Dont Lock this Thread
it might seem useless at first but i just want a few opinions from different people first.

In Manga/Anime/Japanese culture i hear the phrase "do your best" alot!!!

In manga they make this phrase seem so important, it takes up like one whole word bubble space and the charecters seem to be soooo emotional over it.

i mean to me do your best is just like good luck or any other sort of advice like that.

i was wondering why do you think this phrase is so important in japanese Manga/anime/Japanese culture?

what do you think of the phrase "do your best?"

________________
why because i am the president of the student council of course

Huh?

What's wrong with some encouragement?

I don't see that phrase so often though.

________________
Hrodulf and Bjornolfr, you will not be forgotten.

And if the world were black and white,
you would be my rainbow in shades of grey.

Click 'n Play!

If I had a fantasy self, it'd be a tentacle monster.

They are used a lot, actually. >.> In Shoujo full of cliché and they say it in the most odd places/ time/ events...

I'm more familiar with the phrase 'Good Luck' which they use in the Western world. 'Do Your Best!' sounds more formal or happy-go-lucky... but that's 'cause I hardly say that unless I add a 'just' in front of 'do your best'.

Well whatever... :3

________________
May the Chocolates of Heaven be on your side.

Could this just be an example of something lost in translation? Not that I can actually speak Japanese, but I thought "ganbaru" does not literally mean "to do your best." When people use the word, it seems to have the additional implication of "stick in there/you can do it/I'm supporting you." If you think of it that way, the usage is not awkward. "Do your best" in English is awkward, almost pushy and overbearing -- I don't think I've ever said "do your best" to anyone in my life.

Last edited by Odette at 4:00 pm, Oct 30 2009

________________
Avatar by tassyn.livejournal.com

Reading: Kingdom, Sangokushi, Historie

In Japan, giving the fullest effort is a highly valued characteristic. Doing ones best, going to ones limit, exceeding that limit, and discovering a new, higher summit of accomplishment--these things receive respect even if the result is a failure.Giving up while there is still a gram of energy, a centigram of possibility within oneself is the true failure. The Japanese culture teaches to always try harder, work better, do more. Ganbaru summarizes these values and expresses approval of the one who devotes every cell of his being to the effort.

wow, what an expanation.

i'm gonna burst in tears next time i read the do your best phrase

________________
why because i am the president of the student council of course

Japanese culture is ... crazy
Makes me thinks western culture is composed of slackers

well i think nowadays its really the spoildness to blame.
dont forget how industrious america has been over a short amount of years.

i think there is alot of negativity and bad decisions being made in america by large populous.
but thats not to say other countries dont make bad mistakes, i just think american do them continuously and purpously becuz of its arrogants and ideals of power.

btw i love the fact that u deleted gs49's comment and wrote "long explanation"

________________
why because i am the president of the student council of course

I'm not too thrilled.

Sorry...
I was just trying to save some space

I actually don't mind that phrase very much... I mean, call me weird but I say 'Do your best!' all the time.




I also think that it's a little unfair to classify Americans as arrogant and say that we all have "ideals of power". I admit we have (a lot) of stupid, arrogant people but we're not all power-hungry maniacs who tip our nose up in the air at other cultures.

Anyway, back to the original point: I think it's a great encouragement phrase and everyone should use it more often, not just the manga universe.

the do your best phrase really represents the culture in japan

japan takes things to the EXTREME
thats why they are so advance technologicaly and mentaly(from a sociaty point of view)

woops i shoulda been more specific. i was hasting that explanation. i was really talking about the government and systems. but yeh this is a bit off topic. i just wanted to clear that up.

________________
why because i am the president of the student council of course

here are some proof that SOME americans are real stupid

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fJuNgBkloFE

tho it does add much to the conversation

I was wondering something similar.

I've noticed that the word
"Unforgivable" is thrown around a lot in action mangas.
People are suddenly ready to kill or fight when something they deem "unforgivable" occurs.

Whats the deal with that?

________________
"“That's the difference between me and the rest of the world!
Happiness isn't good enough for me! I demand euphoria!” "