「hara-kiriは英英辞典にも載っている」とウェブ上に書いてありました。 ああ、ホントだ!LDOCEにはa way of killing yourself by cutting open your stomach, used in the past in Japan to avoid losing honourとありました。 ふ~ん。。。。日本に対するイメージは、やはりこういうところが先行していますね。
No Laughing Matter(2)
The team talks about the diificulty of translating human cross -cuturally. And Shiga tells an old Japanese joke.
I guess so. "I guess so" is a kind of vague or weak agreement or even more than weak agreement, it's like a lack of disagreement.
fall flat
[ 完全に失敗する、効果がない
There is another idiom that also means "fall flat" or "fail" and that's "go over like a lead balloon." If you imagine a balloon made of lead, it's not going to be very successful.
go over like a lead balloon
[ 〔提案、計画などが〕失敗する、全く効果がない
go down like a lead balloon(LDOCE) if a suggestion or joke goes down like a lead balloon, people do not like it at all
pantomime
[ コミュニケーションの手段としての身振り、手振り
"Pantomime humor" can also be called "slapstick," especially if it's very physical and silly.
slapstick [ どたばた喜劇
=humorous acting in which the performers fall over, throw things at each other etc
run into trouble
[ 困難に陥る、難航する
run into trouble/problems/difficulties =to start to experience a difficult or unpleasant situation
Puns and other wordplay don't translate well. 語呂合わせなどの言葉遊びはうまく翻訳できませんからね。 When you can't translate them.
masterless samurai 浪人
settle one's account
[ 勘定を清算する
pay/settle your account =(=pay what you owe)
he took out his sword, stabbed it into his belly and drew it toweard his navel 彼は刀を抜いて、横腹に刺し、へそのあたりまで引きました
laughter and groans The kind of joke that makes most people groan are called "groaners."
groan
=to make a long deep sound because you are in pain, upset, or disappointed, or because something is very enjoyable [= moan]
You need to stay on safe ground. 無難なところで収めておく必要があります