Taihen

May 31, 2017 09:50

When showing that someone is very busy or something is deadly/important, we often say "taihen (大変)."

I think that many of us have negative images for "taihen," such as "hard," "tiring," or "major incident."

In fact, taihen is usually used in a bad meaning.

On the other hand, the kanji "大 (tai)" and "変 (hen)" mean "big" and "change" respectively, so "taihen" can also impliy "big change."

Because of this, some people think of taihen as a positive sense -- it's a big chance to change yourself.

However, since it still has a strong negative image, please be careful to use it.

大変

程度や苦労はなはだしいことや、物事が重大であることを表す時、我々は「大変」という言葉を使います。

「大変」と聞けば、「つらい」「疲れる」「大事件」など、悪いイメージを思い浮かべる人が多いです。

実際、ほとんどの場合、「大変」は悪い意味で使われます。

しかし、「大変」という漢字は「大きな変化」という意味でもあります。

このことから、「大変」を「自分を大きく変えるチャンス」とポジティブに考える人もいます。

ただし、ネガティブのイメージが強いので、使う際には注意して下さい。

No. 1　Kiwi's correction

I don't like it when people say 大変お世話になっております。What's so 大変 about it? I think it's one of those adverbs that don't do anything, like "very."

Toru
Yes, in such a case, "大変" is used as just something like "very."

No. 2　Anisha's correction

Taihen
This sentence is perfect! No correction needed!

When showing that someone is very busy or something is deadly/important, we often say "taihen (大変)."
This sentence is perfect! No correction needed!

I think that many of us have negative images for "taihen," such as "hard," "tiring," or "major incident."
This sentence is perfect! No correction needed!

In fact, taihen is usually used in a bad meaning.
In fact, taihen is usually used in a bad meaning.
I think it is more natural to say "In fact, taihen usually has a bad meaning."

or "In fact, taihen is usually related to a bad meaning."

On the other hand, the kanji "大 (tai)" and "変 (hen)" mean "big" and "change" respectively, so "taihen" can also impliy "big change."
On the other hand, the kanji "大 (tai)" and "変 (hen)" means "big" and "change" respectively, so "taihen" can also imply "big change."

Because of this, some people think of taihen as a positive sense -- it's a big chance to change yourself.
Because of this, some people think of taihen in a positive sense -- it's a big chance to change yourself.

However, since it still has a strong negative image, please be careful to use it.
However, since it still has a strong negative image, please be careful when using it.

I've often heard people say "大変ですね" as sympathy. Is that a correct way to use it?

azza3695

In fact, taihen is usually used in a bad meaning.
I think it is more natural to say "In fact, taihen usually has a bad meaning."

or "In fact, taihen is usually related to a bad meaning."

if that is more natural, it is better to say 'taihen usually has bad connotations associated with it

Toru
Thank you so much for correcting my post! :)

> I've often heard people say "大変ですね" as sympathy. Is that a correct way to use it?

Yes, "大変だね" is also okay. It's means just something like "That's tough," or "That's rough."

Anisha
Oh ok thank you (^ ^)

No. 3　Allen's correction

When showing that someone is very busy or something is deadly/important, we often say "taihen (大変)."
When expressing that someone is very busy or something is very important or serious, we often say "taihen (大変)."
"deadly" = 致命的
"important" = 重大、重要
"serious" = 思い、難しい

I think that many of us have negative images for "taihen," such as "hard," "tiring," or "major incident."
I think that many of us imagine negative meanings for "taihen," such as "hard," "tiring," or "a major incident."
メージを思い浮かべる = "imagine" （想像する）

In fact, taihen is usually used in a bad meaning.
In fact, taihen is usually used with a negative connotation.
これは確かに複雑な英語ですけど、こういうのはきれいに意味を伝えると思います。
言葉に関して場合には、"connotation"っては含蓄という意味です。いつも言葉を記述します。
言葉に関して"negative connotation"ってことは、「否定的な意味合い」という意味です。

On the other hand, the kanji "大 (tai)" and "変 (hen)" mean "big" and "change" respectively, so "taihen" can also impliy "big change."
On the other hand, the kanji "大 (tai)" and "変 (hen)" mean "big" and "change" respectively, so "taihen" can also imply "big change."

Because of this, some people think of taihen as a positive sense -- it's a big chance to change yourself.
Because of this, some people think of taihen in a positive way -- it's a big chance to change yourself.
"in a positive sense"も言えますけど、"in a positive way"ってはよく使うと思います。色々な使える表現があります。

However, since it still has a strong negative image, please be careful to use it.
However, since it still has a strong negative image, please be careful when you use it.

azza3695

However, since it still has a strong negative image, please be careful when you use it.

a classic example of the uses of english compared to japanese, and the...ettiquette (?) of each respectivly

Toru
Thank you so much for the corrections and explanations!
I learned something new :)

No. 4　Dave's correction

When showing that someone is very busy or something is deadly/important, we often say "taihen (大変)."
When pointing out that someone is very busy or suffering a hardship, we often say "taihen" (大変).
showing --> pointing out - This is a more active phrase but "showing" is also fine.

or something is deadly/important --> or suffering a hardship

I used "hardship" because that's the word Google Translate came up with.

The way you wrote your sentence it appears that taihen appears to refer to two distinctly different things.

