A．「うちの雑誌もマンネリ化してきましたね。同じ様な雑誌がいくつもあとから出たし」
B．「そろそろ編集方針をかえたらどうだろう。知的女性たちが満足する方向に」
A．「それはまだ無理でしょう。時を待つべきですよ」
Toki wo Matsu
(Zasshi no henshuusha dooshi no kaiwa)
A: Uchi no zasshi mo mannerika shite kimashita ne. Onaji yoo na zasshi ga ikutsu mo ato kara deta shi.
B: Sorosoro henshuu hooshin wo kaetara doo daro. Chiteki joseitachi ga manzoku suru hookoo ni.
A: Sore wa mada muri deshoo. Toki wo matsu beki desu yo.
(A conversation between a magazine's editors)
A: So our magazine's being imitated too. A number.of similar ones are now on the market.
B: Maybe it's time we changed our editorial policy toward something which would satisfy more intellectual-type women.
A: No, we couldn't do that right now. We've got to bide our time and wait for the right opportunity.
* * *
Many Japanese idioms, like this week's, use the word toki (time). Toki wo matsu means to hold off doing until a more appropriate or opportune time.
Fifteen years ago a new women's magazine chose to target itself at working women and women seeking a new lifestyle; since women's magazines had tradi- tionally been aimed at housewives, this was quite a dif- ferent approach. The editor's way of thinking (a woman) could be found on $very page and the magazine influenced many readers.
In five years' time, however, 0 number of similar magazines were on the market. All sold for about \300, were filled with photographs, promoted an elegant lifestyle just within their reader's reach, and introduced stories about active women. Women's way of thinking has changed again, though, and these magazines now fail to meet their needs. What kind of magazine are they waiting for? And what does Mr. A above mean with his, "Toki wo matsu hoo ga yoi." ("We'd better wait for the right time"). In this case toki refers to waiting for the best time to start their new magazine (atarashii zasshi wo dasu noni yoi toki). But what is he waiting for? The number of so-called 'intellectual women' is increasing every day !
To a friend who wants to doing something in a hurry, try some of these expressions: Toki wo machimasho (Let's watch and wait); Toki wo matanakute wa ikemasen (You must wait for a favorable chance) ; Toki wo matsu koto desu (It's best to bide one's time); Toki wo mattara doo desu ka (What about waiting for an opportune time? ).
A few more idioms which use toki:
Toki ni yoru : when something can only be decided on a case by case basis. Shinsetsu mo, toki ni yotte fushinsetsu ni naru koto ga arimasu (Sometimes he is kind, at other times he's unkind). Think about giving up one's seat on the train. The first time someone offered my mother their seat, for example, she felt very annoyed. Apparently, she still felt very young and didn't appreciate being treated like an old person!
Toki wo ushinau: to let an opportunity slip away.
A: So ieba kono aida no koto kaigi de teian shite kuremashita ka.
B: Sore ga giron ga hakunetsu shiteite iidasu toki wo ushinatte shimaimashita.
AT Now that you mention it, did you make that proposal for me in the meeting?
B: The discussion was so heated I lost my chance to bring it up.
Toki wo matsu, toki ni yoru, toki wo ushinau - can you understand their meanings now?
Watashi mo itsumo gaikoku no daigaku de Nihongo ga oshierareru toki wo matteimasu (I'm always waiting for a chance to teach Japanese at university overseas). Sono toki ga kitara toki wo ushinawazu iku tsumori desu (If that chance comes along I won't let it slip by. I plan to go).