English slangs to Japanese

[meganliu]

Today I learnt some English expressions ( I'm not sure whether they're slangs or not) and wondered how people would say them in Japanese. Here I wrote them down and give my own opinion.

fat chance--- 少ないチャンス
hat in hand----困る
wear two hats at a time----due to my limited Japanese, I can't think of one
not breath a word-----秘密を守る
mind your own beeswax----自分のことを考えて

I know I did very bad job. I just translated them literally and not vivid at all. Are there any interesting similiar expressions in japanese? Can you share?

[spin13]

You'll find the answer to a lot of your questions by searching the database at Space ALC.

[IceCream]

wear two hats at the same time... 兼ねる
don't breath a word... 内緒にして　・　内密にして
mind your own business / beeswax (beeswax is kind of childish) 関係ない！
hat in hand... this means "apologetic", rather than troubled, but can't think of the word in japanese
fat chance... とんでもない

i think...

[magamo]

"hat in hand" would be かしこまる (畏まる) or へりくだる (謙る).

IceCream's list is already solid, but if you need variations, here are alternative translations:

wear two hats at the same time: にそくわらじをはく (二足わらじを履く), etc.
don't breath a word: だれにもいわないで (誰にも言わないで), ひみつにしておいて (秘密にしておいて) etc.
mind your own business/beeswax: ほっとけ, 勝手でしょ (かって), etc.
fat chance: ありえない, ありえねー etc.

[otaku oujo sama]

mind your own business自分のことを心配しろ
apologetic すみませんでした

[AJBryant]

Just to be pedantic:

It's don't BREATHE a word.

Breath is a noun. Breathe is a verb.


Tony

[two_heads_talking]

Just to be pedantic:

It's don't BREATHE a word.

Breath is a noun. Breathe is a verb.


Tony

shhhh, you'll upset the natives.. you know the ones who have no idea about phonics..

[meganliu]

shhhh, you'll upset the natives.. you know the ones who have no idea about phonics..

What do you mean? Who are the ones who have no idea about phonics?

[two_heads_talking]

shhhh, you'll upset the natives.. you know the ones who have no idea about phonics..

What do you mean? Who are the ones who have no idea about phonics?

The average American.. The current system of schooling is not exactly impressive in my opinion.

[Ben Bullock]

fat chance--- 少ないチャンス

ありえない

hat in hand----困る

腰を低くして

wear two hats at a time----due to my limited Japanese, I can't think of one

二つの役を果たす

not breath a word-----秘密を守る

誰にも言わない、内緒にする

mind your own beeswax----自分のことを考えて

よけいなお世話だ

[nukemarine]

Just to be pedantic:

It's don't BREATHE a word.

Breath is a noun. Breathe is a verb.


Tony

shhhh, you'll upset the natives.. you know the ones who have no idea about phonics..

On the bright side, Magamo has made it clear he has no problem if people corrects his English, in fact he encourages it so his English gets better. It's part of the reason he visits boards about learning Japanese.