ボスは鬼並
みのオーラを放
っている。
The boss gives off an aura like a demon.
Alright, listen up, y’all. Today, we’re gonna break down some real Japanese grammar, something for the true playas in the game. Forget that textbook nonsense, this is straight from the streets of Tokyo. We’re talkin’ ’bout 「並み」(nami). This ain’t your grandma’s Japanese. This is how you talk about being on the same level, being a true heavyweight.
So, what’s the deal with 「並み」? Peep this. You use this joint when you wanna say something is “on par with,” “like,” or “the same level as” something else, ya dig? It’s about measuring up, showing that something or someone ain’t no small fry. It’s often tacked onto a noun to say something has the qualities of that noun. You’re sayin’ it’s got the same swag, the same power, the same everything. It ain’t just similar; it’s playing in the same league.
Here’s the lowdown on how to hook this bad boy up.
| Noun | Example | Translation |
| プロ+並み | プロ並 みの腕前 | Skill on par with a pro |
| 鬼+並み | 鬼並 みの強 さ | Strength like a demon |
| 俳優+並み | 俳優 並みのルックス | Looks on par with an actor |
| 例年+並み | 例年並 みの暑 さ | Heat on par with the usual year |
Aight, so listen up. This grammar point is smooth like a Caddy. You just take a noun, the thing you’re comparing to, and you slap 「並み」 right on the end of it. No funny business, no weird changes. Just Noun + 並み. When you wanna use it to describe another noun, you gotta toss a 「の」 in between, like in “プロ並みの腕前” (puro-nami no udemae). If you’re using it at the end of a sentence or as an adverb, you might see it as 「並みに」 or 「並みだ」. Simple as that. It’s a clean getaway, grammatically speaking.
Think of it like this: You got your local street crew, and then you got the major crime families. If your little crew starts pulling off heists and making moves on par with the big boys, you’d say they’re professionals on a whole ‘nother level. That’s 「並み」. It’s the benchmark, the gold standard you’re measuring against. It’s like saying you got “Corleone-level” ambition. You ain’t just a wannabe; you’re in the same class.
Check out this new vocabulary that’ll have you soundin’ like a true boss.
腕前 (うでまえ)
English: Skill; ability; hustle.
Aight, check it. “Udemae” is all about what you bring to the table, your game. It ain’t just about what you know, it’s about how you execute. A rapper’s “udemae” is their flow, their bars. A streetballer’s “udemae” is their handle, their jumper. It’s the proof in the pudding, the reason you get respect on the streets. You can talk a big game, but your “udemae” is what shows ’em you’re the real deal, not some studio gangster.
体格 (たいかく)
English: Physique; build; frame.
Yo, “taikaku” is straight up how a dude is built. We talkin’ big, small, ripped, or whatever. In the game, your “taikaku” can be your advantage. You got a big homie built like a linebacker? That’s his “taikaku,” and he’s gonna be the muscle. You got some wiry cat who’s quick and light on his feet? That’s his “taikaku,” and he’s the one dippin’ and dodgin’. It’s your physical presence, the first thing people see before you even open your mouth.
詐欺師 (さぎし)
English: Con artist; scammer; hustler.
Listen up, a “sagishi” is a master of the hustle, but not the legit kind. This is the cat who can sell water to a whale. They’re smooth talkers, slick operators who play on your desires to get what they want. They runnin’ scams, flippin’ stories, and always thinkin’ three steps ahead. They got that silver tongue that can get you to empty your pockets before you even know what hit you. A true “sagishi” makes the con look like an art form.
潜入捜査官 (せんにゅうそうさかん)
English: Undercover cop; narc; mole.
Peep this. A “sennyuu sousakan” is the 5-0, the police, but they ain’t rollin’ up in a black and white. They’re deep undercover, playin’ a role to get on the inside. They talk the talk, walk the walk, and try to blend in with the crew to gather intel and bring the whole operation down from within. It’s that Donnie Brasco type, livin’ a double life, where one wrong move could get ’em smoked. They the ultimate snake in the grass.
逃がし屋 (にがしや)
English: Getaway driver; a person who helps someone escape.
When the heat is on and you gotta bounce, the “nigashiya” is your savior. This is the wheelman, the cat with the fast car and the ice in their veins who knows the city like the back of their hand. The sirens are wailin’, the ops are comin’, but the “nigashiya” is calm, cool, and collected, hittin’ every corner and back alley to get you out clean. They’re the unsung hero of the heist, ’cause without a clean getaway, the whole score means nothin’.
Now, let’s see how the real Gs use this in the wild.
あの逃
がし屋
の運転
技術
は、F1レーサー並
みだ
That getaway driver’s skills are on par with a Formula 1 racer.
伝説
の殺
し屋
の速
さは、稲妻並
みだったそうだ。
I hear the legendary assassin’s speed was on par with lightning.
あの潜入
捜査官
は、プロ の役者並
みに役
になりきっている。
That undercover agent gets into character on par with a professional actor
あの詐欺師
は、政治家並
みの口
のうまさだ。
That con artist is as smooth-talking as a politician.
この偽札
は本物並
みのクオリティーだ。
This counterfeit money has quality on par with the real thing.
奴
らのあじとは軍事
施設並
みに警備
が固
い。
Their hideout has security on par with a military installation.
情報屋
はCIA並
みの情報網
を持
っている。
The informant has an intelligence network on par with the CIA.
ボス の ボディーガード は、 プロレスラー 並
みの体格
をしている。
The boss’s bodyguard has a build on par with a professional wrestler.
あのファミリーの力
は、そこらの小国並
みだと言
われている。
They say that family’s power is on par with a small country.
あの新人
はプロのヒットマン並
みの腕前
だ。
That rookie has skills on par with a professional hitman.
Aight, that’s the 4-1-1 on 「並み」. Use it right, and you’ll be speaking like a real shot-caller. Now go out there and make a name for yourself.
Keep your head up, and your Japanese sharp. Holla.
Leave a comment