Let’s learn Japanese with Kenshiro’s quote from Fist of the North Star (Hokuto no Ken).
CONTENTS
Video
Kenshiro’s Quote
Japanese: お前はもう死んでいる。
Romaji: omae wa mou shindeiru.
English: You are already dead.
Analysis
おまえ is a second person pronoun “you” which is usually used for equals or inferiors in males speech. It’s used either when you’re looking down on someone or showing your intimacy for closest friends or your beloved person depending on the situation. But there are girls who hate being called おまえ so it’d be better to stay away from this word. Basically it’s used by men but you occasionally hear it from a girl who is boyish or bossy.
は is a particle which indicates the main topic of a sentence. It shows what Kenshiro is talking about right now and it’s followed by the explanation of the topic.
もう means in this situation “already” which emphasises something was completed before the present time.
しんでいる consists of te-form of the verb しぬ meaning “to die” and いる originally meaning “to stay still”. It describes an ongoing state resulting from the earlier action. So in this case, he died at some point and his state of being “dead” continues as the result of the action “die”.
Examples
Verb Te-From + いる (describes a state resulting from the earlier action)
この時計は壊れている。
kono tokei wa kowarete iru.
This watch is broken.
The earlier action: 時計が壊れる – The watch breaks.
電気が消えている。
denki ga kiete iru.
The lights are out.
The earlier action: 電気が消える – The lights go out.
- Ai Enma’s Quote “Want To Try Dying Once?”
- Edward Elric’s Quote “Keep Moving Forward”
- Noctis’s Quote “Always Walk Tall”
- 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”
- Ace’s Quote “Thank You For Loving Me”
- Faye Valentine’s Quote “You Know The Basics of Combat? It’s A Preemptive Strike”
When a verb has both intransitive and transitive functions:
Intransitive verb te-form + いる is usually a resulting state.
- 【つく】ついている – on (lights, TV)
- 【折れる】折れている – broken
- 【開く】開いている – open
- 【閉まる】閉まっている – closed
電気がついている。
denki ga tsuite iru.
The lights are on.
Transitive verb te-form + いる is usually a progressive tense “-ing”.
- 【つける】つけている – switching on
- 【折る】折っている – breaking
- 【開ける】開けている – opening
- 【閉める】閉めている – closing
電気をつけている。
denki o tsukete iru.
I am turning on the light.
Some verbs (intransitive/transitive) te-form + いる can be resulting state or progressive tense depending on the context.
- 【着る】着ている – wearing/putting on
- 【履く】履いている – wearing/putting on trousers, shoes
- 【化粧する】化粧している – wearing/putting on makeup
- 【離れる】離れている – separated/separating
着ている (Resulting State)
あの着物を着ている人が佐藤さんです。
ano kimono o kite iru hito ga satō-san desu.
That person wearing a kimono is Ms. Sato.
The earlier action: 着物を着る – Ms. Sato puts a kimono on.
着ている (Progressive Tense)
いま着物を着ているところなので、ちょっと待ってください。
ima kimono o kiteiru tokoro nanode, chotto matte kudasai.
I am putting a kimono on right now, so please wait a moment.
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