There's a word in Japanese that we don't have a precise translation for in English. Gambatte is used to mean "you can do it!", "go for it"!. "Stick with it", "good luck", all wrapped into the one word.
This makes me think of how in Korea, or at least in the K-dramas I watch, they use the English word "fighting" in the same way to mean all those things Gambette signifies. Anyone that can weigh in on if my observation is correct?
Makes me think of the French word, "Courage!" I always find myself wanting to shout "Courage!" at friends' enterprises, if sprinkling in random Frenchisms didn't feel so pretentious. English really doesn't cut it in the en-courage-ment department.
Actually there's a similar word / phrase in Māori - kia kaha. Which means "stay strong". But people use it like the French use bon courage, or they use it after a tragedy to express "you can get through this". It's used as solidarity and support
Thank you for continuing to keep the spirit of Rough Translation alive with this substack. Much appreciated!
For words that don’t exist in English:
I just spent nine months living in France and came to appreciate the phrase “bon courage.” In English we often say good luck (“bon chance”) to show support for someone, but bon courage is different, wishing someone courage instead of just luck.
"tribalism doesn't need to translate into a lack of care for people who are outside of your tribe." I wish all Americans would read this beautiful interview. Thank you for sharing it, Gregory. I had no idea about the meaning of bringing the hostages home in Israel.
Thank you for this piece. You do such a good job of helping us see and understand from a human perspective, one person to another. I had no idea what I didn't know.
This is the most helpful article I have read since the war in Israel started, thank you
Totally agree! I read it twice to fully comprehend everything. Will make the rest of my family read this too.
There's a word in Japanese that we don't have a precise translation for in English. Gambatte is used to mean "you can do it!", "go for it"!. "Stick with it", "good luck", all wrapped into the one word.
This reminds me of Ánimo in Spanish.
This makes me think of how in Korea, or at least in the K-dramas I watch, they use the English word "fighting" in the same way to mean all those things Gambette signifies. Anyone that can weigh in on if my observation is correct?
Makes me think of the French word, "Courage!" I always find myself wanting to shout "Courage!" at friends' enterprises, if sprinkling in random Frenchisms didn't feel so pretentious. English really doesn't cut it in the en-courage-ment department.
Actually there's a similar word / phrase in Māori - kia kaha. Which means "stay strong". But people use it like the French use bon courage, or they use it after a tragedy to express "you can get through this". It's used as solidarity and support
Thank you for continuing to keep the spirit of Rough Translation alive with this substack. Much appreciated!
For words that don’t exist in English:
I just spent nine months living in France and came to appreciate the phrase “bon courage.” In English we often say good luck (“bon chance”) to show support for someone, but bon courage is different, wishing someone courage instead of just luck.
wait, i swear I just wrote the above without seeing this first. Did you think of bon courage because of gambette?!? Is there a theme growing here?
And is "courage" also a thing or have I been saying it wrong all this time? Now I suddenly wonder...
"tribalism doesn't need to translate into a lack of care for people who are outside of your tribe." I wish all Americans would read this beautiful interview. Thank you for sharing it, Gregory. I had no idea about the meaning of bringing the hostages home in Israel.
Thank you for this piece. You do such a good job of helping us see and understand from a human perspective, one person to another. I had no idea what I didn't know.