私：「ゆかちゃん、英語が上手に話せるようになったわね」
ゆか：「どうもありがとう」
私：「もう、お父様にひけを取らないわね」
Hike wo Toranai
Watashi: Yuka-chan, eigo ga joozu ni hanaseru yoo ni natta wa ne.
Yuka: Doomo arigato.
Watashi: Moo otoosama ni hike wo toranai wa ne.
Me: Yuka, your spoken English has really improved.
Yuka: Thanks.
Me: You should be able to hold your own with Dad, now.
* * *
Hike wo toru means to compare unfavorably while Hike wo toranai has the opposite meaning.
To really be able to use a foreign language means one is able to function in the foreign language using the four skills of listening, speaking, reading, and
writing. How unfortunate then that the six years of English study at Japanese junior and senior high schools doesn't seem to help students gain these skills and that instead the majority of students spend these years simply reading English sentences, memorizing the meaning of words, translating English sentences into Japanese, and studying grammar. Though the Monbusho has invited many native speakers to teach in junior and senior high schools throughout the country - their main job being to demonstrate that English is a "living" language used by real people - I still wonder just how many chances most students actually get to speak English. It was while on a homestay with an American family that my daughter Yuka first began to have confidence speaking English. This was when she was still in junior high school. I remember how happy she'd been when someone said after she'd come back, "Kurasu no naka de wa, Yuka-san no eigo-ryoku wa dare ni mo hike wo toranai." ("In the class, Yuka's English ability is second to none.") In fact, however, I'd like Yuka to aim even higher. I'd like her to be able to have discussions in English with native speakers; to be able to write academic papers and essays in English. After all, people shouldn't study English just to get good grades. Wouldn't it be nice if all students and English teachers realized this? That in order to communicate with the people of the world, and ability to function in English is necessary...
Many Japanese companies have a company retreat house up in the mountains or near the sea.
A: "The retreat house my company is building is in a really wonderful place."
B: "Basho to iu ten de wa, watashi no kaisha no yama no ie mo, hike wo toranai to omoimasu yo ("When it comes to place, though, I think our company's house up in the mountains can stand comparison with anyone else's.") The reason he said 'place' is because... "Shikashi setsubi to iu ten de wa sukoshi hike wo toru ka na..." ("In terms of the quality and type of facilities, however, I think it is probably inferior. " )
A: "Hike wo toru nante tondemonai" ("Inferior? You've got to be kidding? " ) "Doesn't your company's retreat have a hot spring bath, pool tables, ping pong tables and a huge cafeteria? Hike wo toru no wa kochira no ho desu yo" ("If anyone's retreat compares unfavorably, it's ours.")
It seems that when making comparisons, the proper thing to do in Japan is praise the other side. This conversation could thus continue for some time. How might it be end? "Otagai ni hike wo toranai hodo yoi sanso wo motte iru to iu koto ni shimasho" ("Let's agree that our companies have mountain retreats which can roughly hold their own in comparison with each other.")
Do you understand how to use this expression now? If so, I might be able to say with regard to your ability, "Anata wa dare ni mo hike wo torimasen" ("You
can hold your own against anyone.")