Japanese Help -- Host-Father Died

Talka

I did a study abroad program in Japan a few years back. I had an amazing host family. In particular, I spent a lot of time with my very amazing host father (age ~60). He was an extremely funny guy, always laughing and full of life. I served as his drinking partner for the three months I lived with him, and we both had a great time. Given language barriers, we could never communicate very clearly, but I got the sense he was fond of me. I was fond of him as well and deeply appreciative of my host family in general. Sadly, I didn't keep in touch after returning home. I sent a Christmas card once, but nothing else. My Japanese language skills have since completely atrophied.

This morning, I got the following Facebook message from my host-brother (age ~30):

お久しぶりです。

お父さんが亡くなりました。
もしよろしければ、葬儀で読むメッセージを頂けますか?

Can someone please translate this? As far as I can tell, my host father has died and the host brother is asking if I want to send a message to be read at the funeral. Is that correct? Or has the funeral already happened, and he's asking if I want to receive a message that was read at the service?

If my host brother is in fact asking if I want to send something for the funeral, are there any Japanese speakers on this forum who could translate something for me? I can't think of anyone else who can do this for me. I did send a message to my old study-abroad director this morning asking for help, but I haven't heard back. I'm worried that the funeral is tomorrow or something and that I need to act quickly. Any assistance would be appreciated.

I'll likely delete the message above after someone has been kind enough to translate it for me. I don't think sharing it should cause any problems, but I want to be on the safe side with respect to privacy concerns.

ceres

He is asking if you can send something to be read.

I'm pretty rusty as well, but I can translate something for you if no one less-rusty volunteers.

You can also ask your host brother to go over whatever you come up with and make sure it makes sense... and if I do it for you, you may want to do that anyway. :P

I had very good proficiency, it's just that that was 8 years ago.

garroad_ran

I'm probably less rusty than ceres, given that I live in Japan currently, but I would not go so far as to describe myself as having "very good" proficiency.

I can translate almost anything you need from Japanese into English well. The other way around might not be quite as accurate, however.

poshniallo

Yes it's asking if you want to send a message. If you do, you should do it very quickly, as Japanese funerals are very quick.

But it may well be a message that is looked at by mourners rather than something that is read out. There are a couple of stages to a Japanese funeral, so if you can't get something to them before the funeral proper, it will still be seen and appreciated during the mourning period.

If you send a short message I or another translator here will sort you out.

I am super-busy tomorrow so I can't promise anything, but I will try to take a look into the forums tomorrow.

Talka

Would either of you three be kind enough to translate a message for me? I've reached out to the director of my old study-abroad program and two old classmates who've kept up their Japanese, but I haven't heard back from any of them. Here is the message I'd like to send:

I am so sorry for your loss. I remember Otosan was always kind and welcoming. He was always smiling and making others smile. Even though my Japanese was not very good, Otosan was happy to speak with me and share his stories. I know Otosan loved his family very much. Although I am sad to hear this news, I will always treasure the happy memories of my days spent together with Otosan. I am grateful for his friendship, kindness and generosity.

I am thinking of your family constantly and hope you are all well.

I tried to use short sentences and simple constructions to make it translatable. I am not wedded to any particular sentence or phrasing, so please feel free to take liberties. I just want something that conveys my sympathy and gratitude.

Seriously, if anyone can do this for me I would be grateful beyond belief.

Talka

I got the following translation back from a paid online translator:

お父さんがお亡くなりになったと聞き、誠に遺憾です。僕にとってお父さんはとても優しく、寛大な人でした。いつも笑顔で接していただき、また、周りの人にも気を使い笑顔を振りまいてくれました。僕の日本語は決して流暢なものではありませんでしたが、お父さんは僕にいつも喜んで色々な話を聞かせてくれました。お父さんはご家族の方を心から愛する素晴らしい人でした。今回の話を聞きとても残念ですが、お父さんと過ごし、僕を見守ってくれた日々は、僕の宝物として一生記憶に残ります。とても友好的で優しく、寛大なお父さんに感謝の念が耐えません。

また、常日頃からご家族の皆様を思っており、くれぐれもお体にはお気を付けいただくようお願い申し上げます。

Here's the original English once again:

I am so sorry for your loss. I remember Otosan was always kind and welcoming. He was always smiling and making others smile. Even though my Japanese was not very good, Otosan was happy to speak with me and share his stories. I know Otosan loved his family very much. Although I am sad to hear this news, I will always treasure the happy memories of my days spent together with Otosan. I am grateful for his friendship, kindness and generosity.

I am thinking of your family constantly and hope you are all well.

Can anyone proficient in Japanese confirm the translation is good?

bowen

I mean, it gets the point across but that looks like it was ran through a text translator.

Talka

Blah. Does anyone know a paid translation service that's actually good (and quick)?

I used "onehourtranslation.com" for the translation above.

Iruka

maybe @MagicToaster is near someone in japan who would be generous as to help, if he logs on. I could have sworn we had some strait up japanese folk on the forum, the last time something like this came up.

Talka

Any feedback on whether the translation above is "good enough" to send?

Talka

I got the following revision back from onehourtranslation.com:

今回のお父さんのお話を聞き、心からお悔やみ申し上げます。僕にとってお父さんはとても優しく、寛大な人でした。いつも笑顔で接していただき、また、周りの人にも気を使い笑顔を振りまいてくれました。僕の日本語は決して流暢なものではありませんでしたが、お父さんは僕にいつも喜んで色々な話を聞かせてくれました。お父さんはご家族の方を心から愛する素晴らしい人でした。今回の話を聞きとても残念ですが、お父さんと過ごし、僕を見守ってくれた日々は、僕の宝物として一生記憶に残ります。とても友好的で優しく、寛大なお父さんに感謝の念が耐えません。

また、常日頃からご家族の皆様を思っており、くれぐれもお体にはお気を付けいただくようお願い申し上げます。

Unless I hear from any of the people I've emailed or from any Japanese speakers on this board in the next few hours, I'm going to send this message. Maybe it isn't perfect, but I think sending something relatively quickly will mean more than waiting and getting it perfect.

poshniallo

It's not perfect, but it's not awful. I'm sorry I didn't have time to look in again. I should have gotten you to PM me.

The 僕 is a bit too casual, should be 私（わたくし） and the last sentence is a bit oddly phrased. But it's not going to offend anyone. Wouldn't use that translator again, I'd recommend someone like gengo.com more.

Don't worry about it being imperfect, though. It's still a nice thing to write.