88981
I'm currently working on one of my Japanese translation assignments and having
some major difficulties with the translation of a sentence. First of all, this
is the sentence:

>
> 中央集権の権化とも見られる内務省の存続に対しては、ただに一般国民が同情を持たないばかりでなく、今まで内務官僚の圧力に押されがちであった各省からも内務省解体の声に応じて、猛裂な攻勢が展開され、
> **内務省の権限をこのさい自省に移そうとする運動が、せきを切った感があって、**
> ここに六十年の歴史を持った内務省も、いまや廃庁の運命に立至ったのである。

How I love these endless Japanese sentences!^^'

In particular I'm having a problem with the part of the sentence that is
written in bold. Especially the different ways you are able to translate the
word "自省に" in this makes me so confused. I would be so thankful for any kind
of help or advise! :) My head is spinning by now.

Thanx a lot in advance!
CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-08-20T23:15:08.340
88979
2021-08-21T00:45:53.370
2021-08-20T23:42:19.237
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46931
question
translation word-choice japanese-to-english
Problems with translating the word "自省に" in the context of the whole sentence
Just like 各省 means それぞれの省, 自省【じしょう】 means 自分たちの省. Since 自分 can refer to
"myself", "yourself" or "themselves", this 自 can mean "my", "our", "their
own", "your own", etc., depending on the context. In this context, 自省 is
"their own". 自 works like a prefix, and you can say 自説, 自国, 自社, 自サイト and so
on.

> 内務省の権限をこのさい **自省に** 移そうとする運動が、せきを切った  
>  movements had been launched to transfer the authority of the Ministry of
> Home Affairs **to their own ministries**.
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2021-08-21T00:38:17.870
88980
2021-08-21T00:38:17.870
5010
88979
answer
Your first reading is basically correct.

  * The subject of 移す should be 各省 (other ministries), without further contexts. So 自省 means here '(The movement where) other ministries try to transfer the authorities of MHA to themselves'.
  * 堰 in 堰を切る is literally a dam or a structure shutting a huge amount of water. So 堰を切る gives the idea of the movement getting going suddenly (like a dam breaking down and water overpouring).

Since it is about dismantling MHA, it implies the division of authorities or
privileges of MHA. The sentence means that other ministries were trying to get
a share of those, and such a movement got a momentum in a short time.
CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-08-21T00:45:53.370
88981
2021-08-21T00:45:53.370
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88979
answer