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Learn Japanese with Anime - If You Move Forward You Gain Two (The Witch from Mercury)

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Learn Japanese with Anime - If You Move Forward You Gain Two (The Witch from Mercury)

In this video, we’re going to analyse Suletta Mercury’s quote from Mobile Suit Gundam: The Witch from Mercury (機動戦士ガンダム 水星の魔女, Kidō Senshi Gandamu: Suisei no Majo).

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Analysis

逃げたら一つ

()()()() means “if you run away”. It’s the conditional form of the verb ()()() meaning “to run away”, used when you leave or escape from a place, person, or situation. To make the conditional form, change the verb into the ta-form and attach ら. For example, ()() meaning “to drink” becomes ()()()() (if you drink), ()()() meaning “to eat” becomes ()()()() (if you eat), ()() meaning “to do” becomes ()()() (if you do). So ()()() becomes ()()()().

(ひと)() means “one” or “one thing”. The numeral in kanji read as ひと represents “one” and つ is the counter suffix used to count general things or abstract things.

進めば二つ

(すす)()() means “if you move forward”. It’s another conditional form using ば. To make this form, take the dictionary form (すす)() meaning “to move forward” and switch the last hiragana which is from the う-line to the え-line and attach ば. For example, ()() becomes ()()(), ()()() becomes ()()()(), ()() becomes ()()(). So (すす)() becomes (すす)()().

(ふた)() means “two” or “two things”. The numeral in kanji read as ふた represents “two” and it’s followed by the counter suffix つ.

手に入る

Lastly, ()()(はい)() means “to gain” or “obtain”. It’s actually an intransitive verb meaning “(something) comes into a hand”, but you can translate it as “to gain or obtain (something)”.

So ()()()()(ひと)()(すす)()()(ふた)()()()(はい)() means “if you run away, one, if you move forward, two, you gain”. The last verb is combined with both (ひと)() and (ふた)() so you can also say ()()()()(ひと)()()()(はい)()(すす)()()(ふた)()()()(はい)() (if you run away, one, if you move forward, two, . But you can leave out the repeated verb and make it into one sentence. In Japanese, the main verb comes at the end of the sentence so the first verb should be left out.

Difference Between たら and ば

たら and ば can often replace each other in hypothetical sentences. However, ば is usually used with a good result, whereas たら doesn’t have that kind of restriction so the result can be good or bad.

For example, “if you stay here, you’ll be safe” in Japanese can be “ここにいたら(あん)(ぜん)です” or “ここにいれば(あん)(ぜん)です”. They’re both correct as the result “you’ll be safe” is something you hope for.

But if the result is ()(けん)です meaning “you’ll be in danger”, ここにいれば()(けん)です sounds weird as “being in danger” is something you want to avoid. So in this case, ここにいたら()(けん)です is suitable as たら can be used with a bad result.

逃げたら一つ、進めば二つ手に入る

The results, gaining one and gaining two are not expressed as the “bad result” so they can actually replace each other, such as 逃げれば一つ、進んだら二つ手に入る. But the main point of this quote is to encourage someone to move forward in order to gain two things, such as experience, pride, and even trust, which is much better than gaining one thing, “not losing”. By using ば, the result 二つ手に入る can be expressed as a favourable result which helps persuade someone to move forward.

Sentences

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Suletta Mercury’s Quote

If you run you gain one, if you move forward you gain two.

〜たら & ば (if)

What should I do so that I can improve my Japanese?
What should I do so that I can improve my Japanese?
If you drink some coffee, you might feel more awake.
If you drink some coffee, you might feel more awake.
If you buy two items, you can get another one for free.
If you buy two items, you can get another one for free.

NOTE

たら and ば are basically interchangeable when;

  1. it’s a hypothetical condition (if A happens, B will happen), and
  2. the result clause doesn’t have expressions of one’s volition, invitation, request, command, etc.
When the spring comes, the cherry blossoms will bloom.
When the spring comes, the cherry blossoms will bloom.
It’s not hypothetical (it’s general truth). In this case, たら is usually acceptable in casual speech.
If you find it, call me.
It’s hypothetical but 電話して is a request. In this case, you can only use たら.

EXCEPTION:

If the subject of each clause is different, or if the condition expresses the state of being, the result clause can have expressions of one’s volition, invitations, requests, commands, etc. In this case, you can also use ば.

If there is a problem, call me.
If there is a problem, call me.
The verb ある expresses the state “to be” so the request (電話して) can be used in the result clause.

TIPS:

  1. A sentence with ば focuses on the condition rather than the result as the condition is essential in order to achieve the result, which also means, if you don’t meet the condition, you can’t realise what you want. On the other hand, たら doesn’t have that kind of nuance. It’s simply used to show a certain condition that leads to the result. So it rather focuses on the result than the condition.

  2. Depending on the region, たら is more commonly used than ば, especially in the Kansai-region including the major cities of Kyoto, Osaka, and Nara.

  3. Negative form + ば can be used with a bad result.
If you don't stay inside the house, you'll be in danger.

4. There are fixed phrases which is commonly used with ば instead of たら.

If you try, you can do it.
used when encouraging someone to do something
If we talk, we can understand each other.
used when persuading someone to talk, especially when there is conflict

手に入る (to gain/obtain)

I got good quality wine, would you like to drink it?
Nowadays, you can easily get anything on the internet.
Wishing alone won't get you what you want.

NOTE

()()(はい)() is an intransitive verb meaning “(something) comes into a hand” which doesn’t express one’s volition, so it can be used with the condition たら/ば (see the note of “〜たら & ば”).

