… already married, (we) have two sons called (Mako and) Bolin.
They bring us no small amount of joy and…
much trouble. I believe you (formal and plural) can understand…
(I/We) hope that one day you (formal and plural) and them can (meet) each other …
On top (is) our photograph.
Notes: Chinese has two ‘you’ 你 (ni) and 您(nin). 您 is formal, similar to the German “Sie”. That their father uses it with his family can have two meanings, either it is a show of respect (in the past it was normal to address one’s parents that way) or it means they are distant, which, considering that he left after a big fight, is also a possibility. These days 、您is not used with one’s family anymore, but a show of respect to your boss, elders, your Professor or customers.
It’s good to recover in ourselves lost loves, or reconcile ourselves to an affront, but if life pent up inside weighs you down, take it out of doors.
Throw open the windows, or go down into the crowd; you’ll see how little it takes to cheer you up: an animal, a game, or, dressed in blue,
a shop-boy with a wheelbarrow clearing the street with a loud voice, who, if he finds the slightest downward slope, runs no more, but flies.
The streets are full of people at that hour who don’t keep quiet after dodging him. The noisier the uproar and the wrath, the more he swings his hips and sings.
Disclaimer: I haven’t read them all, but I wish I had! And the more linguistic books may be centred around the English language since they are in English. I’ll do a Spanish one too, and possibly a French one.
I keep thinking about how Tolstoy’s characters use language in War and Peace, ESPECIALLY all the code-switching between Russian and French. (This is one of the big reasons I decided I have to try to read the book in the original. As much as I lovelovelove Dunnigan’s translation and think it reads gorgeously, she translates a lot of the French within the dialogue and hides some of the code-switching. So now I’m reading the original and the Dunnigan translation in parallel.)
Here are some interesting language things I’ve noticed so far:
1. Some high society characters seem to speak way more French than Russian: Ippolit Kuragin, Julie Karagina, Lise Bolkonskaya. Ippolit’s first appearance involves him telling a story in terrible Russian (I.i.4). I haven’t seen Tolstoy explicitly comment on Lise’s Russian yet, but it’s been mentioned several times already that she usually speaks French.
2. In contrast, Marya Dmitriyevna always speaks Russian (I.i.15). And that makes sense, given her blunt manner and disregard for social niceties. The first time she appeared in the story, I immediately decided that I like her. She does her own thing, doesn’t care about fitting in with society, and society has come to both respect and fear her. It’s interesting that they call her le terrible dragon, instead of the equivalent in Russian.
3. I’ve seen two instances so far where Andrei pointedly shifts into Russian to show his disdain for frivolous people: with Ippolit (I.i.5), and Zherkov (I.ii.3). He seems comfortable with both languages, and often pretty aware of how he switches between them. But Tolstoy describes him unconsciously shifting completely into French when talking military strategy with his father (I.i.23) – I’m guessing this means he’s read more books on the subject in French.
4. Shinshin, Countess Rostova’s eccentric bachelor cousin, is another character who seems very aware of his own code-switching. He’s only made one appearance so far (the Rostovs’ party, I.i.15-16), but he has the most fascinating speech patterns of ANYBODY – shifting freely between Russian folk expressions and very flowery French, often with a wink at his listeners. He’s being clever and entertaining and he knows it. I think he’s basically doing a sort of aristocratic 19th-century Russian equivalent of what TV Tropes calls “Sophisticated As Hell”.
5. The Kuragins apparently speak some English! I’m curious about how/where they would have learned it, and just how much they know. Early chapters show Anatol translating for an Englishman (I.i.6), and Ippolit randomly exclaiming “Capital!” at Anna Pavlovna’s soirée (I.i.4).
6. I was surprised to discover that Pierre and Andrei address each other with different levels of formality. Pierre addresses Andrei as вы (formal “you”), and Andrei addresses Pierre as ты (informal “you”). This is one of those things that just plain don’t translate into modern English. I guess it makes sense: Andrei’s older and a somewhat higher social class. But I was still surprised, and this makes me view their friendship a little differently.
