16120
I'm trying to understand the quote "One Piece **is real** " and have found the
following corresponding expression in Japanese:

> ワンピース 実在する

However, this looks more like it means "One Piece **does exist** ".

Is the English translation just off and this is the actual meaning, or are
there other ways of saying "One Piece is real" in Japanese, which don't mean
"One Piece does exist"?
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-05-24T12:22:24.890
16117
2014-05-25T18:31:49.950
2014-05-24T17:29:00.413
1628
5412
question
translation anime
実在する "to exist" or "to be real"?
Isn't this "ワンピースは実在する！" from this anime/manga? It's not related to dresses or
swimsuits.

  * <http://youtu.be/bFb5h9hl9Ig?t=2m3s> (at around 2:03)
  * <http://opwymtk.sakura.ne.jp/mystery/tcotop.html>

In this manga, ワンピース is a name of "ultimate treasure" searched by pirates, and
very little is known about it. Characters in the manga even do not know
whether ワンピース is a touchable object; it may be a name of some magical power,
or a city, and it may be just a baseless rumor.

So in this context, "ワンピースは実在する" means "One Piece does exist in reality. It's
not a mere legend or rumor." The fansub movie above translates this as "One
Piece does exist," which I think is perfectly correct, but I find nothing
wrong if you translate this as "One Piece is real."

Besides that context, of course, "(something) is real" cannot always be
translated as "実在する". If you want to say something like "This one-piece dress
is a real one manufactured in Italy in 1850," use **本物** , not 実在する.
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-05-25T18:22:42.783
16120
2014-05-25T18:31:49.950
2014-05-25T18:31:49.950
5010
5010
16117
answer