Let’s learn Japanese with Conan’s quote from Detective Conan: Quarter of Silence (名探偵コナン 沈黙の15分, Meitantei Konan: Chinmoku no Kwōtā).
CONTENTS
Video
Conan’s Quote
Japanese: 言葉は刃物なんだ。使い方を間違えると厄介な凶器になる。
Romaji: kotoba wa hamono nanda. tsukaikata o machigaeru to yakkai na kyōki ni naru.
English: Words are like knives. If you use them the wrong way, they can turn into dangerous weapons.
Analysis
言葉は刃物なんだ
言葉 means “words”.
は is the particle that indicates the topic of the sentence.
刃物 means “bladed objects”, “cutting tools” or “knives”.
ん is the broken version of the particle の, and when it’s used with the auxiliary verb だ, it expresses the speaker’s strong declaration based on a certain reason or background. It’s often used when explaining something to convince the listener.
It can be attached to a verb or i-adjective such as;
- 僕は行く (Verb) んだ！ meaning “I’m going!”
- ここのラーメンはおいしい (I-adjective) んだ meaning “the ramen here is delicious”
But when it’s attached to a noun or na-adjective you need to add な before んだ such as;
- 犯人は俺 (noun) なんだ meaning “the culprit is me”.
- この仕事は大変 (na-adjective) なんだ meaning “this job is hard”.
刃物 is a noun so な is added before んだ.
So 言葉は刃物なんだ directly means “words are knives” in an convincing way, but since it’s a metaphor we translate it as “words are like knives”.
使い方を間違えると厄介な凶器になる
There are two clauses in this sentence. 使い方を間違えると is the subordinate clause and 厄介な凶器になる is the main clause.
The stem of a verb masu-form followed by 方 means “how to do something” or “the way of doing something”. 使い is the stem of the verb 使います meaning “to use” so 使い方 means “how to use” or “the way of using”.
“Something を間違える” means “to get something wrong”.
And “The conjunction particle と following a verb dictionary form” means “if one does something”.
So the subordinate clause 使い方を間違えると directly means “if you get the way of using wrong” so it can be translated as “if you use them the wrong way”.
厄介な is a na-adjective meaning “troublesome” which is used for something causing a lot of problems. And it modifies the following word 凶器 meaning “murder weapons”. So 厄介な凶器 can be translated as “dangerous weapons”.
And “something になる” means “to become or turn into something”.
So the main clause 厄介な凶器になる means “they will turn into dangerous weapons”.
Examples
Noun A は Noun B なんだ (“A is B”)
この犬は病気なんだ。ちゃんと世話してあげてね。
kono inu wa byōki nanda. chanto sewa shite agete ne.
This dog is sick. Please give him good care.
この石はパワーストーンなんだ。持っているといいことがあるよ。
kono ishi wa pawāsutōn nanda. motte iru to ii koto ga aru yo.
This stone is a power stone. If you have it, something good will happen.
The sentence ending particle よ is commonly used in daily conversations.
この犬は病気なんだよ。
この石はパワーストーンなんだよ。
- Tonegawa’s Quote “Money Is Worth More Than Life!”
- Ken Kaneki’s Quote “Even If You Get Eaten By Me, That Cannot Be Helped, Right?”
- Haku’s Quote “I Put A Spell On It So It’ll Give Back Your Strength”
- Gash’s Quote “It’s Not Kiyomaro That Has Changed!”
- Bertolt Hoover’s Quote “Are We Doing It? Right Now?! Right Here?!”
〜を間違える (to get something wrong)
行く道を間違えて、迷ってしまった。
iku michi o machigaete mayotte shimatta.
I took the wrong way and I got lost.
人の名前を間違えるなんて、失礼だよ。
hito no namae o machigaeru nante, shitsurei dayo.
It’s rude to get someone’s name wrong.
Verb Dictionary-Form ＋と (if)
この花は水をあげすぎると枯れてしまう。
kono hana wa mizu o agesugiru to karete shimau.
This flower will die if you give it too much water.
今話すと混乱するかもしれないから、後で話すよ。
ima hanasu to konran suru kamoshirenai kara, ato de hanasu yo.
If I tell you now, you might get confused so I’ll tell you later.
Difference Between と, ば, たら and なら (if one does/doesn’t do something)
Verb Dictionary-Form/Nai-Form + と
- expresses general truths/constant results (if “A” happens, “B” will unavoidably happen) such as natural phenomenons, habitual actions, programmed actions, etc.
- can also express one’s discovery following a certain action in the past
- cannot express one’s volition, invitations, requests, commands, etc.
氷を温めると、溶ける。(natural phenomenon)
if you heat up ice, it melts.
ホットミルクを飲まないと、眠れない。(habitual action)
If I don’t drink hot milk, I can’t sleep.
このボタンを押すと、ドアが開きます。(programmed action)
If you press this button, the door will open.
スーパーに行くと、休みだった。(one’s discovery)
I went to the supermarket to find it was closed.
Verb Conditional-Form + ば
- expresses general truths/constant result (can be substituted for と)
- can also express hypothetical conditions (if “A” happens (hypothesis), “B” will happen)
- basically cannot express one’s volition, invitations, requests, commands, etc.
台風が来れば、学校は休みです。(hypothetical condition)
If the typhoon comes, the school will be closed.
*EXCEPTION: if the subject of each clause is different, or if the condition “A” is the state of being, it can express one’s volition, invitations, requests, commands, etc.
邪魔しなければ、一緒に勉強してあげる。
If you don’t disturb me (subject: you), I will study with you (subject: I).
暑ければ、クーラーをつけてもいいですよ。
If you are hot (= state of being), you can turn on the air conditioner.
Verb Ta-Form + ら
- expresses hypothetical conditions and actual conditions (when “A” happens “B” will happen)
- can also express one’s discovery following a certain action in the past (can be substituted for と but たら is more casual)
- can express one’s volition, invitations, requests, commands, etc.
- can be widely used to express “if”
100万円あったら、何に使う？ (hypothetical condition)
If you had a million yen, what would you use it for?
次の授業が終わったら、コーヒーを買いに行こう。 (actual condition)
When the next lesson finishes, let’s go buy coffee.
スーパーに行ったら、休みだった。(one’s discovery)
I went to the supermarket to find it was closed.
Verb Plain-Form + なら
- used to make someone’s statement provided before into a condition
Your sister: 図書館に行ってくる。 (I’m going to the library)
You: 図書館に行くなら、この本返してきてくれる？ (If you’re going to the library, can you return this book for me?)
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