Japanese meaning of ほらな折れねェ

Reading:
ほらなおれねぇ (hora na orenee)

English Translation:

See? It didn’t break.

Scene & Cultural Context

Scene Context:


In Drum Island, during the fight with Wapol, Luffy repairs a pirate flag and takes a direct cannon hit without letting it fall, declaring the flag a symbol of conviction.

Cultural Context:


In Japanese culture, the act of protecting a symbol at all costs resonates with themes of loyalty, honor, and unwavering conviction. Here, the “unbroken” flag becomes a metaphor for unyielding spirit, a common motif in heroic tales.

Grammar & Learning Points

Grammar Point

• [ほらな] = Casual phrase meaning “See?” or “Told you,” used to confirm a claim or prediction.
• [折れねェ] = Colloquial contraction of 折れない (“doesn’t break”), with a masculine tone.
• Negative form here emphasizes resilience and unyielding nature rather than mere physical integrity.

Trap for English Speakers

Could be mistaken as referring only to the flag; in context, it also declares that their conviction will never break.

Example

Basic Example

ほらな負けねェ

See? I didn’t lose.


Applied Example

ほらな心は折れねェ

See? My spirit didn’t break.