On the other hand, ()()()()() is a transitive verb meaning “to put (something) into a hand” which is volitional, so it cannot be used with the condition たら/ば in this usage.

So for Suletta's Quote, you cannot say 逃げたら一つ、進めば二つ、()()()()()

Vocabulary

Romaji Hide|Display Default|Add to ▼
aru
godan verb (irregular), intransitive verb
  1. to be (usu. of inanimate objects)
intaanetto
noun
  1. Internet
umai
i adjective
  1. skillful (esp. 上手い,巧い)
kau
godan verb, transitive verb
  1. to buy (in western Japan, 買う conjugates euphonically as こうた, こうて, etc.)
kantan
na adjective, noun
  1. simple
kiken
noun, na adjective
  1. danger
saku
godan verb, intransitive verb
  1. to bloom
sakura
noun
  1. cherry blossom
sameru
ichidan verb, intransitive verb
  1. to wake up
joushitsu
na adjective, no adjective, noun
  1. fine quality
shouhin
noun
  1. goods; merchandise
susumu
godan verb, intransitive verb
  1. to advance
te
noun
  1. hand (occ. pronounced た when a prefix)
dekiru
ichidan verb, intransitive verb
  1. to be able (in a position) to do
tenihairu
expression, godan verb
  1. to obtain
denwa
noun, suru verb, no adjective
  1. telephone call

Kanji

Display Default|Add to ▼
Stroke Count
1 Strokes
English Meaning
  1. one, one radical (no.1)
Readings
Kun'yomi: ひと、ひと.つ、はじめ、てん、かづ、かつ、いる、まこと、かず、おさむ、か、かた、くに、さね、すすむ、たか、ただ、ち、のぶ、はじむ、ひ、ひじ、ひで、ひとし、まさし、もと、もろ、ひと-。
On'yomi: イチ、イツ。
Stroke Count
2 Strokes
English Meaning
  1. two, two radical (no.2)
Readings
Kun'yomi: ふた、ふた.つ、ふたた.び。
On'yomi: ニ、ジ。
Stroke Count
2 Strokes
English Meaning
  1. enter, insert
Readings
Kun'yomi: い.る、はい.る、-い.り、-い.る、-い.れ、い.れる。
On'yomi: ジュ、ニュウ、ジュウ。
Stroke Count
3 Strokes
English Meaning
  1. above, up
Readings
Kun'yomi: あ.げる、-あ.がり、-あ.がる、-あ.げる、-うえ、よ.す、あ.がり、あ.がる、うえ、かみ、うわ-、のぼ.す、のぼ.り、のぼ.る、のぼ.せる。
On'yomi: ジョウ、ショウ、シャン。
Stroke Count
4 Strokes
English Meaning
  1. in, inside, middle, mean, center
Readings
Kun'yomi: なか、うち、あた.る。
On'yomi: チュウ、ジュウ。
Stroke Count
4 Strokes
English Meaning
  1. now
Readings
Kun'yomi: いま。
On'yomi: コン、キン。
Stroke Count
4 Strokes
English Meaning
  1. day, sun, Japan, counter for days
Readings
Kun'yomi: -か、-び、ひ。
On'yomi: ジツ、ニチ。
Stroke Count
5 Strokes
English Meaning
  1. book, present, main, origin, true, real, counter for long cylindrical things
Readings
Kun'yomi: もと。
On'yomi: ホン。
Stroke Count
7 Strokes
English Meaning
  1. see, hopes, chances, idea, opinion, look at, visible
Readings
Kun'yomi: み.る、み.える、み.せる。
On'yomi: ケン、ゲン。
Stroke Count
13 Strokes
English Meaning
  1. tale, talk
Readings
Kun'yomi: はな.す、はなし。
On'yomi: ワ、エ、カ。
Stroke Count
13 Strokes
English Meaning
  1. electricity
Readings
Kun'yomi: いなずま。
On'yomi: デン、テン。
Stroke Count
14 Strokes
English Meaning
  1. word, speech, language
Readings
Kun'yomi: かた.る、かた.らう。
On'yomi: ゴ、ギョ。
Stroke Count
4 Strokes
English Meaning
  1. hand
Readings
Kun'yomi: -て、て、た-、て-。
On'yomi: ズ、シュ。
Stroke Count
5 Strokes
English Meaning
  1. eye, class, look, insight, experience, care, favor
Readings
Kun'yomi: -め、め、ま-。
On'yomi: ボク、モク。
Stroke Count
9 Strokes
English Meaning
  1. goods, refinement, dignity, article, counter for meal courses
Readings
Kun'yomi: しな。
On'yomi: ホン、ヒン。
Stroke Count
9 Strokes
English Meaning
  1. springtime, spring (season)
Readings
Kun'yomi: はる。
On'yomi: シュン。
Stroke Count
10 Strokes
English Meaning
  1. house, home, family, professional, expert, performer
Readings
Kun'yomi: いえ、や、うち。
On'yomi: ケ、ク、カ、コ。
Stroke Count
10 Strokes
English Meaning
  1. fee, materials
Readings
On'yomi: リョウ。
Stroke Count
11 Strokes
English Meaning
  1. question, ask, problem
Readings
Kun'yomi: と.う、と.い、とん、はる。
On'yomi: モン、ブン。
Stroke Count
12 Strokes
English Meaning
  1. buy
Readings
Kun'yomi: か.う。
On'yomi: メ、バイ。

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