7. And then I just love the way Tolstoy periodically comments onhow his characters say things. Like: Anna Mikhailovna stressing the first syllable in her son’s name (“BO-ris”) to show affection, or the way the German officer at the Rostovs’ party speaks without palatalization (I had to read his dialogue out loud! not sure I’d ever heard German-accented Russian before), or the way m-lle Bourienne leans on a trilled “r” as if enjoying the sound of her own voice, and of course Denisov’s habit of never pronouncing an “r”.
Deuce: Right leg forward! Left leg forward! Right! Left! Right!
Deuce: Raise your right arm! Make a twirl…and finally bend at the hip!
Deuce:*gasping for breath*
Deuce: How was it, Asim-senpai, Viper-senpai!
Jamil: That was terrible.
Deuce: Ehh… I thought I’d nail the “Starsending” dance this time for sure…
Grim: You’re just flailing around and it’s an eyesore! I thought you were trying to stomp out ants or something!
Jamil: You just suddenly showed up and begged us to teach you how to dance for the ‘Starsending’ event with such intensity, I had no idea what to expect but… you’re definitely not ready to perform in front of people, anyways.
Kamil: But at least I could really sense your passion!
Jamil: Maybe a little too much passion. There wasn’t an ounce of elegance to be found.
Octanivelle students: Hey it’s one of the Stargazers!
Deuce: Eh?
Octavinelle student A: “I will dance so that our wishes can reach the stars!” …aren’t he embarrassed to be doing something like this at his age?
Octavinelle student B: Right? Even preschoolers know that this whole 'Starsending’ business is a load of bull.
Octanivelle student A: And look at the outfit they have to wear for the event… pfft. It’s just all over the place and looks so uncool. He’s so into it that its actually kinda painful to look at!
Octanivelle student B: Oi oi he’s gonna hear you… bwahaha!
Deuce: Hey you! You’re clearly mouthing off as loud as you can!
Octanivelle student A: Huh? Deuce, was it? You trying to pick a fight with us?
Deuce: I don’t really care what you say about me… but I can’t turn a blind eye at you making fun of Clover-senpai!
Octavinelle student A and B: Eh!?
Trey: Hahaha…. thanks for going ahead and introducing me, Deuce.
Trey:Just when I was able to diminish my presence too…
Octavinelle student B: It’s the vice-head of Heartslabyul! I didn’t even notice, he was obscured by that pillar…
Octavinelle student A: We weren’t really talking about you! We were just messing with Deuce so…
Octavinelle student B: ….S-Sorry to bother you!!!
*both run away*
Deuce: Tch, they ran away…
Deuce: What the hell did they find so uncool. They’re the ones who were making low blows here.
Trey: Well, I don’t condone picking fights but, I could see where they’re coming from.
Trey: Dancing in these starry clothes is, well, its kind of embarrassing. That’s why I didn’t want anyone to spot me…
Deuce: Why do you find it embarrassing? I think the clothes really suit you Clover-senpai!
Trey: It’s not a matter of whether it suits me or not…
Trey: I guess I find it awkward to take this fairy-tale dance so seriously at our age…it just feels a bit childish.
Deuce: 'Starsending’ is just one of the many amazing events held at Night Raven College right?
Deuce: What’s so wrong about taking this seriously?
Jamil: I suppose he’s not the type to believe that putting in one’s best effort is embarrassing.
Trey: Being so straightforward is just like him, he’s cute like that, isn’t he?
Kalim: Definitely! He reminds me of a little brother of mine!
Deuce: W-what’s going on, why are the senpais looking this way and smiling at me??
Grim: Straightforward? More like too dumb to think too much!
Deuce: I don’t wanna hear that from you!!
Deuce: Everyone’s just making a fool out of me… Mc, you understand how I feel right!?
(Option 1) Mc: > I mean, it is kind of embarrassing…
Deuce: N-no way, that’s what you were thinking this whole time…?
(Option 2) Mc: > Yeah!! I’m with you Deuce!
Deuce: Right!? I knew you’d have my back!
Deuce: Anyways, I have a duty as a 'Stargazer’, I will definitely perfect this dance!
Deuce: Please continue to give me you guidance, senpais!
———————————————————————————————————– That’s it for part 1! Deuce is just so sweet and precious, I’m so glad his senpais understand lmao. I wanted to kick those mob where it hurts for making fun of him though! So happy he came home, he’s just so pretty! And that smile!! The cutest…
The next parts will only be available after the event is done, that is, 9/14 so that’s a bit of a long wait! I hope you enjoyed my translations! Have fun playing the event!
