Let’s learn Japanese with Edward Elric’s quote from Fullmetal Alchemist (Hagane no Renkinjutsushi).
CONTENTS
Video
Edward Elric’s Quote
Japanese: 立って歩け。前へ進め。あんたには立派な足がついてるじゃないか。
Romaji: tatte aruke. mae e susume. anta niwa rippa na ashi ga tsuiteru janaika.
English: Stand up and walk. Keep moving forward. You have two good legs, don’t you?
Analysis
立って歩け means “stand up and walk”. This て means “and” which links two actions.
前へ進め means “keep moving forward”. 前 means “forward” and へ is the particle which is used to indicate destination or direction. 進め itself means “move forward” but by adding 前へ you can emphasise “forward” which implies “Don’t look back. Keep moving forward.”
These 歩け and 進め are imperative form which is used to give an order or command. This form is rarely used by females as it sounds really blunt. Even when males use it, they add よ to make it sound less blunt.
あんたには立派な足がついてるじゃないか means “you have two good legs, don’t you?”
あんた is a casual version of あなた meaning “you” and 立派な足 means “two good legs”. AにBがついてる means “to have B on A”.
And this contrastive particle は is used to emphasise that SHE has two good legs, in contrast to Ed, who lost his left leg in an attempt to bring back his mother using human transmutation.
Finally, じゃない. I think many of you learned じゃない as a negative form used with a noun or na-adjective such as, 元気じゃない。(I’m not well.) この傘は私のじゃない。(This umbrella is not mine.) But it can be used in affirmative sentences or tag questions to persuade someone, or show emotions such as surprise, joy, anger and so on depending on the context. And in this usage you can use it with an い adjective or verb as well. Also, finishing the sentence with じゃない is usually for female speech and じゃないか is for male speech. Nowadays both male and female, especially young people use じゃん instead.
So Ed is metaphorically telling her to walk with her two good legs but he is actually persuading her to live without depending on anything.
Examples
Verb Te-Form (“and” which links two actions or more)
いつも家に帰って何するの？
itsumo ie ni kaette nani suru no?
What do you always do after you go home?
晩御飯を食べて、お風呂に入って、寝ます。
bangohan o tabete, ofuro ni haitte, nemasu.
I eat dinner, take a bath, and go to bed.
- Ai Enma’s Quote “Want To Try Dying Once?”
- Kenshiro’s Quote “You’re Already Dead”
- Goemon’s Quote “Once Again I Have Cut A Worthless Object”
- Kyoko Otonashi’s Quote “Live Longer Than Me Even By One Day”
- Lelouch’s Quote “The Only Ones Who Can Shoot Are Those Who Are Prepared To Be Shot”
- Faye Valentine’s Quote “You Know The Basics of Combat? It’s A Preemptive Strike”
Imperative Form (used to give an order or command)
あいつを殺せ！
aitsu o korose!
Kill that guy!
もうやめろ！
mō yamero!
Stop it already!
AにBがついてる (to have B on A)
壁に染みがついている。
kabe ni shimi ga tsuiteiru.
There is a stain on the wall.
ポケットがついてるTシャツが欲しい。
poketto ga tsuiteru tī shatsu ga hoshī.
I want a t-shirt with pockets.
じゃない/じゃん (used in affirmative sentences or tag questions)
誰かと思ったら、あんたじゃない！
dare ka to omottara, anta janai!
Look who is here, it’s YOU!
宿題をやれと言ったじゃないか！
shukudai o yare to itta janai ka!
I TOLD YOU to do your homework!
テストで百点とったの？すごいじゃん！
tesuto de hyaku ten totta no? sugoi jan!
You got a 100 on the test? That’s AWESOME!
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