Let's make a list of untranslatable words & phrases

In My Humble Opinion
21

We translators come across a lot of them.

mettre en valeur: This means sort of to show something off to its best advantage, or to arrange it and its surroundings to give it pride of place, or to do something to make it more profitable. As in On a transféré La Joute de Riopelle au centre-ville afin de le mettre en valeur (Riopelle’s sculpture La Joute was moved downtown, where it could be set up in such a way as to show it off to its best advantage.)

aménagement: Design or layout of an area, especially an open space, to serve some function. Un terminus d’autobus sera aménagé aux abords de la station Côte-Vertu (The area surrounding Côte-Vertu station will be set up as/built into a bus terminus). An open space or the interior of a building could be aménagé for some purpose. Related is réaménager (to alter or rearrange some area, interior, etc., to change its function.)

faire en sorte: to permit/cause it to happen that… Le réaménagement des voitures du métro fera en sorte que plus de passagers puissent y entrer (rearranging the metro cars will allow more passengers to enter). Not so much an untranslatable idea as an untranslatable construction.

animateur: someone who runs any kind of a meeting or event and makes people be interested and do stuff. It could be a facilitator, presenter, or emcee. More and more, we’re breaking down and just saying “animator” for it.

stage: an internship, locum, apprenticeship., or even a work-study project or workplace visit. Basically, the opportunity to enter a workplace as a sort of temporary sub-employee. Paid or unpaid. We say this in Quebec English a lot (“I did a stage at the STM”), pronounced as in French (“stahzh”).

vernissage: literally “varnishing,” but it means a party that someone throws at which they show off their art. It can, but isn’t necessarily, a gallery opening. Often used in Quebec English (“we’re going to Bruce’s vernissage tonight”).

cinq à sept: a party, sort of like a cocktail party only classier, between 5 and 7 PM.

niaiseux: irritating, obstreperous, given to foolish or stupid behaviour, naive, whiny, etc. Thirteen-year-old boys are in a state of almost perpetual niaiserie.

Accouche qu’on baptise ! “Give birth so we can baptize!” An extremely impatient way of saying get on with it, there are people waiting for what you’ve been called upon to produce.

22

I’ve long thought this describes the mood at a nervous first date;)

How often do you translate this as a “demonstration”? Certainly it doesn’t represent every situation, but it seems at least loosely applicable in a few situations here.

23

Wasn’t that phrase once used to describe the socially correct time for an afternoon quickie, or have I been reading too many bad novels set in France?

24

I’m completely unfamiliar with that word in this context.

25

It may very well be. I haven’t heard it used for that here, but maybe I’m just reading the wrong kind of literature (or not reading the wrong kind of literature, as the case may be.)

26

I’ve often heard it said that the Japanese “Kami” is untranslatable. According to my Anime Companion, it might be described as “god, deity, spirit, ‘superior and mysterious force.’” I’ve heard it refer both to specific supernatural beings, or even mystic or holy things or forces. I’ll leave it to finer minds and more articulate speakers to figure out.

And, of course, there’s the Martian “Grok.” Which might be described as “Meta understanding.”

27

Here are the “debt” phrases I’m familiar with:

on, as in on ga aru (I am in debt) and ongaeshi (to repay a debt of gratitude). This has a positive connotation, like the person did you a great favor, so it’s more of a debt of genuine gratitude - I don’t think there is any unpleasant feeling attached.

There is also sewa, as in “o-sewa ni natta,” when you have a general feeling of thankfulness toward someone; for instance, your kid’s teacher. But I’m not sure if there is any “payback” involved when you use that phrase. finally, there’s giri, but that means more of an obligation rather than debt.

If you mean an instance like you gave me a nice Christmas present but I gave you nothing, I don’t think there is a specific word or expression for that. Instead, I’d just apologize profusely.

I think maybe you mean sumimasen or something? Douzo means something akin to “go ahead” or “help yourself.”

About kami - it’s untranslatable because there is no similar concept in English. It can mean divinities, or the essence of the divine which may be found in nature. Or something like that.

I hear so many untranslatable Japanese words that it’s hard to come up with good examples. One that came up recently was shibui. It’s literal meaning is “astringent,” as in the taste of an unripe persimmon, but when describing clothing or an object of art it can mean austere yet sophisticated and elegant and hence beautiful.

