person 「身体」 (カズオ・イシグロ「日の名残り」) [注意したい単語・意外な意味]
文学はあまり読まない私だが、例外的に愛好している作品として、日系イギリス人作家カズオ・イシグロの「日の名残り」を少し前にあげた。その後また読みたくなり、このほど読了した。この小説に「人」とは異なる意味の person が何度も出てきたので紹介しよう。
この作品は主人公が語り手の一人称形式で進められるが、執事である彼の好む言葉なのか、以下に列挙するようにかなりひんぱんに使われている。
- On seeing my person, he took the opportunity to inform me that he had just that moment finalized plans to return to the United States for a period of five weeks between August and September.
- I could see, moreover, that if I were quick to go outside and conceal my person behind the large rhododendron bush beside the path, it would not be long before Mr Cardinal came by.
- I shut the book, and clutching it to my person, rose to my feet.
- I crossed the grass quickly, placed my person behind the bush,
- Eventually, I discovered a small gap through which I proceeded to squeeze my person, but only at some cost to the shoulder of my jacket and the turn-ups of my trousers.
(注・生け垣のすき間を通り抜ける描写。ここでの cost は「生け垣にひっかかって服を傷めた」というような意味であろう)
- I was not actually facing the door, but standing with my person half turned towards it, transfixed by indecision as to whether or not I should knock;
(以上 The Remains of the Day by Kazuo Ishiguro)
文脈からも想像できるが、この person は「(自分の)身体」を表している。といっても、辞書の説明を見ると、生身の体・裸体には使わないようだ。
- (通例 a/the/one's~)身体、体、体つき(衣服を含めた本人の体をいう)
The customs officials searched his person. 税関の役人が彼の身体検査をした
(ジーニアス英和大辞典)
- very formal your body, or the clothes that you are wearing
His person had been searched illegally.
on/about someone's person:
She always carried a small pair of scissors on her person.
(Macmillan Dictionary)
英語学習のはじめに覚える何の変哲もない単語だが、こうした意味もあるのがおもしろい。
この作品は主人公が語り手の一人称形式で進められるが、執事である彼の好む言葉なのか、以下に列挙するようにかなりひんぱんに使われている。
- On seeing my person, he took the opportunity to inform me that he had just that moment finalized plans to return to the United States for a period of five weeks between August and September.
- I could see, moreover, that if I were quick to go outside and conceal my person behind the large rhododendron bush beside the path, it would not be long before Mr Cardinal came by.
- I shut the book, and clutching it to my person, rose to my feet.
- I crossed the grass quickly, placed my person behind the bush,
- Eventually, I discovered a small gap through which I proceeded to squeeze my person, but only at some cost to the shoulder of my jacket and the turn-ups of my trousers.
(注・生け垣のすき間を通り抜ける描写。ここでの cost は「生け垣にひっかかって服を傷めた」というような意味であろう)
- I was not actually facing the door, but standing with my person half turned towards it, transfixed by indecision as to whether or not I should knock;
(以上 The Remains of the Day by Kazuo Ishiguro)
文脈からも想像できるが、この person は「(自分の)身体」を表している。といっても、辞書の説明を見ると、生身の体・裸体には使わないようだ。
- (通例 a/the/one's~)身体、体、体つき(衣服を含めた本人の体をいう)
The customs officials searched his person. 税関の役人が彼の身体検査をした
(ジーニアス英和大辞典)
- very formal your body, or the clothes that you are wearing
His person had been searched illegally.
on/about someone's person:
She always carried a small pair of scissors on her person.
(Macmillan Dictionary)
英語学習のはじめに覚える何の変哲もない単語だが、こうした意味もあるのがおもしろい。
タグ:カズオ・イシグロ
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