Under the cut. Translations/summaries for 0 ~ 19 min.
Sakuko: Good morning.
Takahashi: Good morning.
Flashbacks to the events in the previous episode, where Haruka proposed that Takahashi start his own farm, and Sakuko wanted him to grant his childhood dream of making a vegetable kingdom. Takahashi responded harshly saying that if she doesn’t want their family to end, then they should stop talking about it.
Takahashi: I wonder what would be good. To give as a wedding present.
Sakuko: Hm?
Takahashi: I was told to think about what I should give to Toyotama-san and Mizutani-kun. Especially since I’ll be the new store manager.
Takahashi: Kitchen goods, or maybe a bathroom set to be safe…
Sakuko: Um, Takahashi-san.
Takahashi: …Yes.
Sakuko: About the conversation we had about work yesterday–
Takahashi: We already talked about that yesterday. I have to go prepare for work, so…if you’d excuse me.
Kazu-kun excitedly congratulates Sakuko on her work project (The Romance Christmas Fair project she took on from her colleague), which her boss recently approved. Sakuko is distracted, and Kazu notices.
Sakuko asks Kazu-kun if he agrees that even though work isn’t everything, it’s better to work on something you can be absorbed in (which he does). Kazu-kun asks if something happened with Takahashi again, and they go get something to eat.
Kazu: Well…It’s not like I don’t understand where Takahashi-san is coming from. To choose his current lifestyle.
Sakuko: What?
Kazu: Basically, rather than a risky but more enjoyable job, Takahashi-san chose the job that was boring, but would allow him to continue his daily life with you. That’s how important his daily life with you has become to him.
Kazu: It means that you’ve successfully become a family without any romantic feelings! It’s something for you to be happy about.
Sakuko ponders whether or not this is really true.
Minori tells Sakuko to stop worrying about stuff in front of her, just like with her worrying about asking Takahashi about whether or not he wants kids. Sakuko tells Minori that they actually discussed it, and it seems they both would rather not have kids, which was a relief to her.
Minori seems relieved to hear that, and apologizes for forcing Sakuko to consider kids when she clearly didn’t want them.
Before Sakuko can talk about her current worries, their mother walks in.
Her mother asks about what is worrying her, and Sakuko explains how Takahashi turned down a work opportunity he would have liked to continue living together.
Her mother asks what she would like to do.
She explains that even though she still wishes that Sakuko would get married and have kids, she has recently started to think that maybe it’s okay for Sakuko to continue down a path without romance. And that in place of that, she wants Sakuko to definitely find a way to be happy down this path that she doesn’t know about.
Sakuko: Is it okay if we talk?
Takahashi: …Yes.
After sitting down, Sakuko begins to speak.
Sakuko: I’ve really taken a liking to my current lifestyle. I’m having fun at work, and the number of people who understand me has been slowly increasing. Coming home is comforting, and every day has been happiness. I’m completely satisfied, and this is my life’s best.
Sakuko: For me, this is what it has been like, but…how about you, Takahashi-san? Is right now your best?
Takahashi: Just like you, I have also taken a liking to this lifestyle. I’m also very satisfied with it.
Sakuko: But it’s not your best.
Takahashi: Isn’t it something people often say? That in life, sometimes it’s important to give things up. I’ve been thinking of making it my life’s motto.
Takahashi: Well, it is true that the offer from Haruka was appealing. But, I was also afraid. I cannot afford to let this house that my grandmother left me go empty.
Takahashi: And more than anything, the Family (Subject to Change) I’ve created with Sakuko-san…
Takahashi: What you called, the “uneasiness” you felt, is something that I think has also been present throughout my life. Always.
Takahashi: But, through living with Sakuko-san…
…I started learning of a new lifestyle, new foods, new people. At some point, that “uneasiness” turned into clarity, and gained color.
Takahashi: I didn’t think it was possible, a family without romantic feelings. But now I think we might be able to make it happen.
Takahashi: So now, I don’t want to return to being alone.
Sakuko: Thank you. I’m happy to hear you say that.
Takahashi: It’s fine.
Sakuko: But is it really okay for you to not do the things you really want to do?
