An interview with Hiromu Arakawa, the creator of “Fullmetal Alchemist.”
Arakawa Hiromu (荒川弘)
はっ！？漫画家の荒川弘です。食事中でした。よろしくお願いしまーす。
あらかわ ひろむ: はっ！？ まんがか の あらかわ ひろむ です。 しょくじちゅう でした。 よろしく おねがい しまーす。
Arakawa Hiromu: Ha!? Mangaka no Arakawa Hiromu desu. Shokujichū deshita. Yoroshiku onegai shimāsu.
Arakawa Hiromu: Huh!? I am the manga artist Hiromu Arakawa. I was in the middle of eating. Nice to meet you!
Chanmei (ちゃんめい)
よろしくお願いします。
ちゃんめい: よろしく おねがい します。
Chanmei: Yoroshiku onegai shimasu.
Chanmei: Nice to meet you too.
📖 Grammar Explanation
Let’s break down each sentence and analyze the grammar!
1. 荒川弘: はっ！？漫画家の荒川弘です。食事中でした。よろしくお願いしまーす。
- Interjection: はっ！？ (ha!?) is an interjection expressing sudden surprise, shock, or being caught off guard (“Huh!?” / “Gasp!”).
- Noun & Particles: Connects the Noun 漫画家 (mangaka – manga artist) to the Noun 荒川弘 (Arakawa Hiromu – name) using the possessive/attributive Particle の (no), creating a noun phrase defining one’s identity. The polite copula です (desu – am/is/are) finishes the sentence to state identity politely.
- Noun Suffix & Copula Tense: Attaches the Noun suffix 〜中 (chū – in the middle of / currently doing) to the Noun 食事 (shokuji – meal), forming a noun state meaning “in the middle of eating”. It ends with でした (deshita), the past tense form of the polite copula です (desu), expressing the past state of being in the middle of a meal.
- Set Greeting & Modality: A set greeting phrase used when introducing oneself or asking for good favor. It combines the adverbial form よろしく (yoroshiku – nicely/well), the honorific prefix お (o), and the polite form of the Verb 願う (negau – to request/wish), which is 願います (negaimasu). The extended vowel at the end (“しまーす”) creates a lighthearted, friendly, and informal modality.
2. ちゃんめい: よろしくお願いします。
- Set Greeting: よろしくお願いします (yoroshiku onegai shimasu) is the standard polite expression used to respond to a greeting, expressing a request for a good relationship or cooperation.
Vocabulary List
| Word / Phrase | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 漫画家 (mangaka) | manga artist (noun) |
| の (no) | possessive/attributive particle (particle) |
| 食事 (shokuji) | meal (noun) |
| 〜中 (chū) | in the middle of / currently doing (suffix) |
| でした (deshita) | was / were (past form of polite copula desu) |
| よろしく (yoroshiku) | well / suitably (adverb) |
| お願いします (onegai shimasu) | please favor me / nice to meet you (polite verb phrase) |
Quick Quiz
Fill in the blanks ( ) to complete the natural conversation.
A: 田中さんは今、何をしてますか。
B: 今、会議（ ）です。
1: 前
2: 中
3: 後
🔑 Check the Correct Answer & Explanation
Correct Answer: 2
📝 Dialogue Translation
A: What is Mr. Tanaka doing right now?
B: He is currently in the middle of a meeting.
💡 Explanation
To express that someone is currently in the middle of doing an activity or that an event is ongoing, the suffix “〜中 (chū)” is attached directly after a Noun representing that activity (e.g., 会議 + 中 = 会議中 / in the middle of a meeting). Therefore, Option 2 is the correct answer. Option 1 “前 (mae)” means “before” (before the meeting). Option 3 “後 (go / ato)” means “after” (after the meeting).
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