Today’s passage was picked by Jovana, who has been learning Japanese on her own for the past year and a half. We’ve been reading Murakami Haruki’s『ノルウェイの森』together and she’s doing an amazing job. She logs her progress and daily language studies on her Instagram page, so check it out if you have the chance.
Want to pick the next passage? Don’t be afraid, get in touch! Just reply to any of the emails you’ve received from me.
#274 村上春樹『ノルウェイの森』
全てがあまりにもくっきりとしすぎていて、どこから手をつければいいのかがわからなかったのだ。あまりにも克明な地図が、克明にすぎて時として役に立たないのと同じことだ。でも今はわかる。結局のところ──と僕は思う──文章という不完全な容器に盛ることができるのは不完全な記憶や不完全な想いでしかないのだ。
Vocabulary:
村上春樹 むらかみはるき Murakami Haruki (author, 1949-)
克明 こくめい precise, elaborate
地図 ちず map
不完全 ふかんぜん imperfect, incomplete
容器 ようき container, vessel
Translation:
Everything was still too clear, making it difficult to see where to start. Much like an elaborate map that is sometimes so elaborate that it becomes useless. But now I know. In the end - I believe - the only things we can place within the imperfect vessel of the text are incomplete memories and incomplete thoughts.
Link for the text I used:
#274 - Fading memory.
克明 detailed, elaborate, scrupulous
【克】overcome, skillfully
【明】bright, light
くっきり distinctly, clearly, in sharp relief
Congratulations Jovana for following through and picking this passage of my favourite author. I have read the book in English and tried reading it in Japanese, but stop half way. I might pick it up again, now I knew more kanji. I can't seem to view your Instagram page, having no Instagram, myself. Thank you Bunsuke for bringing these little treasures back, I might just send in or make a suggestion for the next passage, and no it's not Murakami.