Let’s learn Japanese with Goku’s quote from Dragon Ball Z.
CONTENTS
Video
Goku’s Quote
Japanese: クリリンのことか?!
Romaji: kuririn no koto ka?!
English: You mean Krillin?!
Analysis
クリリン is “Krillin” as you can tell – be careful when you pronounce the ‘r’ sound in Japanese, the tip of your tongue lightly touches or flaps the gums behind the back of your front teeth. This is closer to the sound of ’t’ or ‘l’ rather than the sound of R in English. Not ‘kuririn’, it’s クリリン.
Noun + the の particle + こと means “regarding” or “about” something. So クリリンのこと means “about Krillin”.
か is usually used at the end of the sentence to make it a question by both male and female in formal speech. However, when か is used in casual speech it becomes males speech and also sounds blunt and offensive as it’s usually used for equals or inferiors. Then how do you make a sentence into a question in casual speech without offending someone? – You just rise the intonation at the end of the sentence like 元気 (↑)？おいしい (↑)？ So if Goku said クリリンのこと？ or クリリンのことですか？ it sounds very gentle despite his super Saiyan rage.
Examples
〜のこと (regarding/about)
先輩、部活のことで相談があるんですが…
senpai, bukatsu no koto de sōdan ga arundesu ga…
senpai, I’d like to talk to you about club activities.
後のことは頼んだ！
ato no koto wa tanonda!
I’ll leave the rest to you!
あなたのことを教えてください。
anata no koto o oshiete kudasai.
Please tell me about yourself.
あのことは誰にも言わないで。
ano koto wa dare nimo iwanai de.
Please don’t tell anybody about that.
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