巻き返さん

English translation: Rally, men!

04:39 Sep 16, 2012
Japanese to English translations [Non-PRO]
Games / Video Games / Gaming / Casino / Romance of the Three Kingdoms/Dynasty Warriors
Japanese term or phrase: 巻き返さん
This is from a line of dialogue in a video game. The entire exclamation in which it appears is as follows:

ここが好機!いざ、巻き返さん!

This shouldn't be causing me so many problems, but I am just not coming up with anything good (or even adequate).

All assistance greatly appreciated!

Thanks in advance!
Cary Strunk
Japan
English translation:Rally, men!
Explanation:
巻き返す means "to come back from a position of weakness", or "rally".
Daijirin definition:
1: 劣勢の状態から勢いを盛り返して反撃に転ずる。
試合の後半に―・して勝利を得る

Because of the historical setting, I think this is pseudo classical Japanese. I'm not very confident about this, so hopefully a native speaker or expert on old-fashioned Japanese can chime in, but I understand the ん ending here is equivalent to む, which is explained in full at the links below:
http://dictionary.goo.ne.jp/leaf/jn2/214421/m0u/む/
http://kobun.weblio.jp/content/む
(The end of both entries mentions that ん is equivalent.)

Basically, it's equivalent to だろう or used to express volition or intent. So:
巻き返さん = 巻き返さむ = modern Japanese 巻き返そう

Here's an example from a companion series that supports this reading:

http://wikiwiki.jp/orochi2/?��/�ر�/��콸
謙信殿、援軍かたじけない!
我らが武を合わせ、巻き返さん!
"Thank you for the support, Kenshin!
Let us combine forces and drive them back!"
(My translation. According to that site, it's spoken by Guan Yu from Dynasty Warriors to Uesugi Kenshin from Samurai Warriors in a crossover game.)
Selected response from:

Oliver Scarborough (X)
United Kingdom
Local time: 11:09
Grading comment
Many thanks!
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
3 +1Rally, men!
Oliver Scarborough (X)


  

Answers


6 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5 peer agreement (net): +1
いざ、巻き返さん!
Rally, men!


Explanation:
巻き返す means "to come back from a position of weakness", or "rally".
Daijirin definition:
1: 劣勢の状態から勢いを盛り返して反撃に転ずる。
試合の後半に―・して勝利を得る

Because of the historical setting, I think this is pseudo classical Japanese. I'm not very confident about this, so hopefully a native speaker or expert on old-fashioned Japanese can chime in, but I understand the ん ending here is equivalent to む, which is explained in full at the links below:
http://dictionary.goo.ne.jp/leaf/jn2/214421/m0u/む/
http://kobun.weblio.jp/content/む
(The end of both entries mentions that ん is equivalent.)

Basically, it's equivalent to だろう or used to express volition or intent. So:
巻き返さん = 巻き返さむ = modern Japanese 巻き返そう

Here's an example from a companion series that supports this reading:

http://wikiwiki.jp/orochi2/?��/�ر�/��콸
謙信殿、援軍かたじけない!
我らが武を合わせ、巻き返さん!
"Thank you for the support, Kenshin!
Let us combine forces and drive them back!"
(My translation. According to that site, it's spoken by Guan Yu from Dynasty Warriors to Uesugi Kenshin from Samurai Warriors in a crossover game.)

Oliver Scarborough (X)
United Kingdom
Local time: 11:09
Works in field
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
Grading comment
Many thanks!

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Nathan Takase: My answer was hurried and I didn't consider the context (時代物). Your interpretation seems to be correct.
32 mins
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)



Login or register (free and only takes a few minutes) to participate in this question.

You will also have access to many other tools and opportunities designed for those who have language-related jobs (or are passionate about them). Participation is free and the site has a strict confidentiality policy.

KudoZ™ translation help

The KudoZ network provides a framework for translators and others to assist each other with translations or explanations of terms and short phrases.


See also:
Term search
  • All of ProZ.com
  • Term search
  • Jobs
  • Forums
  • Multiple search