Glossary entry

Japanese term or phrase:

こだわる

English translation:

particular about (something)

Added to glossary by Tatsuya Yabuuchi
Dec 11, 2013 00:50
10 yrs ago
2 viewers *
Japanese term

こだわる

Japanese to English Other Art, Arts & Crafts, Painting Cultural explanation
日本語で「食材にこだわる」「品質にこだわる」という「〜にこだわる」という表現がよくありますが、この表現は英語にはどのように訳すのが適切でしょうか。
ニュアンスを汲むと、weigh on やfocus in などを使うのがよいかと思うのですが、他にお使いの表現や適訳がございましたら、教えて頂きますようお願い致します。

Proposed translations

+5
16 mins
Selected

particular about (something)

from the context provided & my dictionary search, I am guessing that 「Xにこだわる」means to be "fixated on X" or "particular about X."

So for your examples (食材にこだわる, 品質にこだわる), I would translate it as "to be particular about ingredients", "to be particular/obsessive about quality."
Peer comment(s):

agree Yuko Fujita
41 mins
agree michiko tsum (X)
2 hrs
agree Yasutomo Kanazawa
10 hrs
agree Milind Joshi : agree "Particular about", "particular regarding"
1 day 42 mins
agree Yo Mizuno
2 days 29 mins
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2 KudoZ points awarded for this answer. Comment: "I really appreciate for your explanation."
+1
11 mins

insist/be particular/discriminate

文脈次第で。
Note from asker:
ありがとうございます。おっしゃる通りですね。知っている表現パターンが少ないため、勉強になりました。今後使って行こうと思います。
Peer comment(s):

agree MariyaN (X)
3 days 3 hrs
Thanks a lot MariyaN-san.
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+4
18 mins

passionate about

It would depend on the overall context/style. In a marketing context "passionate about" could work. I also like "focusing on" as suggested.
Peer comment(s):

agree Rika Katsuta (X) : No definite answer and I also think that depends on its context.
28 mins
Thank you!
agree Ruth Clowes : I agree that it largely depends on the context. "Fussy about" could also work in some situations. This is one of the Japanese words that I always hate translating!
43 mins
Thank you!
agree michiko tsum (X)
2 hrs
Thank you!
agree Yasutomo Kanazawa
10 hrs
Thank you!
Something went wrong...
3 hrs

meticulous about

Yes, this term is always a headache, as it truly depends on what "feels" right in the context. I like "meticulous about," but here are a few other ideas from my personal glossary:

(Be) dedicated to; (be) particular/selective/painstaking about; take great/exceptional care to (~verb); feel strongly about; (be) uncompromising on; insist on; have an uncompromising commitment to (quality, etc.); set great store by; spare no effort in (~(verb)ing).

Hope that helps!
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+1
1 day 12 hrs

insist on the finest

やはり皆さんがおっしゃる通りに、文脈によっていろいろな表現を使うことになるので全てに対応する一つの英語はないかもしれません。

しかし、例文のような宣伝用途であれば、"insist on the highest quality", "insist on using only the freshest ingredients", "choose only the finest materials when.."のように、"insist on"の後に最上級の形容詞がつく表現が私のおすすめです。なぜなら、"be particular about..."はどちらかというとややネガティブな印象で企業よりも個人の癖に対して使われている表現だと私は思います。"Be fussy about.."はなおさら個人の癖を訴える表現ではないでしょうか。
Peer comment(s):

agree Benoit Gazzal : yes, really depends on context, but it's usually positive. Rewording as suggested feels more natural, and in some cases meticulous, uncompromising, pay close / special attention to - would also work fine. "passionate" seems a little over the top to me
1 day 5 hrs
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