Dear all,
I was wondering why the title of the intro song for the first season of "the Apothecary Diaries" (薬屋のひとりごと) is formed as the polite form "花になって" truncated of "ください" (that makes it polite) instead of the plain form "花になる" . Can someone please explain? I'm a newbie in learning Japanese, so I'd like to understand.
Thank you all in advance!
by flatline_76
3 comments
Personal deduction, just for reference.
Lyrics meaning and metaphor: According to the analysis, “花” in “花になって” alludes to the character Non’s royal status (“华” is homophonic to “花” in Japanese), and the “て形” structure of “なって” connects to subsequent actions in the lyrics (e.g., “laugh”). (“Hua” and “花” are homophonic in Japanese), and the “て-shaped” structure of “なって” connects to subsequent actions in the lyrics (e.g., “笑って”) to form a coherent expression of a request or wish (e.g., “なって”). The “て-form” structure of “てて” connects subsequent actions in the lyrics (e.g. “笑って”), forming a coherent expression of a request or wish (e.g. “Turn into a flower and blossom”), which enhances poetic meaning and emotional tension.
Grammatical Flexibility: Japanese songs often omit or distort grammar to fit the melody or mood. Although て-forms are often used to join sentences or to make requests (e.g., the omission of “ください”), they are more in keeping with the overall tone of the lyrics than a mere polite form of omission. This usage focuses more on artistic expression than on grammatical rules, making the title more relevant to the plot metaphor (Non’s change of identity).
I am neither a proper teacher nor have I studied Japanese language education, so my answer may be wrong, but I will answer anyway.
“なってNatte” can be broken down into the verb “naru”なる and the conjunction particle “てte.” “てTe” is a word that allows the next word to follow. It is not necessarily followed by “くださいkudasai.” Looking at the lyrics, it goes, “花になって ほらニヒルに笑って
その顔にぞくぞくして目が離せないI(you) become a flower, smile nihilistically, and continue to follow that face , so(then) I can’t take my eyes off that face.” “ーて、～。-te, ~” means that ~ took place at the same time as or immediately after -.
That is to say, the lyrics begin with “花になってI(you) become a flower”, followed by “ニヒルに笑ってsmile nihilistically” and “その顔にゾクゾクしてand continue to follow that face”, which then leads to “目が離せないthen I can’t take my eyes off you”. In other words, “花になってbecome a flower” is one of the processes leading to “目が離せないI can’t take my eyes off you” or one of the reasons why “目が離せないI can’t take my eyes off you”.
However, there is another interpretation, too. As you say, it is an order. Similarly, “てte” is a conjunction particle, and is used as a colloquial expression with the “くださいkudasai” omitted from “なってくださいnatte kudasai.” In this case, the lyrics would be a plea to “花になってbecome a flower” and “ニヒルに笑ってsmile nihilistically,” and a comment that “その顔にゾクゾクして目が離せないyour face is so thrilling, and I can’t take my eyes off it.”
Because Jinshi wants Maomao to be his flower.