Takahashi: Wait a second. Sakuko-san was the one who, because you were lonely on your own, first proposed the idea of us becoming Family (Subject to Change), right? So, what are you going to do when you are alone? Are you going to return to your family’s home?
Sakuko: What? I would continue to live here.
Takahashi: What?
Sakuko: Oh, is it not okay for me to live here?
Takahashi: Sorry, I can’t quite keep up with what you are saying.
Sakuko: Like I was saying, I will live in Takahashi-san’s house, and Takahashi-san will live in his vegetable kingdom.
Sakuko: Isn’t it a good idea? This way, I can continue my current lifestyle, and Takahashi-san doesn’t have to leave this house empty. And you can do what you enjoy. Isn’t it the greatest?
Takahashi: Sorry, that option never occurred to me. Is it okay if I take a moment to sort out my thoughts?
Sakuko: Go ahead.
Takahashi: Just making sure, but, your suggestion is for us to live separately, right?
Sakuko: That’s right.
Takahashi: So if we live separately, and we are alone, our relationship, our Family (Subject to Change), will come to an end, right?
Sakuko: No it won’t.
Takahashi: What?
Sakuko: Even if we live separately, we won’t be alone. We won’t stop being a family. It’s like our year-end soba and year-end udon. We don’t give up on either, we just have both. For us right now, that’s how we can have not just “better,” but our “best,” isn’t it?
Takahashi: Is it…really okay? For me to leave this house?
Sakuko: Yes.
Takahashi: But, It’s because I said I wanted to protect this house, so Sakuko-san felt pressured to stay here and–
Sakuko: Of course not. I truly came to love this house on my own. I felt it the moment I moved here. “Ah, this warmth, it’s the best… It’s really cozy…The scenery is lovely…”
Sakuko: I really felt, for my own reasons, that I wanted to protect this house, and…
Takahashi: And?
Sakuko: If I really stop wanting to live here, then we can think of another plan together. Takahashi-san should also try his best with his vegetable kingdom, and if something goes wrong then you can just quit!
Takahashi: That’s…
Sakuko: Isn’t it better not to have everything figured out? With us, with family, everything can be subject to change.
Sakuko:When you put something into words, you’ll be bound by it. For the two of us who refuse to be bound by what is “normal,” the things important to us, and the way we think, all of these are going to change. So we can think of each moment’s “best” when we get to it.
Sakuko: And if the time comes when each of our “bests” are in completely different directions, and we talk things out, and it’s still impossible, then…
Takahashi: If it’s impossible, then?
Sakuko: We don’t need to force ourselves to remain family.
Sakuko: I mean, just hypothetically, of course! I’m just saying that even something like that doesn’t need to be decided.
Takahashi: You’re right. I think this is a great idea.
Sakuko already makes plans to call the farm manager, and Takahashi suggests that before she does that, they should have dinner. Sakuko enthusiastically agrees, and Takahashi proposes they eat yesterday’s leftovers and perhaps some mille-feuilles that he’ll try making.
Sakuko is excited about this, but Takahashi warns her not to get her hopes up, to which she responds that Takahashi always surpasses her expectations. While he prepares dinner, she goes to clean the bathtub.
KaizenSubs did a great job translating the term 「家族（仮）」read as かぞくかっこかり kazoku kakko kari, as “Family (Subject to Change).” A very literal translation would be something along the lines of Family (Temporary), where you would read it out loud as “family parentheses temporary.”
For context, the “(Temporary)” part of the term originated in work meetings as a warning that a plan wasn’t fully finished, i.e. putting 2022 Outreach Plan “(Temporary)” in your presentation to your boss. It definitely has that nuance of being an overly formal way of announcing that something is still in progress, and very much a term you would only use at work, which is a nuance that (Subject to Change) carries.
However, because of it being this overly formal work term, it was later borrowed to be a funny way to talk with your friends about about something that wasn’t fully decided, and this light-hearted, slightly ridiculous energy it has by being Overly Formal was emphasized by saying the “parentheses” part out loud. I would say a good english equivalent might the term TBD or TBA; you wouldn’t think of it as out of place when you read it on an official poster or announcement about an event, but also if you were talking to your friends you might say out loud, “I wish I could move out but my living situation is way too tbd,” as a way of being a little bit lighthearted about it.
