translation practice #14 (21 Oct 2007)

[hyunwoo]

It's an ad on the subway door.

Give it a try everyone!

[Dan_84]

Like most signs in Korea, I usually can't get all the nuances, but I can figure out the main message. Here's my incomplete translation, with the main message (done without dictionary consultation...):

[spoiler] It's an ad encouraging subway etiquette, so that we will think about other people.

"There's a loud-voiced woman."
...Um, some lines where I only know a few words...
"There's a (something) older man
Please think about other people, too."

There's some words I know in the small print, including the phrase "if you take the subway, please put your phone on vibrate."

The print at the bottom says "we do it together, and we will have a happy etiquette train."[/spoiler]

[austinfd]

[spoiler]There is a loud woman
There is a man carrying a puppy
There is a student sleeping deeply?
There is a man (monopolizing) those seats. <-- had to look that one up!

Please think about other people

And too add to what dan said about the bottom, there are sentences about talking quietly on the phone, something about your newspaper (maybe taking it with you)

does 다라 모으고 앉기 mean to sit down when crossing a bridge?

and it also tells you that the elderly, pregnant, and disabled should be given seats.[/spoiler]

[richmillswa]

다리 모으고 앉기 means to sit with your legs together (다리 means both legs and
bridge). It also says to fold your newspaper (to take less space); I had to look up
접다, which means "to fold".

Rich

[Dan_84]

Whoa, it sounds like you got some great Korean language knowledge there, Rich!

It sounds like some of those pieces of advice are "micro-managing" passengers, though...

[austinfd]

It sounds like some of those pieces of advice are "micro-managing" passengers, though...

That's probably the only way to have a "happy etiquette train"

[steved]

Austin,
[spoiler]Thats a "student pretending to sleep"
something 하는 척 (하다) is to pretend to do that something. 척 does not necessarily have to be followed by 하다, it could be followed by이다 as well depending on context or what you are trying to say.[/spoiler]

It looks like stereotypically 여자분 are 시끄럽다 in Korea too !
Guys, go ahead and make as much noise as you want just don't... [spoiler]disturb that student who is pretending to sleep.[/spoiler]

[austinfd]

Austin,
[spoiler]Thats a "student pretending to sleep"
something 하는 척 (하다) is to pretend to do that something. 척 does not necessarily have to be followed by 하다, it could be followed by이다 as well depending on context or what you are trying to say.[/spoiler]

Oh, that is great. Thanks Steve!

[Dan_84]

"Happy etiquette train"... Yeah, you'd think what with me being fluent in English, I wouldn't be using such a Konglish-y translation.

It reminds me of the Japan-glish translation of a workplace motivation sign in Douglas Coupland's JPod: "Let's all contribute to creating a serene workplace environtmental of happiness."

And thanks, steved, for that useful grammatical explanation. If I'm feeling mean one day, I'll use that on my students when they're giving me a lengthy explanation for why the didn't do their homework: I'm only pretending to care!

[steved]

I stand corrected on that 척 이다. This is not correct usage. However, I sure think I have heard it said that way (of course, maybe I have said it that way).

Dan, 상관이 없어도 상관하는 척 하면 더 좋아요.

You could say, "관심이 있는 체한다"

체 = 척

Sorry about the misstep on my part.

[austinfd]

the dictionary in my cell phone led me to believe that the sentence about the sleeping student means he is sleeping and "drooping" onto other seats...

현우... 도와줘!

[hyunwoo]

the dictionary in my cell phone led me to believe that the sentence about the sleeping student means he is sleeping and "drooping" onto other seats...

현우... 도와줘!

오스틴~!

"거기 자는 척 하는 학생들" 말하는 거야?

My translation is not very different from what all of you have very well translated yourselves:

[spoiler]Hey, you students who are pretending to be sleeping! [/spoiler]

[hyunwoo]

다리 모으고 앉기 means to sit with your legs together (다리 means both legs and
bridge). It also says to fold your newspaper (to take less space); I had to look up
접다, which means "to fold".

Rich

Yeah, thanks Rich for the add

Here are some more phrases for everyone that are related to 다리

다리를 모으고 앉다 = to sit with your legs together

다리를 꼬고 앉다 = to sit with your legs crossed

다리를 벌리고 앉다 = to sit with your legs wide apart

다리를 펴고 앉다 = to sit with your legs stretched out forward

다리를 구부리고 앉다 = to sit with your legs folded

[steved]

I ran my translation by my resident native speaker and I'll stand by it. I think on some level I wonder why a student pretending to sleep might be an issue but if you live in Korea you know that any good student would give up his seat for a little old lady/woman with an infant/grandpa/etc. So my guess would be it is really saying, "Hey kid, show some respect for you elders and stand up already. We're wise to that 'I'm sleeping' ploy."

BTW, my wife leaves for Korea tomorrow morning. Bach'ing it for three weeks...

[hyunwoo]

That's sooo true, Steve. A very good point. There's nothing wrong with sleeping in the subway but if you're just *pretending* to be sleeping because you don't want to give your seat to the elderly lady standing right before you, it's not looked at as a good thing. But I guess there's less and less pressure now because people now think that anybody can be just as tired as others and don't necessarily have to give away their seats unless they want to.