Quotes
Japanese meaning of これ、毒です
— Maomao ／ The Apothecary Diaries
Voice sample:
これ、どくです (Kore, doku desu.)
English Translation:
This is poison.
Original Scene & Cultural Context
Scene in the Original Work:
In The Apothecary Diaries (season 1, episode 6, "The Garden Party"), Maomao serves as a food taster at a garden party attended by the emperor and his high-ranking consorts. After tasting a dish with a dreamy look, her expression changes and she says this.
日本語で読む
『薬屋のひとりごと』1期第6話「園遊会」。帝や上級妃が集まる園遊会で毒見役を務めた猫猫は、うっとりした表情で料理を味見したあと、表情を変えてこう告げる。
Cultural Context:
Maomao is a girl who worked as an apothecary in the pleasure district; she loves poisons and medicines so much that she tests poisons on her own body. The poison was in Consort Gyokuyou's meal, but it later turns out the dish was originally meant for Consort Lishu.
日本語で読む
猫猫は花街で薬師をしていた少女で、毒や薬が大好きで、自分の体で毒を試すほど。毒が入っていたのは玉葉妃の膳だったが、本来は里樹妃に出されるはずの料理だったことがのちにわかる。
Grammar & Learning Points
Grammar Point
•「これ、」= "this," with a pause; the topic marker は is dropped in speech. •「毒」= poison. •「です」= polite "is".
日本語で読む
•「これ、」は話し言葉で「は」を省いた形。•「毒」は体に害のあるもの。•「です」はていねいな言い切り。
Trap for English Speakers
She states the fact calmly instead of shouting, which makes the moment all the more tense.
日本語で読む
叫ばずに事実だけを静かに言うので、かえって緊張感が伝わる。
Example
Example 1Basic Example
理科の実験で薬品のびんを確かめた先生は、静かに「これ、毒です」と言って生徒たちを下がらせた。
In the science lab, the teacher checked the bottle and quietly said, "This is poison," then had the students step back.
Example 2Applied Example
（父が初めて作ったカレーを味見した母が、うっとりした顔のまま）これ、激辛です
(Mom, tasting Dad's first homemade curry, still with a dreamy look) "This is super spicy."
Quick check
Meaning
What does 「これ、毒です」 mean?