It’s because of this nuance that Sakuko doesn’t say “Family (Subject to Change)” when she is defending herself in front of her family, but she throws it around constantly (with much annoyance and expectation that it won’t be understood) when around Kazu.
I think it has a similar vibe to calling a partner your “zucchini,” or even to “queerplatonic relationship” or “qpp.” It’s maybe a little bit ridiculous, and you won’t expect anyone to know exactly what it means, and maybe that’s almost on purpose, because it’s a term you get to define for yourselves. And it’s a word that despite it’s lightheartedness, carries a surprising amount of weight, representing an ongoing journey rather than a destination.
The white car I had driven into the village was parked inside the grounds. I let go of the man’s hand as we reached it.
I’d had the ghouls slash a front tire and a rear tire on my beloved car right from the start. That way, the villagers couldn’t suggest driving somewhere to call for help. All the cars in town had suffered the same sort of attack. And of course, all the phone lines were already cut.
By now, this village was like its own lonely island.
As I was feeling proud of my work, the Asian man muttered something in a language I wasn’t familiar with. “Kyou…kai?”[T/N: “A church?”] He was frowning.
Probably wondering why his chant hadn’t had any effect back there.
Seen from the side, he had a face like a knife blade: sharp, cold, and guarded. I would have to be careful around him.
“I think we lost them,” I told the men calmly, putting on a relieved face.
I was plenty aware that my gorgeous features and the bright white teeth peeking out from behind my smile had a tremendous effect on new people—or rather, on men. I use every resource available to me. What’s wrong with using my femininity a little?
I could either dispose of them somewhere in the commotion, or use my body to entice them—either way, I would have to pretend to be their ally for now.
“All of the villagers are hiding in here. I’ve surrounded the grounds with high-grade holy water, so middle level and lower demons can’t get in. It’s safe.”
“You put up this barrier?” the Asian man asked when I had finished speaking. This time he used proper English.
“Yes.”
“Fujimoto Shirou, Order of the True Cross, Japan Branch,” he said, taking out his license from his inner coat pocket and showing it to me.
So he was Japanese?
I honestly hadn’t expected that.
With his native-like English pronunciation and the way he looked straight at a stranger like he was trying to drill through them with his eyes…well, to put it bluntly, he didn’t seem very Japanese.
When I thought of a Japanese person, I imagined someone who was all cheerful smiles but never looked anyone in the eye, who was always hunched over busily working on something, who had a big camera slung around their neck, and who was surprisingly bad at English—not just the children, but grown adults too.
The thick glasses he was wearing were just about the only thing that matched my mental image…
“Maria LaMorte. Upper second class. I’m an Aria meister.” At any rate, I went ahead and held up the badge that I had hanging at chest level on a gold chain. Showing proof that we were allies would be the most effective way to get him to let his guard down.
“Maria, huh? Hey, have we met somewhere before?”
He lazily waved his index finger back and forth between us.
“Hm? I’m sorry, I don’t recall.” I shook my head.
“That’s weird,” said the man from Japan, rustling a hand through his coarse-looking hair. “I usually make a point of remembering every beautiful lady I see, even if we only met once.” He pulled one corner of his mouth into a crooked grin as he said it. It was the smile of a ladies’ man.
This is a japonés?At this point I’d gone so far beyond exasperation that I was almost impressed.
As I answered him with a “hmph,” the white man joined the conversation, also speaking fluent English.
“May I introduce myself as well, Fujimoto-sempai?”
I observed the second man indifferently.
First off, he was terribly tall. Even I had to crane my neck to look at him.
He was probably an Aria or something, with skin so pale you could see the veins underneath. He had nice features that I suppose could be called handsome, but there was a nervous look about him—maybe it was the dark circles under his eyes.
“I’m his underling Johann, lower second class. It’s a pleasure to meet such a lovely Sister.”
He certainly wasn’t shy about speaking so pretentiously in his clear baritone voice, complete with theatric gestures. And what’s worse, it actually suited him.
If he was lower second class at his age, he must have just become an exorcist. That would explain why his brand-new uniform looked so pitifully out of place on him.
Plus, he seemed weak and sickly.
Nothing to worry about from this one.
I made myself a mental note and turned my gaze back to Fujimoto.
