Let’s learn Japanese with Dio Brando’s quote from JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure (Jojo no Kimyou na Bouken, ジョジョの奇妙な冒険).
CONTENTS
Video
Dio Brando’s Quote
Japanese: ほう…向かってくるのか。逃げずにこのディオに近づいてくるのか。
Romaji: hō…mukatte kuru noka. nige zuni kono dio ni chikazuite kuru noka.
English: Oh? You’re approaching me? Instead of running away, you’re coming right to me?
Analysis
ほう…向かってくるのか
ほう (interjection) means “oh” or “wow”, used towards inferiors to show the speaker is amazed or impressed. ほほう can also be used to show a bigger wow.
A verb te-form combined with くる (to come) is used to express the action moving towards the speaker. 向かって is the te-form of 向かう meaning “to head“ so 向かってくる means “to head towards me” or “approach me”.
のか (particles) marked by falling intonation is used to show surprise at what you see or hear. In this case, he sees Jotaro walking towards him, which surprised him.
So ほう…向かってくるのか means “Oh? You’re approaching me?”
逃げずにこのディオに近づいてくるのか
A stem of the verb nai-form followed by ずに means “without or instead of doing something”. 逃げない is the nai-form of 逃げる meaning “to run away” so 逃げずに means “instead of running away”
この (this) followed by the speaker’s name (Dio) or first person pronouns emphasises that the speaker is the one which is referred to. It’s often used by someone who is very confident and assertive.
に is the direction particle meaning “to or towards”.
近づいて is the te-form of 近づく meaning “to get close”, so 近づいてくる means “to come close to me” as くる expresses the action moving towards the speaker.
のか is, again, used to show surprise at what you see or hear.
So 逃げずにこのディオに近づいてくるのか directly means “Instead of running away, you’re coming close to this Dio?” which can be translated as “Instead of running away, you’re coming right to me?”
Verb Te-Form + くる／いく
Verb te-form followed by くる is used when the action is moving towards the speaker. In this scene, from Dio’s point of view, Jotaro is coming towards him so he says 向かってくる.
Then what if you are standing by Jotaro’s side, looking at him walking towards Dio?
From your point of view, the action is moving away from you. So you can say 承太郎がディオに向かって “いく” (to go) meaning “Jotaro is heading towards Dio (and going away from me)”.
So depending on the speaker’s point of view, either くる or いく is used after the verb te-form even though the direction of the action is the same.
Examples
Verb Te-Form + くる (action moving towards the speaker)
犬が追いかけてくる！
inu ga oikakete kuru!
A dog is chasing me!
カーテンを開けると、部屋に光が入ってきた。
kāten o akeru to, heya ni hikari ga haitte kita.
When I opened the curtains, lights came into the room.
急に鳥が飛んできて、びっくりした。
kyū ni tori ga tonde kite, bikkuri shita.
Suddenly, a bird flew towards me, which surprised me.
Verb Te-Form + いく (action moving away from the speaker)
彼は静かに部屋を出ていった。
kare wa shizuka ni heya o dete itta.
He went out of the room quietly.
その旅人は風のように去っていった。
sono tabibito wa kaze no yō ni satte itta.
The traveller left like the wind.
夕焼けの空に向かって、カラスの群れが飛んでいく。
yūyake no sora ni mukatte, karasu no mure ga tonde iku.
Hordes of crows are flying towards the sunset sky.
のか (used to show surprise at what you see or hear)
スペイン語も話せるのか！すごいな〜！
supein-go mo hanaseru noka! sugoi nā!
You can speak Spanish as well? Awesome!
もう二十歳になったのか。信じられない！
mō hatachi ni natta noka. shinjirarenai!
You have turned 20 already? I can’t believe it!
さっきパーティーが始まったばかりなのに、もう帰るのか。残念！
sakki pātī ga hajimatta bakari na noni, mō kaeru noka. zannen!
The party only just started before but you’re already leaving? That’s a shame!
Nai-Form Stem + ずに (without/instead of …ing)
何も言わずに帰るなんてひどいよ。
nani mo iwa zuni kaeru nante hidoi yo.
It’s not very nice to go home without saying anything.
体調が悪かったら、無理せずに休んでください。
taichō ga warukattara, muri se zuni yasunde kudasai.
If you are sick, please rest instead of pushing yourself.
一日中雨だったので、外に行かずに家でゲームをした。
ichinichijū ame datta node, soto ni ika zuni ie de gēmu o shita.
It rained all day so I played games at home instead of going out.
Exception: する (to do) becomes せずに (without doing) even though the nai-form is しない.
兄は勉強せずに寝てばかりいる。
ani wa benkyō se zuni nete bakari iru.
My brother is sleeping most of the time instead of studying.
Verb Nai-Form + で can also be used, which sounds more casual than 〜ずに.
兄は勉強しないで寝てばかりいる。
ani wa benkyō shinai de nete bakari iru.
My brother is sleeping most of the time instead of studying.
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Omg I love this so much. I’m gonna add a lot of anime quotes in my Japanese lessons now, thanks a lot for this!!
You are very welcome! Glad you liked it!
Wheres the ”Like” button? 🙂
Sorry, we don’t have like buttons. Thanks though!