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Japanese meaning of この世のすべての不利益は当人の能力不足

— Yamori ／ Rize ／ Tokyo Ghoul

このよのすべてのふりえきはとうにんののうりょくぶそく (Kono yo no subete no furieki wa tōnin no nōryoku busoku.)

English Translation:

Every disadvantage in this world comes from the person's own lack of ability.

Work: Character: Emotion: Scene:

Original Scene & Cultural Context

Scene in the Original Work:

In volume 7, chapter 61 of the Tokyo Ghoul manga, Yamori, an Aogiri Tree executive known as Jason, says this while torturing Kaneki, whom he is holding captive. In chapter 63, the Rize who appears in Kaneki's mind quotes the same words back to him, "'Every disadvantage in this world comes from the person's own lack of ability.' Isn't that exactly right?", and tells him, "It's all your fault."
日本語で読む
『東京喰種』7巻61話「微光」で、アオギリの樹の幹部ヤモリ（ジェイソン）が、監禁したカネキを拷問しながら言うセリフ。63話「喰種」では、カネキの心の中に現れたリゼがこの言葉を「『この世のすべての不利益は当人の能力不足』その通りじゃない？」と引用し、「全部あなたのせい」とカネキを責める。

Cultural Context:

Tokyo Ghoul is Sui Ishida's manga about Ken Kaneki, a college student who becomes half-ghoul after receiving a ghoul's organs. In the sequel, Tokyo Ghoul:re, Kaneki, now living as Haise Sasaki, says a version with the word order changed: この世の不利益はすべて当人の能力不足… The line could be used when admitting your own lack of skill and pushing yourself to do better.
日本語で読む
『東京喰種』は石田スイの漫画で、喰種の臓器を移植されて半喰種になった大学生・金木研を描く。続編『東京喰種トーキョーグール:re』では、佐々木琲世として生きるカネキも「この世の不利益はすべて当人の能力不足…」と、語順を変えて口にする。自分の力不足を認め、自分に言い聞かせる場面で使うことも考えられる。

Grammar & Learning Points

Grammar Point

•「この世」= this world. •「すべての〜」= all ~, every ~. •「不利益」= disadvantage, loss. •「当人」= the person concerned (formal). •「能力不足」= lack of ability (能力 + 不足). The sentence drops the final だ, which makes it sound like a fixed maxim.
日本語で読む
•「この世」はこの世界。•「すべての〜」は「全部の〜」。•「不利益」は損や不都合。•「当人」は「その本人」のかたい言い方。•「能力不足」は能力が足りないこと。文末の「だ」を省き、格言のように言い切っている。

Trap for English Speakers

当人 means "the very person concerned", here the one who suffers the disadvantage. It does not mean "the person in charge" (担当者). It is close to 本人 but sounds more formal.
日本語で読む
「当人」は「担当者」ではなく、不利益を受けている「その本人」のこと。「本人」とほぼ同じ意味だが、よりかたい言い方。

Example

Example 1Basic Example

  1. 試験に落ちた兄は、言い訳をしかけた自分に「この世のすべての不利益は当人の能力不足」と言い聞かせ、もう一度問題集を開いた。

    After failing the exam, my brother caught himself starting to make excuses, told himself, "Every disadvantage in this world comes from the person's own lack of ability," and opened his workbook again.

Example 2Applied Example

  1. （じゃんけんに負けて最後の唐揚げを逃した弟に、姉が）この世のすべての唐揚げ不足は当人のじゃんけん力不足

    (A big sister, to her little brother, who lost at rock-paper-scissors and missed out on the last piece of karaage) "Every karaage shortage in this world comes from the person's own lack of rock-paper-scissors skill."

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