There was one thing I needed to confirm before anything else.
“Do either of you speak Spanish?”
Spanish was the lingua franca in much of South America. The villagers here all used Spanish in their daily lives, and knew practically no English. And that meant things could get dicey if these two spoke any Spanish—but they both shook their heads.
That was a relief. It looked like fortune was on my side.
“But what are members of the Japan branch doing here?”
“It’s a cross-border mission based in international goodwill,” Fujimoto answered my question first, but he was clearly stifling a yawn as he said it.
Johann was eager to add, “We finished our mission without incident and were on our way back to the nearest branch office when we ran out of gas. We walked the rest of the way here! Yes, that’s why we’re so ill-equipped. We’ve already exhausted the bulk of our supplies.”
What an unbelievable stroke of luck. This is perfect, I thought, as I desperately resisted the urge to grin. That would explain why they were so lightly armed.
In that case, it would be child’s play to kill them. As long as I promptly dumped the bodies somewhere near where their mission had been, I could fool the local branch. I’d found a silver lining to all this.
“It’s true what they say—that exorcists are always horribly understaffed. To think a new recruit like me would be sent out to work like a dog…I’m afraid I may have chosen the wrong profession.”
Fujimoto ignored his lackey’s cheerful complaint and asked me, “So what the hell happened to this village?”
He spoke casually, but his sharp gaze never dulled. Beneath his flippant demeanor, the man had no weakness, no openings. I felt like he’d pierce right through my armor if I let my guard down at all—and as I thought that, I casually glanced away from him.
It was dangerous to make too much eye contact with an enemy, especially a sharp enemy like this.
That said, avoiding eye contact too much wasn’t an option either. That was practically begging them to suspect you.
I was confident that I could strike the right balance.
“When I got here this evening, there were already ghouls wandering all over the village.” I put everything I had into playing the part of a good and pious exorcist.
When I bit my lower lip a little in mock bewilderment, I really did start feeling bewildered. I was sure the deep lines forming on my forehead looked surprisingly natural too.
“The villagers were in a terrible panic over being attacked by corpses all of a sudden—everything was completely out of hand. I don’t think I finished setting a barrier around this church and getting everyone inside until about an hour ago.”
I cut off the story there to say, “Anyway, let’s all go inside the church,” and invited them onto my home turf. The more I talked, the more likely they were to find holes in my story. I needed to keep conversation about the village’s condition to a minimum. “The ghouls might attack us again, after all. Can we wait until we’re inside to talk?”
The two men accepted my proposal easily.
I had some awful uninvited guests on my hands, but I was glad they were both men, at least. If they were women, I wouldn’t even have the option to seduce them as a last resort.
The Japanese one especially seemed like a womanizer. As long as I could deal with him somehow, that weakling Johann wouldn’t be a problem.
It’s okay. They’re not a major obstacle, I repeated to myself as I led them to the church and pushed the door open. The door was needlessly heavy, maybe because of its elaborate construction, and Fujimoto casually reached out from behind me to help support it. At this decidedly un-Japanese show of chivalry, I looked back at him over my shoulder and smiled.
“It’s too bad for you two, but…I’m glad you ran out of gas.”
“Well, hearing that from someone as beautiful as you makes the whole walk worth it,” Fujimoto answered, flirtatiously.
I gave him a gentle grin in return.
Deep down, all I could think of was how to entrap this man from Japan.
At the very least, I had to get rid of these two tonight.
LE ROMAN DE RENART HAS FINALLY BEEN FULLY TRANSLATED IN ENGLISH THROUGH SUBTITLES AFTER YEARS OF ME ANXIOUSLY PROCRASTINATING ABOUT FINISHING WHAT I STARTED 6 YEARS AGO. NOW, I STARTED ALL OVER AND IT’S FINALLY READY AFTER 8 DAYS OF WORK AND 2 DAYS OF STRUGGLING TO EXPORT AND UPLOAD
From the moment I gained popularity, there isn’t a moment that I haven’t thought about this. In some ways, I think I haven’t come to terms that I am a popular celebrity yet. Since it hasn’t hit me yet, I think it probably never will. Being loved is also just one piece of me (T/L note: one part of who I am) and I don’t think that’s entirely me either…
I’m not being humble. I sincerely do feel this way.
