Quotes
Japanese meaning of いやー さがしましたよ
— Prince of Cannock ／ Dragon Quest
Voice sample:
いやー さがしましたよ (Iyā, sagashimashita yo.)
English Translation:
Well, there you are! I've been looking for you.
Original Scene & Cultural Context
Scene in the Original Work:
In Dragon Quest II (1987), the Prince of Midenhall sets out to find the Prince of Cannock, who is to join him. He keeps missing him at Cannock Castle, the Spring of Bravery and Midenhall Castle. When the hero finally finds him at the inn in the town of Leftwyne, the Prince of Cannock says this.
日本語で読む
『ドラゴンクエストII』（1987年）。ローレシアの王子は、仲間となるサマルトリアの王子を探しに旅立つが、サマルトリア城、勇者の泉、ローレシア城と、行く先々ですれ違う。リリザの町の宿屋でやっと出会うと、サマルトリアの王子はこう言う。
Cultural Context:
It was the hero who had been searching all along, so many players answered in their heads, 「こっちのセリフだ」 (That's my line!), and this became the standard comeback to the line. It may also be used as a joke to a friend who shows up late to a meeting and says they were looking for you.
日本語で読む
ずっと探し回っていたのは主人公のほうなので、多くのプレイヤーが心の中で「こっちのセリフだ」とつっこみ、これが定番の返しになった。待ち合わせに遅れて来たのに「探したよ」と言う友だちとのやりとりで、冗談で使うこともある。
Grammar & Learning Points
Grammar Point
•「いやー」= well, gee; a casual word showing relief or mild surprise. •「さがしました」= polite past of 探す, to look for. •「よ」= telling the listener something.
日本語で読む
•「いやー」は安心や軽い驚きを表す、くだけた感動詞。•「さがしました」は「探す」の丁寧な過去形。•「よ」は相手に伝える気持ちを表す。
Trap for English Speakers
Here いやー does not mean "no". It is a filler like "well" or "gee", as in いやー、暑いですね. Don't confuse it with いや (no) or 嫌 (いや, unpleasant).
日本語で読む
ここの「いやー」は否定の「いや」ではなく、「いやー、暑いですね」のように話の頭に付ける感動詞。「嫌（いや）」とも別の言葉。
Example
Example 1Basic Example
いやー、駅で迷ってしまって、遅くなりました。
Gee, I got lost at the station, so I'm late.
Example 2Applied Example
（三日も山で迷っていた忍者が、迎えに来た仲間に）いやー さがしましたよ。
(A ninja who was lost in the mountains for three days, to the friends who came to find him) "Well, there you are! I've been looking for you."
Quick check
Meaning
What does 「いやー さがしましたよ」 mean?