常時英心:言葉の森から 1.0

約10年間,はてなダイアリーで英語表現の落穂拾いを行ってきました。現在はAmeba Blogに2.0を開設し,継続中です。こちらはしばらくアーカイブとして維持します。

architects

私たちは、architectという単語を「建築家、設計者」という訳だけで覚えがちです(語源はギリシア語の「主たる大工」→「棟梁」)。しかし、これには「考案者、創造者」などの比喩的な意味があることも知っておきたいものです。ただここでは、そのままでは文脈にはそぐわないので、ひねりを加えて「民主党の首脳陣、幹部」あたりにしておくと分かりやすくなります。
なお、the Architectと定冠詞が付き、最初の文字が大文字になる場合は、「創造の神」という意味になる場合があることも併せておさえておきましょう。(UG)

Architects of DPJ effort accept blame for loss

The air was filled with doom at the Democratic Party of Japan's campaign center Sunday evening as the ruling party came to grips with its sobering defeat in the Lower House election.

While the Liberal Democratic Party swept to victory with New Komeito, many key DPJ members lost in single-seat constituencies, including Chief Cabinet Secretary Osamu Fujimura, education minister Makiko Tanaka and former Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshito Sengoku.

Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda, who won re-election in his Chiba constituency, said he will step down as DPJ president.

"I bear the biggest responsibility for this serious loss. I will step down as the president of the DPJ," he said at a news conference Sunday night.

"I take this result very seriously. I apologize for not being able to produce results," he said.


http://www.japantimes.co.jp/text/nn20121217a4.html