9565
In the course of localising an app for the Japanese language I have been
tasked with translating the Google-style error string "Oops", which will
presumably be used as in

> **Oops**  
>  Please check your password and try again

Presuming we want to preserve this conversational interface style (such is the
brief), would `しまった` be an appropriate translation?

Given that this app will be used by children, I would like to know if this is
considered acceptable language or not. If not, are there some good "family-
friendly" alternatives?
CC BY-SA 3.0
2012-11-23T12:16:00.030
9554
2012-11-24T09:10:37.560
1272
question
words
Is しまった an appropriate translation for "Oops"?
I use しまった in that context but it does feel a bit strong for your task. I have
to check how it is written but what about the duck-like quack (or more likely
a horn) which is used in game shows to indicate a wrong answer? The opposite
sound for a correct answer is a bell sounding "ping-pong". Both get used in
conversation and if this message it given after hitting the "enter" key then
it might work quite well.
CC BY-SA 3.0
2012-11-23T23:25:19.107
9558
2012-11-24T05:13:40.550
2012-11-24T05:13:40.550
1556
1556
9554
answer
I would say しまった is very close to 'Oops', except for one provision that
applies in your case: to me it is a word that **the person who made the
mistake** would use, not people around (unlike 'oops', where it seems OK for
bystanders to be using it after witnessing a blunder).

Using しまった when talking to your user, about your user's actions, might sound
ever so slightly judgemental: "You messed up!"

As for speech level: it is of course familiar, but not rude (when applied to
oneself), although I have encountered ōbachans that would get (very) mildly
shocked upon hearing young girls using it.

As a kid-friendly alternative, perhaps ばつ (×)... Or simply one of the many
words that mean "incorrect (input)".
CC BY-SA 3.0
2012-11-24T00:25:28.507
9559
2012-11-24T00:25:28.507
290
9554
answer
I agree with Dave's answer and don't feel しまった quite fits here, because the
computer/device gives out the error.

There are

  * Billy's おっと, which I feel can be used by bystanders, who empathize with the person who made the error.
  * あらら, which is usually used by bystanders. I don't know why, but I feel that あらら is used by people, who wouldn't have made the same mistake, but are empathizing with the person who did make the mistake. あらら feels stronger than おっと. (You usually say `あらら、大変ですね`.)
  * ブブー ( _or_ ブッブー) which is the counterpart to Tim's ピンポン and is the sound associated to giving an incorrect answer. I would use ブブー for your application, since giving an incorrect password is just inconsequential and comes pretty close to giving an incorrect answer.

Or you could use all three in the order

  * ブブー
  * おっと
  * あらら

for people who enter their password incorrectly for up to three times, which
is quite cool, coming to think of it. (But then, I am obviously no computer
programmer...)
CC BY-SA 3.0
2012-11-24T09:10:37.560
9565
2012-11-24T09:10:37.560
1628
9554
answer