Japanese-English Translation
What translation items test
Japanese-English translation asks you to express a Japanese sentence in correct English, usually with a specified pattern. Nagano items test whether you can choose the right subject, tense, and sentence pattern rather than translate every word.
Core rules
- Find the Japanese subject and verb; English needs an explicit subject even when Japanese omits it.
- Choose a pattern you control: 'I had him carry it,' 'I was taught English by my brother,' 'It is difficult for me to get up early.'
- Match tense and aspect: 「〜した」 past; 「〜している」 present progressive or present perfect depending on duration; 「〜するつもりだ」 be going to.
- Use articles and plurals; Japanese does not mark them, but English does.
- Keep the sentence short. A correct simple sentence beats a broken complex one.
Worked example
「私は兄に英語を教えてもらった。」 Literal: 'I had my brother teach English.' Better: 'My brother taught me English.' or 'I had my brother teach me English.' The Japanese benefactive 「てもらった」 shows receiving a favor. The natural English subject can be 'my brother,' with 'me' as indirect object. Do not write 'I was taught English from my brother'; use 'by.'
Traps
- Literal translation of 「〜がある」 as 'there is' when the sentence needs 'have.'
- Missing past tense: 「昨日」 requires past.
- Using 'to' instead of 'by' in passive sentences.
- Adding a subject that changes meaning: 'It' vs 'There.'
Exam habit
Underline the Japanese tense and the particle に/を/が. Write the English subject first. Then check verb agreement, article, and preposition before moving on.