your son is well-educated.

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