週末は夫とふたりでAIAホムホームツアーへいきました。楽しかったですよ。たくさん美しい家を見ました。いろいろな建築様式の家がありました。家のどれかは大きかったです。どれかは小さかったです。全部は高かったです。
後でDIYへ行きました。もちろんほんとにわたしたちのうち自宅をなおしましょう。
Generally Speaking
Over the weekend my husband and I went on the AIA Home Tour. It was lots of fun. We saw many beautiful houses in various styles. Some were big. Some were small. All were expensive.
Afterward, we went to The Home Depot (a do-it-yourself store). We really need to fix up our house.
質問とコメント
1. I haven't studied the past tense of adjectives, yet. Japanese is so easy when it comes to verbs (no number, and no gender). But the concept of conjugating adjectives is a little difficult--especially with different rules for ~na and ~ii type adjectives.
2. There was really much more I'd like to say about the Home Tour, but I don't have the words yet. It is an annual event in Austin and we have gone every year for the last 6 years. We always get many ideas for home improvements.
3. I think it's fun to pretend that I live in some of these expensive homes. On the other hand, my husband just gets angry at the "conspicuous consumption". Does anyone really need a $3,000,000 home with a swimming pool on the roof and a waterfall in the bathroom?
4. Kiyo. Maybe I got the "my husband and I" right this time. After you explained it to me, I read this note in "Reading Japanese".
ひとりでいきました。(I went alone.)ふたりでいきました。(The two of us went.)
やましたさんとふらりでいきました。(Mr. Yamashita and I went--the two of us.)
After our discussion, this passage suddenly stood out. I'm sure I had read this before, but it didn't really sink in until I tried to write the story and you helped me. Thanks!
New Vocabulary
建築家（けんちくか）, architect. I should have recognized the first kanji from 建物（たてもの）, building.
建築様式（けんちくようしき）, architectural style (or form).
自宅 （じたく）, my (our) house. I already knew this word, but had forgotten it. This is one of those instances where literal translation fails. Japanese often creates different compounds to distinguish between mine and yours. English nouns don't change in that context.
Permalink.
Ｍさん、お役に立ててうれしいです。(I'm glad I was of help to you.)
So the first sentence is perfect! Oh, "home" is 「ホーム」in Japanese. "Styles" can be translated as 「スタイル」, or for the meaning of "styles of architecture," you can also say 「建築様式(kenchiku yoshiki)」. Thus, what about「いろいろな建築様式の家がありました」?
"Some" is a word that is hard to translate into Japanese. What I think of now is 「大きな家もあれば、小さな家もありました」
Posted by: Kiyo on October 8, 2002 02:41 PM
Wow, the first sentence couldn't be better(I learned this phase a few weeks ago. Does it make sense?).
We really need to fix up our house.
Directly translated into Japanse, it is ｢私たちは本当に自宅を修理する必要があります」. However, thinking about the context, I would say 「とりあえず、うちの修理をしなくちゃね」(it's a bit too colloquial and feminal, though)
Posted by: Eri on October 8, 2002 03:36 PM
いー形容詞 の conjugation は もんだいない。でも、はつおんは ときどき むずかしいですよ。たとえば、「たかかった、たかくなかった、あたたかった、あたたくなかった」など。
Posted by: Kurt on October 8, 2002 03:53 PM
「あたたかくなかった」is difficult even for us to pronounce. ;) It's like a tongue twister:「となりのきゃくはよくかきくうきゃくだ」（which originally means "The next neighbor's guest is the one who eats a lot of persimmons," which is nonsense.)
Posted by: Eri on October 8, 2002 06:43 PM
Yeah, so we often say 「あったかかった」. Even so, the 「かか」 part may need some skills. ;)
Posted by: Kiyo on October 8, 2002 11:58 PM
Eri, your sentence "[it] couldn't be better" couldn't be better. In fact, you used it so naturally, at first I didn't understand your question about it.
This pattern is a common (American?) response when people ask about your life, health, or business.
"So...how's it going?" ("It" referring to your life in general.)
"Couldn't be better."
"So...how's business?"
"Couldn't be worse." (Things are really bad right now.)
"So...how do you like your new job?"
"Couldn't be happier."
Posted by: M on October 9, 2002 08:13 AM
Thanks for telling me how to use "couldn't be [a comparative adjective]."
Posted by: Eri on October 9, 2002 09:10 AM
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