(Untitled)

[caithion]

*eyes cross*

I keep double-thinking this sentence, and I've gotten myself all mixed up.

貴女を伯爵に売り飛ばすつもりだったのよ

I hate the particle "ni." It's a transitive verb, ok. So the "ni" is "to," and not the person causing the action. Right? It's not some special passive or causative verb?

He intends to sell you off to the count.

not

The count intends to

Comments

[lazzchan]

*eyes the Japanese*

... the first sounds more correct... and I hate ni as well. Almost as much as wa and ga. D:

[helsgard]

Oooh, it's not just me having trouble with ni.

[caithion]

We are the Knights Who Say "Ni!"

Sorry, couldn't resist.

[ruderal_species]

I would have said "to the count" but I'm pretty sure Japanese doesn't work by consensus, alas. ;)

[caithion]

Hm, we could make new rules of consensus?

[quinquin]

Who's speaking? And to whom?

I might not know much Japanese but I'm reasonably well versed in the Beaumarchais based operas.

And if they are sticking somewhat to the storys, the first variant works if it is Rosina or Susanna (or Barbarina) that is being sold off. The second only works if we are talking about Cherubino.

[caithion]

The problem is that it's just different enough that I don't think the original source material will help. Marcellina is generally in league with Bartolo in this version, but she also needles him constantly, so I could see her saying both of these things to Rosina to cause trouble. This is where the context that I usually rely on has failed me. It's not hugely important, as it's a throw-away comment and the thickening plot is explained in later dialogue, but it bothers me that I can't pin her character.

[flonnebonne]

From iOS dictionary:

自転車をリサイクルショップに売り飛ばす。
sell one's bicycle very cheaply to a secondhand shop.

So yes, it seems like the count was the intended recipient.

[caithion]

Excellent, thank you! All the dictionaries I had checked didn't have examples with "ni," and even my google-fuu had failed me. This is great, I appreciate it.

[flonnebonne]

No problem! I got lucky with the dictionary. :D