Let’s learn Japanese with Inspector Zenigata’s quote from Lupin the Third: Castle of Cagliostro (ルパン三世 カリオストロの城, Rupan Sansei: Kariosutoro no Shiro).
CONTENTS
Video
Inspector Zenigata’s Quote
Japanese: 奴はとんでもないものを盗んでいきました。あなたの心です。
Romaji: yatsu wa tondemonai mono o nusunde ikimashita. anata no kokoro desu.
English: He stole something Outrageous. Your heart.
Analysis
奴はとんでもないものを盗んでいきました
奴 is used as the third person pronoun meaning “he” or “that guy”. It’s usually used to refer to someone you despise or look down upon.
The は particle indicates the topic of the sentence.
とんでもない means “outrageous” “extraordinary” or “unthinkable” which is used when something exceeds the limits of what is usual.
And it modifies the following noun もの meaning “thing” so とんでもないもの means “outrageous thing” or “something outrageous”.
The を particle indicates the direct object of the following verb.
盗んで is the te-form of 盗む meaning “to steal” and いきました is the past tense of いきます which is the polite form of いく meaning “to go”.
When いく or くる follows the te-form of the general action verb, it describes the movement after the action is done. いく describes the one going away from the speaker, and くる describes the one coming towards the speaker.
So in this case, 盗んでいく means Lupin steals AND goes away from the speaker. On the other hand, 盗んでくる means Lupin steals AND comes towards the speaker which would be Jigen or Goemon.
So 奴はとんでもないものを盗んでいきました means “He stole something outrageous (and left)”.
あなたの心です
あなた meaning “you” followed by the possessive particle の means “your” and it modifies the following noun 心 meaning “heart”.
です is used to affirm the statement in polite speech.
So he is saying that Lupin stole something outrageous which is her heart. とんでもない usually has a negative connotation just like the English word “outrageous” but in this case he used this word to say it’s very shocking and unacceptable as her heart is too precious to be stolen.
Examples
とんでもない (outrageous)
クレジットカード会社からとんでもない請求がきた！
kurejitto kādo gaisha kara tondemonai seikyū ga kita!
I received an outrageous bill from the credit card company!
今日の東京は40度…とんでもない気温です！
kyō no tōkyō wa yonjū-do… tondemonai kion desu!
It’s 40 degrees in Tokyo today… outrageous temperature!
チーターはとんでもない速さで走る。
chītā wa tondemonai hayasa de hashiru.
Cheetahs run at an outrageous speed.
Verb Te-Form + いく (to do something and go away from where the speaker is)
ちゃんと朝ごはんを食べていきなさい！
chanto asagohan o tabete ikinasai!
Eat breakfast properly (before leaving)!
映画まで時間があるから、カフェでお茶していかない？
eiga made jikan ga aru kara, kafe de ocha shite ikanai?
We have time before the movie so why don’t we have some tea at a cafe (before going to the movie)?
お客さん、よかったらうちの商品見ていってください！
okyaku-san, yokattara uchi no shōhin mite itte kudasai!
Sir, please check out our products (before you go) if you like!
Verb Te-Form + くる (to do something and come towards where the speaker is)
ただいま。コンビニでおにぎり買ってきたよ。
tadaima. konbini de onigiri katte kita yo.
I’m home. I bought rice balls at the convenience store (and came home).
おはようございます。皆さん、宿題はしてきましたか？
ohayō gozaimasu. mina-san, shukudai wa shite kimashita ka?
Good morning everyone, did you do your homework (and come to school)?
ちょっとトイレに行ってくる！
chotto toire ni itte kuru!
I’m going to the toilet quickly (and come back)!
Different Types of “Verb Te-Form + いく／くる”
- General actions such as 食べる, 飲む, 見る, 読む, する, etc. + いく／くる expresses the one moves away from/towards the speaker AFTER doing the action (sequence of actions)
- Actions of moving/changing place such as 近づく, 向かう, 入る, 出る, 帰る, etc. + いく／くる expresses the action is directing away from/towards the speaker (direction of the action)
[EXCEPTION]
行ってきます (to go AND come) – 行く is an action of moving but 行ってきます expresses a sequence of the actions.
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