Trial (line 1-4)

[ss]

Spoiler:

.....Ermmm...... knowing that this is a gent (not ladies ), how come that strange man starts such strange conversation here ? .....................

:D Ok, that's my attempt, from imagining till (- . -)zzzZZ ......


side note :
ここさん, from S time 230306 0845am ~ 290306 ?pm, away for vacation,
but, I will try my best to catch up here J^.^Lvv
Enjoy yourselves there, minasan !

[mechakucha]

My translation for Line4:

Spoiler:

男は皆そうですが、トイレで見知らぬ人と話をすることはありません。
We're all men, that is so but there's no need to hold a conversation with some stranger in the restroom

[Sachi]

I'm quite confused ;

I got

Spoiler:

Everyone is man, however on the toilet strange people do not have conversations.

as my translation.... ;

Well, that's it in more "natural" English, anyways.

[Txkun]

This is the best I could think...

Spoiler:

We are all males, but in the toilets we shouldn't talk to strangers.

[richvh]

Grammar hint:

Spoiler:

http://www.guidetojapanese.org/similar.html#part5

[Shibakoen]

People appear to be having a bit more difficulty with this one than I thought last night. Y'all were right, the ~そう seems to be giving people the most problems and rich's tip will prove valuable.

My own little grammar hint:

Spoiler:

However, I also think some people will be helped if you remember that the topic marker ~は is often translated: "As for~". This combined with rich's tip might help make sense of the first clause.

OK, it's not really a grammar tip, just another way to look at the first bit that might be of use to some, especially with those who come up with translations that seem awkward.

[tanuki]

Hehe, I'm pretty sure I know where this story is going. Anyway, this is my attempt:

Spoiler:

I have heard that (all) men don't talk to strangers in toilettes

[zengargoyle]

richvh wrote:
Grammar hint:

that makes me more confused...

Spoiler:

Don't forget to add 「だ」 for nouns or na-adjectives.
with the example: 高校生だそうです。
but our sentence: 男は皆そうですが、
no「だ」after the noun!

the closest i can come is the difference between: the dictionary form of a verb followed by そうです == hearsay via direct information (ie. they told me so themselves); and the pre-masu form followed by the same == hearsay of a personal feeling type of thing (ie. i think this is the case). since pre-masu form is sometimes a bit noun-ish like i'm giving 皆そうです the same type of meaning even though i can't really find Noun+そうです explained anywhere...

[richvh]

zengargoyle wrote:
that makes me more confused...

Spoiler:

Just plug everything after the comma in between 皆 and そうです, and it will make more sense.

[mechakucha]

This is what I understand from the grammar point of view:

Spoiler:

In my opinion, それですが exists as an expression by itself and not as part of the ~そうです construction form. So when 男は皆、そうですが＝Everyone's a guy, that is true(so) however.
~と話をする＝to hold a conversation with
~Vdic+ことはありません＝There's no need to/It's not necessary to~/You don't have to~
For example, あんな無礼な人の言うことを聞くことはありません＝There's no need to listen to such a rude person/You don't have to listen to such a rude person.


My grammar source: http://www.geocities.com/easykanji/jlptgrammar.html
KOTO WA NAI (〜ことはない)　Grade 2 Grammar
Meaning: Don’t have to.
Notes: Comes after a dictionary form verb.
Example: 怖がることはない。（こわがることはない。）You don’t have to be afraid.

[Txkun]

Is there a D group?

[cybermat]

This one is difficult. It's totally not what I was expecting anyhow.
Here is my attempt:

It seems to be a man, but I do not recognize this person nor have spoken to him before.

I seem to have interpreted differently than many of you. if someone can take a look and correct it, I would greatly appreciate it.

[lucky419]

I took a few liberties with the translation but I hope I got the point across correctly.

Spoiler:

I've heard all men do not talk to people while using the toilet

[richvh]

2 days are up, Group B's turn.
Here's my usual over-literal translation:
They say that as for all men, there isn't the thing of doing conversation with unknown people in toilets.

My favored translation is:

Spoiler:

They say that men never talk to strangers in restrooms.

Now group C, get over to thread 2 to work on the next sentence.

[coco]

I love 狸先生's imagination. I think 狸先生 can write another wonderful story!
How funny txkun's crying icon!!
I'm also impressed Sachi-san's work.
Sachi-san, may I call you さっちゃん?

さっちゃん is popular nickname of Sachi(ko)-san.
さちちゃん is hard to pronounce, so we say さっちゃん.(Sacchan)
このような音の詰まりを[音便(おんびん＝euphonic changes)]といいます。
例: 北海道 ほく・かい・どう→ほっかいどう

48 hours passed after source was posted. Now group B's turn.
( After line 5, make it shorter.)

As Rich-san had led, I posted next line. (Rich-san いつも誘導してくださってありがとうざいます)

After A contribute line 4, feel free to ask any questions about line 1-4 in this thread.

Add 21:53 23th
Okay 狸さん。Soon I will need Spanish toilette story.