Because of that, I’m able to stay healthy and be free and also have a healthy relationship with my fans. Being able to last this long in my career, I thought it was how I objectively viewed myself and I would suddenly hear, ‘This was a hidden camera! Actually, IU being popular was a hidden camera!’ Like the Truman show… ‘So from tomorrow onwards, you will no longer be popular!’ I have imagined that sort of thing a lot.
I think about that a lot… During times like these, I would also always warn myself, ‘I have to leave something behind in my life.’
If I didn’t come into this world as myself, but came into this world as IU and left as IU, wouldn’t it be really sad?
IU is just one of the things that Lee Jieun did.
She is just one piece of Lee Jieun. I’m not someone who can be fully explained with only IU. Just because you call it self-love, is it self-love? I’ve always wondered about that.
I might feel really sad. (whisper) But then I think I wouldn’t feel that sad. (ahhahhahaha) I don’t think I would be so sad to that extent.
I would just be like, ‘Ah, I’ve been doing this for over 10 years, I had fun… I’ll have fun and take my leave~’ I think that’s the closest to how I truly feel.
Because it’s not like I was happy every single day. Living as IU.
There would be this much of a sense of freedom? And this much of sadness? I think there would be all of this coexisting.
Sadness would not be the dominant feeling and neither would a sense of relief be the dominant feeling.
I would be like, ‘Then what shall I do now?’
‘What shall I do with my spare time now?’ I think that’s what I would be concerned about.
Q31. What does being an adult mean to Lee Jieun?
(thinking carefully) I’m not sure. I recall answering this at some point in my life before, but from my current perspective, I’m not sure what being an adult means. Although it can be simply defined based on age and that once you are no longer a minor, you are considered to be an adult, but even though when I was young I vaguely imagined what an adult would be like, now that I have become one, I’m still unsure and I don’t know if I match up to that. Also, I wonder, ‘Is there such an adult around me?’ Of course, some people might find it too fake that I keep talking about age…
In terms of age, I’m all grown up, year by year as I mature, I find that I’m able to be more understanding and tolerant towards the world and people around me. I think I’m able to understand people in a more multi-dimensional way and sometimes, I discover an inner child in someone… ‘Ah, that person is still..!’ I don’t just mean it in a negative sense, but even as an adult, there could still be a child hidden inside the person, so would that part need to become an adult too for that person to be considered an adult?
But does such a person even exist in this world? Even in my grandmother, I discovered a child in her.
Could this just be a figment of our imagination? A fantasy? A fantasy that all the adults in this world have?
I wonder if it’s just a fantasy like, ‘At some point, I will be a much more adult-like adult than I am now!’ but if I were to just sum up my answer now, it would be to not behave in a more childish manner than those younger than me? (haha) That’s probably how I feel right now.
Q32. Is Lee Jieun considered an ‘adult’?
Yes, I would be, based on this criteria. In front of those younger than me, I try hard to pretend to be an adult, I’m that type of person and I hope to continue doing that.
Q33. The reason you want to become 30 soon
There was no ‘magic of 20-year-old’ when I became of age, but is there one at 30?
I’ll have the same expectation at the age of 40, but of course, I don’t have high hopes for it either.
Still, when I turn 30, I really won’t be (considered) young physically in age, so (although the wordings may sound harsh) I always have this sort of victim mentality towards this subject…
I debuted at such a young age that I think I used to have a tad bit of a victim mentality towards the fact that people often see me as a young (immature) person.
‘Yes I’m young, but I’m not handling or doing my stuff immaturely.’
‘If so, shouldn’t they treat me as a professional?’
‘I’m only physically young in age, but that doesn’t mean that I’m dealing with my career/ social life in a childish manner…’
‘Wouldn’t I finally be able to get closer to the age that matches my experience when I turn 30?’
‘I’m no longer in my 20s, so I bet no one will (continue to) see me as a young girl right?’
I have a bit of those expectations.
Q34. Tell us about your plan on your first day of being 30
None. I don’t have that sort of plan, it will probably be just~~~ the same. (laughs)
I bet I will really just be sleeping in, waking up and lolling around if I don’t have any work, then falling asleep (again) after having my dinner as per usual?
Q35. What kind of 30s do you want to spend?
