Title Translation
 

Hello.

I am currently working on an animation concept which is based in Japan. I have given it the working title of 'Tea over Debris' and I think it translates into Japanese as 'Deburi-jo no Ocha' or 'Hahen-jo no Ocha'. My Japanese is not perfect so I was hoping if anybody here can correct me if I'm wrong and suggest better translations for the title.
I can't give away any details about the story due to fears of any potential plagiarism so I apologize that I can't give away much. :L

Thank you.

'Deburi-jo no Ocha' or 'Hahen-jo no Ocha'

As far as my little Japanese knowledge takes me, all I get is "Debris Tea".... the 'no' is a possessive particle if I'm correct so, "A no B" is A B.... Like the train station in Tokyo, Ochanomizu.... Ocha no mizu- Tea water....

But 'no' may be used in other ways, but that's the only way I know this particle is used....

In other words, 'no' could be left out? I knew 'no' was posessive but I wasn't sure whether or not to act upon it. Thanks.

I don't know if you can omit it, but Debris Tea is not what you wanted: Tea over Debris....

I see. :L What do you think I could use for 'over' then? Or would it not really translate that way?

I don't like ローマ字 translation, but in this case I think the first attempts are as close as you are going to get. The "jo-no" gives the "over".

I stand corrected.... Thanks MMM....

Now hold on, what does "tea over debris" mean? Is the tea physically on top of debris, or is this like a take on the famous Japanese saying "flowers over dumplings" (花より団子) as in "I prefer flowers over dumplings"?

By 'Tea Over Debris' it means pouring a cup of green tea into a ruined city (fairly surrealist narrative). Probably should have mentioned that much. ^^;

In this case, you should probably use no ue instead of jo. I think it sound more natural that way.

If you mean debris as in broken city, gareki is more appropriate than hahen.
Hahen usually means something much smaller (i.e. broken pieces or fragments).

Maybe, Gareki no ue no Ocha sounds better?

Sounds like it makes more sense. Thanks for the input.

There are probably better artistic ways of saying this. One might include the verb 降り注ぐ, which is when something is poured over something else. An example sentence using this verb metaphorically is 暖かい日差しが遊園地いっぱいにふりそそいでいる。

A more literal usage of a similar verb (注ぎかける) is お祭りの行事では小さなお釈迦さまの像に甘茶を注ぎか けます。

I think you have misunderstood this phrase... It means the opposite of what you wrote - choosing dumplings over flowers.

Nyororin, you are, of course, correct. I do know the phrase and it's actual meaning. I was just focusing my attention on making sure I didn't type 花より男子 by mistake! ;)

Thanks for the correction. I need to pay more attention. I go too long without screwing up on JF and I get complacent with my posts.

I figured you knew, but as you gave the wrong meaning twice in the post, I was a little worried :mtongue: