私：「ローラの言う、エジプトの象形文字が中国に影響を与えたという意見について、どう思いますか」
木村：「それは考えられないでしょう。シルクロードのずっと前のことですからね」
私：「やはりローラの分が悪いようですね」
Bu ga Warui
Watashi: Roora no iu, Ejiputo no shookeimoji ga Chuugoku ni eikyoo wo ataeta to iu iken ni tsuite, doo omoimasu ka.
Kimura: Sore wa kangaerarenai deshoo. Shiruku Roodo no zutto mae no koto desu kara ne.
Watashi: Yahari Roora no bu ga warui yoo desu ne.
Me: What do you think of Laura's idea that Egyptian hieroglyphics had an influence on Chinese civilization?
Kimura : Out of the question. The Silk Road hadn't even come into existence.
Me: The chances Laura is right are pretty slim, then.
* * *
Bu ga warui means that the other side has an advan- tage over you or that you are at a disadvantage. The expression is often used when people talk about sports or debates.
Laura is at Cairo University studying Egyptian hieroglyphics, the symbols the ancient Egyptians used, instead of alphabet-like letters, to represent words. She thinks that the many hieroglyphic-like kanji which entered Japanese by way of Chinese must share something in common with the Egyptian symbols. N-san agrees with her. "She could be right," he says. Most people, however, feel the state of transpor- tation at the time precludes the possibility. And so, eventually Rora mo jibun no bu ga warui koto ni ki ga tsukimashita (Laura also came to see that the odds of her being right were at best, marginal. ) Discouraged, she then admitted she'd "just thought it might be possible." N-san encouraged her, however, "Bu ga warui kara to itte akirameru koto wa arimasen yo" ("Just because you're at a disadvantage, doesn't mean you should give up your belief.")
When I open up Chinese history books I am invariably drawn to the pictures of ancient tortoise shells covered with Chinese characters. Though the characters for mountain, sun, and bird may have the kind of similarities with Egyptian hieroglyphics that Laura had in mind, these symbols are for things found in both countries. When one looks closely at the Egyptian hieroglyphic alphabet, however, in addition to the symbols for bird, owl, and lion, one also finds the symbol for snake. Also, interestingly enough, one finds symbols for snake's home, for waves, and for baskets, i.e., the kinds of things which probably played an important part in the daily life of the ancient Egyptians. Since the discovery of the Rosetta Stone, we have been able to decipher hieroglyphics. I can't help but wonder if Laura and N-san might not be right in thinking the characters somehow made their way all the way to China. How romantic if true.
After having the discussion about hieroglyphics, we decided to play ping pong. At first, Laura's smashes were really on target. She happily announced, "Kon- do wa watashi no ho ga bu ga yoi yo desu ne" ("It looks like I'm the one who has the edge this time.") Me: "Ima wa bu ga warui keredo ne" ("You may have the advantage now, but just wait a minute.") As I predicted, during the second half of the match, Laura's smashes kept hitting the net or missing the table and so she was soon out of contention. "Saisho wa bu ga warukutemo, shobu wa saigo made wakarimasen ne" ("Even though one might not have the edge in the beginning, the winner isn't decided until the very end.")
I'm sure many of my readers have also had this kind of experience. Hajime wa kochira no bu ga warukute, dame ka to omoimashita (In the beginning, the odds were against us and so we'd given up hope,)
but you hung in there and did your best and so dandan bu ga yokunatte kimashita (our chances for victory gradually increased. ) Clearly it's better not to give up without a fight.