Or bimyou, something I hear all the damn time. “How was your trip?” (sound of sucking teeth) “Bimyou.” “Learning to communicate with people is more important than just passing a test.” (embarassed head scratching) “Bimyou.” “Look at this great outfit I bought.” (quiet laughter) “Bimyou.”

28

Hey, RindaRinda, did I do wabi justice? I’ve loved that word since reading about it; however, I’ve never been sure if I got it right.

anu-la1979, we have a saying, though it may be specifically mid-western or Michiganian, that goes, “Wherever you go, there you are.” My sister hates it; it brings to mind how Baswan the bala might make you feel.
I love defn. #1 of gigil. “Well, aren’t you just adorable?!” :Smack!:

29

The Hebrew word Chevreh (often written “hevre”). It sort of means means “friends” or “gang” “people” or “guys”; any circle of friends or acqaintances. It can refer to classmates, army buddies, a department at work (“the chevreh from Accounting have been giving me a hard time”), an organized crime syndicate, or just close friends.

The concept of chevreh is deeply integral to Israeli culture, to a level most outsiders don’t really understand.

30

JS-I’m going to ask my mother as to what it’s supposed to mean because it does sound pretty close to that. It’s so mind-bendingly strange-of course the tail will follow the oxen. It is attached to him!

31

Something like a “jones”?

32

[QUOTE=js_africanus]
Hey, RindaRinda, did I do wabi justice? I’ve loved that word since reading about it; however, I’ve never been sure if I got it right.

[QUOTE]

I think so. I really haven’t done much in-depth study of Japanese aesthetics, but from what I understand, your definition of the word captures one of its facets; i.e., a small imperfection is aesthetically pleasing. It was your mention of the word that reminded me of shibui, which describes another pleasing characteristic of Japanese aesthetics.

Wabi is paired with the word sabi. Usually, you hear them together: wabi sabi. Generally, they imply that the object in question be derived from natural substances, be a bit rough or rustic, have some asymmetry, unpredictable small flaws like unexpected colors or patterns resulting from a pottery glaze, or show the patina of age, like moss on stone. I got my understanding of wabi sabi from taking pottery classes and checking out temples. I am not quite sure if the word can strictly be applied to people, but I don’t see why you can’t use it that way if you feel like it. I’m not sure what a native Japanese person might think, but with some explanation, I’m sure they’d get it.

33

I’d nominate creepy. I wonder if other languages have a single word to denote it or its verbal relative “creeps me out.”

34

Oy.

35

The dutch “Plaatsvervangende schaamte” (lit. place-replacing shame):
Feeling a sense of shame on behalf of someone else, usually for someone who seems oblivious to his failure or act of stupidity.

36

That’s a good one, Saitou I suffer from that a lot.

I still maintain that the word ‘Kapsones’ should be put on the list of international words. Like coca cola. :wink:

Pronounce: Kap the a as in Bart - so as in; So, what have you been up to? - nes* as in sickness*

It’s not really a verb, nor a noun. You can *have * kapsones and you can be a kapsones [lijer]

The word ‘gezellig’ that Colophon mentioned, is also a complicated word.

It’s not really ‘cozy’, I think. Cozy means to me something more intimate. You can have a gezellige night out, with friends. You can have a gezellig house. A gezellige person.

You can even use it sarcasticly. “We’re going to the parents in-law” - "Oh, gezellig"

And something, or someone, can be ‘ongezellig’.

“Aw, come on. Let’s play some cards. Don’t be ungezellig”. - or - [when on a graveyard] “This is a damn ungezellig place to be”. :smiley:

37

Craic.

38

That’s great, jjimm. Nearly the same as ‘gezellig’, huh. But can you be ‘Craic’?

39

You can be great craic, even.

Or my own favourite “gas”. An English friends of mine thought for ages that there was some energy plant around with all the gas men and women she kept hearing of.

40

I’d like to disnominate Schadenfreude as there is an English word (epicaricacy) for it, and to nominate Feierabend (referring to the act and time of finishing the day’s work, as well as to the free time remaining after the day’s work, with connotations of leaving the work behind (i.e. stopping to worry) and agreeable anticipation.