It refers to someone who is very busy
or
It refers to some activity (that is not tied to "someone") where that activity can be described as deadly/important.

I'm thinking that taihen is referring to a state that a person is in if they are either very busy or suffering a hardship (suffering through something that is deadly/important)

I'm basing the rest of my comments based on that view point.

By the way, I think this might be a friendly way to manage referencing Japanese words and their associated kanji.

When pointing out that someone is very busy or suffering a hardship, we often say "taihen" (大変).

It's common to place quotes around a foreign word or a term that you are introducing. It's also common to place parentheses around something clarifies the previously quoted, italicized, or bolded word/phrase. The only time I've seen parenthese inside of quotes is only if they were part of the quoted text.

Also, it's common that after introducing a term subsequent appearances of the word are not marked. The only time I'd think you might continue to use quotes is if the word you've introduced is so common in English that the word might no be instantly recognized as Japanese.

What do you think?

I think that many of us have negative images for "taihen," such as "hard," "tiring," or "major incident."
I think that many of us have associated negative (images/meanings) (such as hard, tiring, or major incident) with taihen,
Yes, I placed parentheses around "such as hard, tiring, or major incident" because this is additional information that helps clarify what the negative association is.

In fact, taihen is usually used in a bad meaning.
In fact, taihen is usually used (as a)/(to add a) negative connotation.

Because of this, some people think of taihen as a positive sense -- it's a big chance to change yourself.
Because of this, some people think of taihen in a positive sense. It gives you a big (chance)/(opportunity) to change yourself.
"Because of this" works but it doesn't make any sense until after you read the next sentence/phrase.

You might use a word like "surprisingly" because it prepares the reader to read a bit more before making a judgement.

Surprisingly, some people think of .....

However, since it still has a strong negative image, please be careful to use it.
However, since it still has a such a common and strong negative image, please be careful using it.

Your posts really make me think. I'm starting to consider I should charge four times as much as I do now. Sigh.... $0 * 4 = $0 Oh well...

Toru
Thank you very much for your kind corrections and explanations!
They're really helpful.

> Also, it's common that after introducing a term subsequent appearances of the word are not marked. The only time I'd think you might continue to use quotes is if the word you've introduced is so common in English that the word might no be instantly recognized as Japanese.
> What do you think?

I didn't know which usage is common in English until today. In Japanese, it's common to place corner brackets around a term that you want to indicate. It's also common to place parentheses around the reading of the kanji/term, and place it inside of the corner brackets. For example, 「大変（たいへん）」. It's also used between English and Japanese, e.g.,「コンピュータ (Computer)」. Based on this rules, I've use quotes and parenthese but I'd like to use it in a common English style from now on.

> Your posts really make me think. I'm starting to consider I should charge four times as much as I do now. Sigh.... $0 * 4 = $0 Oh well...
Ah, I'm sorry for my puzzling texts. It would be greatly appreciated if you could feel free to comment without taking a lot of time. If you send me Japanese sentences, of course I will correct it carefully.

Dave
No need to feel sorry about your puzzling texts, I enjoy them myself. I enjoy the mental exercise.

should have ended it with "Oh well... ;o)" Would that have clarified my poor attempt at humor? ;o)

Toru
I just felt that you had a difficult time. But I'm relieved to hear that you enjoyed them. I probably won't worry about that anymore, thank you :)

Dave
You are welcome!. ;o)

You didn't mention if I was correct about this.

I'm thinking that taihen is referring to a state that a person is in if they are either very busy or suffering a hardship (suffering through something that is deadly/important)

I'm basing the rest of my comments based on that view point.

This was correct?

Toru
> I'm thinking that taihen is referring to a state that a person is in if they are either very busy or suffering a hardship (suffering through something that is deadly/important)
> I'm basing the rest of my comments based on that view point.
> This was correct?

Oh, I read that part but forgot to mention about it, sorry.
Taihen can refer to both of them. However, it is not necessarily used for a person, so used "something." For example, "大変な事件が起こった" (A terrible incident happened), "それｈた大変重要なメッセージだ" (That is a very important message).

No. 5　南蛮人's correction

When showing that someone is very busy or something is deadly/important, we often say "taihen (大変)."
This sentence is perfect! No correction needed!

I think that many of us have negative images for "taihen," such as "hard," "tiring," or "major incident."
I think that for many of us have negative images for "taihen" conjures negative images such as "hard," "tiring," or "major incident."

In fact, taihen is usually used in a bad meaning.
In fact, taihen is usually used in to imply a bad meaning.

On the other hand, the kanji "大 (tai)" and "変 (hen)" mean "big" and "change" respectively, so "taihen" can also impliy "big change."
On the other hand, the kanji "大 (tai)" and "変 (hen)" mean "big" and "change" respectively, so "taihen" can also impliy "big change."

Because of this, some people think of taihen as a positive sense -- it's a big chance to change yourself.
Because of this, some people think of taihen as in a positive sense -- it's a big chance to change yourself.

However, since it still has a strong negative image, please be careful to use it.
However, since it still has a strong negative image, please be careful to using it.

Thank you! :)

3 great corrections in no time before mine.

This was one busy entry...

Toru
Thank you so much for the corrections!
I think that it was because the topic you proposed was interesting :)

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