Nov 28, 2020 18:05
3 yrs ago
33 viewers *
Japanese term
Not a translator
Japan
Japan
Onsen Specialist Japanese Translator
Native in: English (Variants: UK, British, US) 
Works in: Japanese to English, English
せっかくなので一緒に回りませんか？
Non-PRO
Japanese to English
Art/Literary
Transport / Transportation / Shipping
Long time reader but first time poster on ProZ.
I was just wondering what people's preferences were for translating the phrase 「せっかくなので」.
The full context was two people who had been sitting next to each other on the train finding themselves at the same platform for their next connection. This dialogue followed: 「すごい偶然ですね～」「せっかくなので一緒に回りませんか」とお誘いを受けました。
It's one of those terms which is a simple and clear concept in Japanese but I'm having difficulty making it sound natural in English. Does anyone have any suggestions or phrases which they like to use? I personally would have gone with something like "Seeing as we're both taking the next train, fancy travelling together?"
Thank you for your time!
I was just wondering what people's preferences were for translating the phrase 「せっかくなので」.
The full context was two people who had been sitting next to each other on the train finding themselves at the same platform for their next connection. This dialogue followed: 「すごい偶然ですね～」「せっかくなので一緒に回りませんか」とお誘いを受けました。
It's one of those terms which is a simple and clear concept in Japanese but I'm having difficulty making it sound natural in English. Does anyone have any suggestions or phrases which they like to use? I personally would have gone with something like "Seeing as we're both taking the next train, fancy travelling together?"
Thank you for your time!
Proposed translations
(English)
Proposed translations
1 hr
Bridgette Mitchell
United Kingdom
United Kingdom
Native in English
United Kingdom
Natural translation of Japanese to EN
Native in: English
Works in: Japanese to English, English
Selected
Seeing as/ might as well
I agree with your proposed translation. It feels like a natural way to say "let's take this chance/ opportunity to...", or "we might as well".
Note from asker:
| "we might as well" definately fits well in context here! |
3 KudoZ points awarded for this answer.
5 hrs
Akihiko Takeda
United States
United States
Native in Japanese
Specializes in field
United States
Automotive, Machinery, Automation, Robot
Native in: Japanese
Works in: English to Japanese, Japanese to English
Since we met by chance, shall we travel together?
"回りませんか？”means traveling for sightseeing, rather than "ご一緒する”. If they take the same train together to the next connection, just "travel" is a better word. I am not sure what kind of co-incidence on their meeting on the train it is here but I applied "by chance" for general meaning.
"since" covers "せっかく” for a reason of "meeting in the train by chance, although I don't know of those two people's relationship.
"since" covers "せっかく” for a reason of "meeting in the train by chance, although I don't know of those two people's relationship.
Note from asker:
| It was a strange case as someone was commuting but taking a longer route than necessary to do a bit of sightseeing. In English however, I'm not sure that sightseeing sounds natural when travelling in a train... That might just be me though. |
5 hrs
Soliman Hassan
Egypt
Egypt
Native in English
Egypt
Japanese Arabic Translator
Native in: Arabic (Variant: Egyptian) 
, English
Works in: Japanese to Arabic, Arabic to Japanese, English to Arabic, and 3 more.
do you allow me to take this opportunity to travel with you?
It's a great chance! Do you allow me to take this opportunity to travel together?
+1
1 day 11 hrs
Yuki Okada
Canada
Canada
Native in Japanese
Works in field
Canada
Engineering translator
Native in: Japanese
Works in: English to Japanese, Japanese to English
Related KudoZ points
:
8
It's great that we are both taking the next train. Why don't we travel together
It literally means something like: It's a shame not to take advantage of the fact that we both happen to be taking the same train. Would you mind traveling with me?
However, what is coming up in the speaker's mind is quite positive, even though it may not sound like it. He (or she?) wants to travel together and he does not want to miss this opportunity.
Translation is basically "what would the speaker say if he were able to speak the target language?" I would think an English speaker in an English-speaking country like Canada is likely to say something like I am suggesting.
However, what is coming up in the speaker's mind is quite positive, even though it may not sound like it. He (or she?) wants to travel together and he does not want to miss this opportunity.
Translation is basically "what would the speaker say if he were able to speak the target language?" I would think an English speaker in an English-speaking country like Canada is likely to say something like I am suggesting.
Reference comments
7 hrs
Reference:
FYR
私は、この「せっかくなので」の使い方に違和感を感じる日本人です。
https://biz.trans-suite.jp/1164
https://biz.trans-suite.jp/1164
Note from asker:
| ありがとうございます！ |
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