Translation Analysis: "Years ago... I was Chinese."

[Switch]

Itoi-san's ambiguous wording in the English-language version of Shenmue earns this phrase a deserving place in our "Say What?" series of translation analysis posts.

"Years ago... I was Chinese."

https://www.phantomriverstone.com/2023/07/years-ago-i-was-chinese-translation.html

 

[24Nathan]

I always just assumed what he says in the next line about gaining Japanese citizenship. So annoying that this always becomes a meme.

 

[Switch]

I always just assumed what he says in the next line about gaining Japanese citizenship. So annoying that this always becomes a meme.

That's true, unlike many of the other lines, this is one that does in fact provide context, even if it the line could have been made a little smoother.

 

[Seaman]

Yes you all are right, but I don't get the annoyance with Shenmue well intended memes. Is life that serious? I don't think so. Shenmue is full of comedy reliefs all the time, because lets not forget we are after out father murderer (a very dark and unconfortable motiv). They also violently assaulted Ine-san and Fuku-san neverminds.