Unagi-bun (Eel Statements)

Jun 16, 2016 09:32
Today, I will talk about "unagi-bun" (eel statements).

The "unagi-bun" expresses something like the following conversation in a restaurant.

A「Nani o chumon suru?」("Did you decide what to order?")
B「Boku ha unagi da.」("I'm an eel.")
C「Watashi ha beer.」("I'm beer.")

These speakers are of course neither an eel nor beer, they just showed their orders.

When you say 「X ha Y da」 (X is Y) in Japan, it doesn't always mean "X equals Y," and such statements are called "unagi-bun" (eel statements).

Although the term itself is not famous, Japanese people often use this grammar.

I'm not sure whether or not similar examples exist overseas.
うなぎ文

今日は「うなぎ文」を紹介します。

「うなぎ文」とは、例えば飲食店などにおける以下のような文章のことを言います。

A「何を注文する？」
B「僕はうなぎだ」
C「私はビール」

もちろん、話し手がうなぎやビールと等しいわけではなく、それを注文することを示しただけです。

日本語で「XはYだ」と言ったとき、「XとYは等しい」という意味を表さないことがあり、このような文は「うなぎ文」と呼ばれます。

「うなぎ文」という単語自体はあまり有名ではありませんが、日本人はよくこの文法を使います。

他の国でも同じような用例があるのかどうかは、わかりません。
No. 1　Joe_taro
  • Today, I will talk about "unagi-bun" (eel statements).
  • This sentence is perfect! No correction needed!
  • The "unagi-bun" expresses something like the following conversation in a restaurant.
  • This sentence is perfect! No correction needed!
  • A「Nani o chumon suru?」("Did you decide what to order?")
  • This sentence is perfect! No correction needed!
  • B「Boku ha unagi da.」("I'm an eel.")
  • This sentence is perfect! No correction needed!
  • C「Watashi ha beer.」("I'm beer.")
  • This sentence is perfect! No correction needed!
  • These speakers are of course neither an eel nor beer, they just showed their orders.
  • These speakers are of course neither an eel nor beer, they just placed their orders.

    I don't know why but you "place" an order.

  • When you say 「X ha Y da」 (X is Y) in Japan, it doesn't always mean "X equals Y," and such statements are called "unagi-bun" (eel statements).
  • When you say 「X ha Y da」 (X is Y) in Japan, it doesn't always mean "X equals Y," and such statements are called "unagi-bun" (eel statements).

    The sentence is correct but it is "run-on". Run on sentences have too many ideas (or ideas that can stand alone) in the same sentence. It can be written as "When you say 「X ha Y da」 (X is Y) in Japan, it doesn't always mean "X equals Y." Such statements are called "unagi-bun" (eel statements).

  • Although the term itself is not famous, Japanese people often use this grammar.
  • This sentence is perfect! No correction needed!
  • I'm not sure whether or not similar examples exist overseas.
  • This sentence is perfect! No correction needed!

Wow. You write very well in English. Since you are advanced I left a more subtle grammar correction in one of the comments above.
Great work.
English has lots of crazy examples like this. For example - I'm as fit as a fiddle (I am healthy). I could eat a horse (I am very hungry).

Toru
Thank you very much for the corrections and explanations!
I'm glad to hear you say that (^^)

Also, thank you for letting me know such interesting examples :)
In Japan, when we are very hungry, we sometimes say "my belly button is about to touch my back."
No. 2　ピポ

I'll go with the hamburger = 僕はハンバーガーと一緒に行くんだよ。
実際に、「私はハンバーガーです」の意味がある。
僕はこの表現をよく使うんだよ。

Toru
Thank you for letting me know that!
面白いですね。
日本でも、「～で行く」と言ったとき、「～に決める」という意味を持つことがあります。
例（若者の会話）
A「何にするか決めた？」
B「ハンバーガーで行くわ」
A「ハンバーガー行っちゃう？」
C「行っちゃえ行っちゃえ」
No. 3　Yun

Another japanese grammar :

象の鼻は長い＝象は鼻が長い

Toru
Thank you for the comment!
Today I learned that the book named "象は鼻が長い" is exist. I'd like to read it in the near future.
BACK　TOP