警戒されてはかなわない

English translation: I don't want them to guard against me

11:46 Jan 14, 2021
Japanese to English translations [Non-PRO]
Art/Literary - Cinema, Film, TV, Drama
Japanese term or phrase: 警戒されてはかなわない
Dear ProZ members,

I have a doubt about the following sentence. In a cartoon, a character has telepathic powers but doesn't reveal them until the end. When they ask him why, he answers this:

他の種族にとってテレパス能力は脅威だ。警戒されてはかなわない
(Telepathic powers are a threat for other races. And I don't stand people being wary of me.)

This is how I would translate it, but I was wondering is something like "And I couldn't allow people being wary of me" (=it it happens, that's trouble for me) could also be possible.

Thank you so much!
Riccardo91
Italy
English translation:I don't want them to guard against me
Explanation:
He doesn't want people of other races to guard against him.
We don't know the story line, but I think it is because he feels that it is easier for him to execute what he wants to do using his telepathic power when they remain off-guarded.
Selected response from:

Port City
New Zealand
Grading comment
Thank you so much!
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
5I don't want people to be wary of me
Lincoln Hui
3I don't want people to be suspicious of me
Y. K.
3I don't want them to guard against me
Port City
2I can't stand people being/ acting cautious around me
Bridgette Mitchell


  

Answers


35 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 5/5
I don't want people to be wary of me


Explanation:
.

Lincoln Hui
Hong Kong
Local time: 03:19
Works in field
Native speaker of: Native in ChineseChinese, Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 6
Notes to answerer
Asker: Basically, a milder version of my first attempt. But what is the nuance? "I don't want this because it would hinder my plan" or "I don't want this because I personally find it annoying"? I would say the latter, but this is where my doubt lies. Thanks!

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2 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 2/5Answerer confidence 2/5
I can't stand people being/ acting cautious around me


Explanation:
Just what I would say.

Bridgette Mitchell
United Kingdom
Local time: 19:19
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
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18 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5
I don't want people to be suspicious of me


Explanation:
Just another possibility

Y. K.
Local time: 06:19
Native speaker of: Native in JapaneseJapanese
Notes to answerer
Asker: Your answer is similar to the first one, so I have the same question. What is the nuance? "I don't want this because it would hinder my plan" or "I don't want this because I personally find it annoying"? Also, do you think that かなわない is a milder expression than "I don't stand", since you're translating it with "I don't want"? Thanks!

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1 day 22 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5
I don't want them to guard against me


Explanation:
He doesn't want people of other races to guard against him.
We don't know the story line, but I think it is because he feels that it is easier for him to execute what he wants to do using his telepathic power when they remain off-guarded.

Port City
New Zealand
Native speaker of: Native in JapaneseJapanese
PRO pts in category: 6
Grading comment
Thank you so much!
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