Let’s learn Japanese with Haku’s quote from Spirited Away (Sen to Chihiro no Kamikakushi).
CONTENTS
Video
Haku’s Quote
Japanese: 千尋の元気が出るようにまじないをかけて作ったんだ。
Romaji: chihiro no genki ga deru yō ni majinai o kakete tsukutta n da.
English: I put a spell on it so it’ll give back your strength.
Analysis
千尋の元気が出るように
千尋 is the name of the main character.
の is the possessive particle and 元気 literally is “original spirit” which is used to mean “health, energy, strength”, and so on. So 千尋の元気 means “Chihiro’s energy or strength“.
“Noun が出る” means “something comes out“ or “something emerges“ so 元気が出る means “energy comes out” which can be translated as “to give you energy” or “give back your strength”.
And a verb dictionary form followed by ように means “so that”. You might know the similar word ために meaning “in order to” which is often mixed up with ように. They are very similar, but the implications and the types of the verb used with them are different.
- A ように B implies the clause A is a possible natural result of performing the clause B. So ように normally takes non-volitional verbs (無意志動詞) such as わかる (to understand), できる (can do), 聞こえる (to hear) and so on, which normally cannot be controlled by one’s will.
- A ために B is used in cases where clause A is a purpose or objective and the clause B is performed in order to achieve it. So ために normally takes volitional verbs (意志動詞) such as 知る (to know), する (to do), 聞く (to listen) and so on, which can be controlled by one’s will.
元気が出る meaning “energy comes out” is something that naturally occurs without intentions, so it’s used with ように. On the other hand, 元気を出す meaning “someone pulls out their energy” is what you intend to do so it’s used with ために.
So if he says 千尋の元気を出すために it sounds like he can control her energy at his will, whereas 千尋の元気がでるように indicates that Chihiro may naturally get back her strength as the result of his action.
まじないをかけて作ったんだ
まじない means “a spell”.
The を particle indicates the direct object of the following verb.
かけて is the te-form of かける. When it’s used with something thought to have magical powers like 魔法 (magic), 呪い (curse), 催眠術 (hypnotism) and so on, it means “to give effect to someone or something with the power”, so まじないをかける means “to cast a spell” and the te-form is used to mean “and” which links the two actions.
作った is the ta-form or the past tense of 作る meaning “to make“, so まじないをかけて作った means “cast a spell and made it”.
Lastly, んだ is used to add an explanatory tone to the statement so that it sounds persuasive and convincing.
Examples
ように (so that) vs ために (in order to)
I will save money [so that I can/in order to] buy a car.
- 車が買えるように貯金します。
- 車を買うために貯金します。
kuruma [ga kaeru yō ni/o kau tame ni] chokin shimasu.
I wake up early [so that I can/in order to] eat breakfast.
- 朝ごはんが食べられるように早く起きる。
- 朝ごはんを食べるために早く起きる。
asa gohan [ga taberareru yō ni/o taberu tame ni] hayaku okiru.
I practice hard [so that I can/in order to] win a championship.
- 優勝できるように一生懸命練習する。
- 優勝するために一生懸命練習する。
yūshō [dekiru yō ni/suru tame ni] isshōkenmei renshū suru.
- “In order not to, so as not to” = Verb Nai-Form + ように (more common than ために)
落ちないようにちゃんとつかまって！
ochinai yō ni chanto tsukamatte!
Hold on tight so as not to fall!
- Both ように and ために can be used with the verb thought to be volitional and non-volitional.
彼のことを忘れる [ように/ために] なるべく忙しくしている。
kare no koto o wasureru [yō ni/tame ni] narubeku isogashiku shite iru.
I keep busy as much as possible [so that I can/in order to] forget about him.
早く仕事に慣れる [ように/ために] 朝早くから働いている。
hayaku shigoto ni nareru [yō ni/tame ni] asa hayaku kara hataraite iru.
I’m working early in the morning [so that I can/in order to] get used to the job quickly.
- With ように, the subject of the first and second clauses can be the same or different. On the other hand, with ために the subject is generally the same.
かける (to give effect to someone or something)
その魔女は王子に魔法をかけて、カエルに変えてしまった。
sono majo wa ōji ni mahō o kakete, kaeru ni kaete shimatta.
The witch cast a magic spell on the prince and changed him into a frog.
誰かに呪いをかけると、必ず自分に返ってくる。
dareka ni noroi o kakeru to, kanarazu jibun ni kaette kuru.
If you curse someone, it’ll come back to you.
その男は催眠術をかけて患者を眠らせた。
sono otoko wa saiminjutsu o kakete kanja o nemuraseta.
The man hypnotised his patient to sleep.
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