0

It was used sort of like this:

それは響【ひび】きがものすごい

which I'm unsure whether this should translate as "that sounds terrible" or "that sounds awesome".

Google Translate suggests the former (I'm still learning, it's a huge crutch), but I suspect the latter seeing that ものすごい often means "awesome". I doubt myself though because of the stark contrast in the way I expected this to translate.

What does it actually mean?

Eddie Kal
  • 11,332
  • 5
  • 19
  • 40

1 Answers1

3

Google translate is close, but misleading. 響き has a variety of meanings, but sound and reverberation are what we'll use in this translation. For added context, 響き is frequently used in connection with explosives, but not exclusively.

ものすごい means can be translated as awesome, yes, but it isn't the "that's cool" kind of awesome. As you'll see at this link, it has an earth-shattering, awe inspiring context.

So when we say that the sound/reverberation was awesome, We are really saying that the sound/reverberation is incredibly loud. As a stand-alone statement, it is neutral, not necessarily carrying a negative/positive connotation without context.

Simply put, it translates to:

That sound is incredibly loud.

ajsmart
  • 7,051
  • 3
  • 20
  • 46
  • But do you think his sentence is correct? Wouldn't　「その響きはすごい」 also, isn't もの meant to be used to physical things? Wouldn't こと be more fitting to that? – Felipe Chaves de Oliveira Jun 07 '17 at 18:16
  • 1
    ものすごい is akin to (very) すごい。 The もの in this sentence isn't necessarily used in relation to a thing. The sentence is correct, if you ask me. You should click on the link I have included. – ajsmart Jun 07 '17 at 18:23
  • I see... I just had never heard this conjuction, is it used at all? All I usually hear is とてもすごい、本当にすごい、ちょうすごい、めっちゃすごい、最高 – Felipe Chaves de Oliveira Jun 07 '17 at 18:31
  • Oh ya, all the time. I think you would have no problems using that no matter where you are in Japan.つまり、どこでも使える。 – ajsmart Jun 07 '17 at 18:34
  • 1
    @FelipeOliveira [ものすごい](http://jisho.org/search/%E3%82%82%E3%81%AE%E3%81%99%E3%81%94%E3%81%84) is its own word. – Blavius Jun 07 '17 at 20:54
  • 1
    @Blavius because it is a composition of the two kanji together right? like 梅雨 for instance – Felipe Chaves de Oliveira Jun 07 '17 at 21:07
  • 1
    @FelipeOliveira https://japanese.stackexchange.com/q/42941/5010 – naruto Jun 07 '17 at 21:19