Perhaps a 30s without much trouble? (LOL) I hope there won’t be much trouble.
I hope whatever circumstances won’t drag or take me to somewhere (that I detest)
and that it will be a peaceful 30s for me. I hope it will be a solid 30s for me as an artist,
and no less, a diligent 30s for me as a diligent artist too.
Q36. Your thoughts on failure
I do have some thoughts on this. It makes me sound a little annoying (smiles gently) sharing this makes me sound a little annoying …
butI have never done things that I think I might fail at. Ahaha. I guess I make decisions that I have a plan for and some degree of confidence in. ‘Ah, I’m not so sure about this though? I’m not that confident though?’ For ‘me’ as a person, I’m always indecisive and feeling unsure, but as a producer I’ll just say it. If it’s something that people might not give attention to, I wouldn’t even release it in the first place.
Uhhurhurhurhur.
I think I have trusted my intuition so far.
Q37. Does ‘Pieces’ feel like (a baby) you carried inside you and gave birth to this time as well?
I’m not that noble, in fact… (laughs)
I think these songs might actually be the opposite of that concept?
(T/L note: IU always treats her albums like babies she kept to herself that are finally born into this world, but Pieces is a collection of unreleased songs over the years that didn’t make it into IU’s albums.)
Epilogue
As I was doing this interview and as we filmed this documentary over the past 2 months that can be considered short or long depending on your perspective…
Through this documentary, I really wanted to show every~~thing, I wanted to show who I am much more clearly, but I thought to myself, ‘Eventually, this will be a piece of me too.’
In a good way, a meaningful way.
It’s really difficult to define who I am by just putting all of me into one spot and saying, ‘This is me!!!’ and I thought that in future too, ‘That’s going to be tough.’
As I was preparing the ‘Pieces’ album and giving pieces of myself like hints about me, even though I have given my fans the bigger pieces so far, without these pieces, it (T/L note: the full picture) would not be complete, which I am trying to convey through my music and this documentary, so I thought, ‘In many ways, doing this really suits the meaning of ‘Pieces’’. That’s why I wanted to say that, even if it’s not today, someday…
IU: Oh does this (comment) get deleted if I exceed the word count?
(Everyone replied below saying no it doesn’t! Who would dare to delete unnie’s comment?! Perhaps she wanted to extend her april fools joke by posting the actual post in the comments.)
IU: What happened to my profile picture?
(T/L note: As part of Daum cafe’s april fools joke, those who didn’t set any profile pic would get a random character profile pic and IU got this penguin. It should be fine to share this pic. Some uaenas got the same random profile pic as IU.)
IU: I’ll leave a picture of Somin PD all over Hungary and be on my way..!
<insert pic of IU draped over a soccer field barrier in Hungary>
It’s the cruelly beautiful April. How’s everyone doing? I’m doing well, of course!
I came back recently after completing my filming in Hungary. There were more uaenas at the airport than I expected, which I was glad for, but I regretted… not buying more snacks
Have our uaenas bought clothes for spring? Watched the Pieces (documentary)? Saw the april fools photos posted today? During this quiet period with no new content, is everyone going about their daily lives and staying healthy?!? I’m curious, so curious.
Actually, I’m busiest when uaenas are bored There always seems to be a time lag for the new content to be posted keke
Anyway, I have lots of things planned in April, lots..! Lots in May too, lots!! But this year, compared to how busy I am, uaenas might be feeling kind of bored during this period. I’m worried, really worried.
Despite that, amidst the lag that exists between us, I’ll drop by From.IU like this occasionally, or post on Instagram to report that I’m still alive. Also, even though I can’t film videos for it very often, I won’t be lazy to make videos as YouTuber Lee Jieun! If there’s any content you want to see or ideas you have, feel free to share them with us I wanted to do something interesting for April Fool’s this year too..! My schedule was tight before leaving for Hungary though and it was so hectic that I couldn’t think of ideas.. I won’t let next year’s April Fool’s off lightly and let it pass uneventfully like that.
Anyway, uaenas I’m back. I’m also maintaining my condition and doing well!
You miss and worry a lot about me, right? I really miss and worry a lot about all of you too.
As we exchange our worries and yearning filled with affection, let’s trust each other as much as we can and think that ‘honestly, I bet she/they are going to manage well on her/their own’
