From: =?iso-8859-1?B?kOyP44FAj3KW5w==?= LEAD DION NE JP> Date: 11 mar 1999 Subject: Re: Japanese Phrases Hi, from Japan. Kevin wrote: >First, can someone help me with these 3 phrases... >Onegaishimasu This is used when starting a game. In literal translation, it is "I would like to". "Taikyoku wo onegaishimasu" means "I would like to start a game with you" or "Let's start". "Onegaishimasu" shortens it. Not only for shogi, but also for chess in Japan, many people say "Onegaishimasu" when start opponent's clock at the begining of a game. >Mairmashita "I resign.", it is. >arigatougozaimashita Leteral trans is "Thank you". Perhaps, short of "Thank you for the game(s)". Both winner and loser can use it. But, if it used suddenly while playing, it usually means "I resign". This is also used for merey as "Thanks". >And, secondly... the following happened when I lost the last game that I >played... My opponent broke my edo >castle and cornered my King, his last piece in hand was the Gin and the drop >to checkmate was obvious... he delayed dropping the piece and as his time was >running out I sent a message asking him if he intended to make the last move >before he ran out of time. He replied "sonoko is coming" . When I questioned >this he said "sonoko is a white faced actress" and when I again pointed out >that he needed to make his last play he replied "you need to study sonoko". >He then let time run out instead of making the winning move. > Can someone tell me if there is meaning to this... I think your opponent was absorbed in TV at the time. I want to hear also other interpretations. ---- Toshiya Kawakami