Let’s learn Japanese with Dio Brando’s quote from JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure (Jojo no Kimyou na Bouken, ジョジョの奇妙な冒険).

Video

Dio Brando’s Quote

Japanese: ほう…向かってくるのか。逃げずにこのディオに近づいてくるのか。 Romaji: hō…mukatte kuru noka. nige zuni kono dio ni chikazuite kuru noka. English: Oh? You’re approaching me? Instead of running away, you’re coming right to me?

Analysis

ほう…向かってくるのか

ほう (interjection) means “oh” or “wow”, used towards inferiors to show the speaker is amazed or impressed. ほほう can also be used to show a bigger wow.

A verb te-form combined with くる (to come) is used to express the action moving towards the speaker. 向かって is the te-form of 向かう meaning “to head“ so 向かってくる means “to head towards me” or “approach me”.

のか (particles) marked by falling intonation is used to show surprise at what you see or hear. In this case, he sees Jotaro walking towards him, which surprised him.

So ほう…向かってくるのか means “Oh? You’re approaching me?”

逃げずにこのディオに近づいてくるのか

A stem of the verb nai-form followed by ずに means “without or instead of doing something”. 逃げない is the nai-form of 逃げる meaning “to run away” so 逃げずに means “instead of running away”

この (this) followed by the speaker’s name (Dio) or first person pronouns emphasises that the speaker is the one which is referred to. It’s often used by someone who is very confident and assertive.

に is the direction particle meaning “to or towards”.

近づいて is the te-form of 近づく meaning “to get close”, so 近づいてくる means “to come close to me” as くる expresses the action moving towards the speaker.

のか is, again, used to show surprise at what you see or hear.

So 逃げずにこのディオに近づいてくるのか directly means “Instead of running away, you’re coming close to this Dio?” which can be translated as “Instead of running away, you’re coming right to me?”

Verb Te-Form + くる／いく

Verb te-form followed by くる is used when the action is moving towards the speaker. In this scene, from Dio’s point of view, Jotaro is coming towards him so he says 向かってくる.

Then what if you are standing by Jotaro’s side, looking at him walking towards Dio?

From your point of view, the action is moving away from you. So you can say 承太郎がディオに向かって “いく” (to go) meaning “Jotaro is heading towards Dio (and going away from me)”.

So depending on the speaker’s point of view, either くる or いく is used after the verb te-form even though the direction of the action is the same.

Examples

Verb Te-Form + くる (action moving towards the speaker)

犬いぬが追おいかけてくる！

inu ga oikakete kuru!

A dog is chasing me!

カーテンを開あけると、部屋へやに光ひかりが入はいってきた。

kāten o akeru to, heya ni hikari ga haitte kita.

When I opened the curtains, lights came into the room.

急きゅうに鳥とりが飛とんできて、びっくりした。

kyū ni tori ga tonde kite, bikkuri shita.

Suddenly, a bird flew towards me, which surprised me.

Verb Te-Form + いく (action moving away from the speaker)

彼かれは静しずかに部屋へやを出でていった。

kare wa shizuka ni heya o dete itta.

He went out of the room quietly.

その旅人たびびとは風かぜのように去さっていった。

sono tabibito wa kaze no yō ni satte itta.

The traveller left like the wind.

夕焼ゆうやけの空そらに向むかって、カラスの群むれが飛とんでいく。

yūyake no sora ni mukatte, karasu no mure ga tonde iku.

Hordes of crows are flying towards the sunset sky.

のか (used to show surprise at what you see or hear)

スペイン語ごも話はなせるのか！すごいな〜！

supein-go mo hanaseru noka! sugoi nā!

You can speak Spanish as well? Awesome!

もう二十歳はたちになったのか。信しんじられない！

mō hatachi ni natta noka. shinjirarenai!

You have turned 20 already? I can’t believe it!

さっきパーティーが始はじまったばかりなのに、もう帰かえるのか。残念ざんねん！

sakki pātī ga hajimatta bakari na noni, mō kaeru noka. zannen!

The party only just started before but you’re already leaving? That’s a shame!

Nai-Form Stem + ずに (without/instead of …ing)

何なにも言いわずに帰かえるなんてひどいよ。

nani mo iwa zuni kaeru nante hidoi yo.

It’s not very nice to go home without saying anything.

体調たいちょうが悪わるかったら、無理むりせずに休やすんでください。

taichō ga warukattara, muri se zuni yasunde kudasai.

If you are sick, please rest instead of pushing yourself.

一日中いちにちじゅう雨あめだったので、外そとに行いかずに家うちでゲームをした。

ichinichijū ame datta node, soto ni ika zuni ie de gēmu o shita.

It rained all day so I played games at home instead of going out.

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