Quotes
Japanese meaning of 怖がるな。私はそなたの味方だ
— Haku ／ Spirited Away
Voice sample:
こわがるな。わたしはそなたのみかただ (Kowagaru na. Watashi wa sonata no mikata da.)
English Translation:
Don't be afraid. I'm on your side.
Original Scene & Cultural Context
Scene in the Original Work:
Early in Spirited Away, Chihiro is frightened and alone in the spirit world. Haku comes to her and calms her with these words.
日本語で読む
『千と千尋の神隠し』の序盤。不思議な世界でおびえる千尋のもとにハクが現れ、こう言って落ち着かせる。
Cultural Context:
Haku later remembers that his real name is ニギハヤミコハクヌシ (Nigihayami Kohakunushi), the spirit of a river. そなた is an old word for "you".
日本語で読む
ハクはのちに、自分の本当の名が川の神「ニギハヤミコハクヌシ」だと思い出す。「そなた」は「あなた」の古い言い方。
Grammar & Learning Points
Grammar Point
•「怖がる」= to be afraid, to act scared. •「〜な」= don't. •「そなた」= you (old-fashioned). •「味方」= ally, someone on your side.
日本語で読む
•「怖がる」は怖そうにすること。•「〜な」は禁止。•「そなた」は古い二人称。•「味方」は自分の側に立ってくれる人。
Trap for English Speakers
そなた is old-fashioned and sounds like a period drama; don't use it in daily life. 怖い describes the feeling; 怖がる describes someone showing fear.
日本語で読む
「そなた」は時代劇のような古い言い方で、ふだんは使わない。「怖い」は気持ち、「怖がる」は怖そうにしている様子。
Example
Example 1Basic Example
時代劇ごっこが好きな息子は、雷におびえる妹の前に立って「怖がるな。私はそなたの味方だ」と言った。
My son, who loves playing samurai, stood in front of his little sister, who was scared of the thunder, and said, "Don't be afraid. I'm on your side."
Example 2Applied Example
（ダイエット中の姉が、夜中に冷蔵庫を開けたときのケーキの声）怖がるな。私はそなたの味方だ。
(The voice of the cake when my sister, on a diet, opens the fridge at midnight) "Don't be afraid. I'm on your side."
Quick check
Meaning
What does 「怖がるな。私はそなたの味方だ」 mean?