カーライフ

English translation: automotive lifestyle

GLOSSARY ENTRY (DERIVED FROM QUESTION BELOW)

Japanese term or phrase:	カーライフ
English translation:	automotive lifestyle
Entered by:	Kurt Hammond

03:22 May 31, 2005

Japanese to English translations [PRO]
Tech/Engineering - Automotive / Cars & Trucks

Japanese term or phrase: カーライフ

Is there a better way to translate this other than "car life"? I think "car life" is a Japanized word which doesn't really makes sense in English. What does it mean exactly?

Wei Peng Loy KudoZ activity Questions: 223 (none open) (2 without valid answers) (1 closed without grading) Answers: 14
Local time: 06:01

automotive lifestyle, car lifestyle

Explanation:
Just a guess...

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Note added at 11 mins (2005-05-31 03:33:54 GMT)
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To be clear, in Japanese \"car life\" doesn\'t mean the lifetime of the vehicle. It refers to a lifestyle in which the car plays a role improve the quality of living. A Japanese who hears the word \"car life\" is likely to conjure images of convenient mobility, weekend outings, and improved status.

One of the targets of this phrase is probably to sell the appeal of vehicle ownership to those who currently do not have a car.

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Note added at 1 hr 21 mins (2005-05-31 04:43:33 GMT)
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Think of the American suburban life. That is the type of imagery that is attempted to be conveyed.

Selected response from:

Kurt Hammond
United States
Local time: 15:01

Grading comment

Thanks.
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer

Summary of answers provided

2 +7

automotive lifestyle, car lifestyle

Kurt Hammond

Life with a Car

Nobuo Kawamura

car and life

Kazuo SAWADA

Lifestyle set around with the mobility of automobile

humbird

car life

zenlee

a life using a car

Katsunori Higuchi

Discussion entries: 1

Answers

11 mins confidence:

カーライフ car and life

Explanation:
Japanese people think living with car is wonderful.
They enjoy going to resort places in cars and shopping by cars.
However, in actual, the roads are crowded and they can not fully utilize the function of cars (speed etc.) very well.
It is still a status symbol to own a car.

Kazuo SAWADA
Local time: 12:01
Works in field
Native speaker of: Japanese
PRO pts in category: 8

25 mins confidence:

カーライフ a life using a car

Explanation:
From what car life is a Japanized word, I think "car life" here doesn't mean the length of time a car will be usable.
I think "a life using a car " suits here but it might be too literal.

Katsunori Higuchi
Japan
Local time: 07:01
Native speaker of:

Japanese

9 mins confidence:

peer agreement (net): +7

カーライフ

automotive lifestyle, car lifestyle

Kurt Hammond
United States
Local time: 15:01
Works in field
Native speaker of: English
PRO pts in category: 128

Grading comment

Thanks.

3 hrs confidence:

Life with a Car

Explanation:
（ご参考）コンピューターライフLife with a Computer　ヨットライフLife with a Yacht

Nobuo Kawamura
Japan
Local time: 07:01
Works in field
Native speaker of:

Japanese
PRO pts in category: 8

4 hrs confidence:

カーライフ car life

Explanation:
http://response.jp/list/recent_carlife.html

zenlee
Malaysia
Local time: 06:01
Native speaker of:

Chinese

13 hrs confidence:

カーライフ Lifestyle set around with the mobility of automobile

Explanation:
As you know America is known as "mobile society". This word has two meanings: One, so called "car life", that people are infatuated with the freedom, independence, and convenience of mobility that automobile bring to them; Second, fluidity and room for climbing up a social ladder (though some thinks tthis is no more true).
Now I believe the meaning of "car life" in your question is One in my explanation. Poeple like the convenience of car so much, they set their lifestyle around car. So much so that they don't take bus, train, bicycle etc., for shopping, to/from work, dentist visits .... any more.
Unfortunately my answer is a bit too long, but I don't think there is one simple expression that is able to emcompass cultural/linguistic differences of English and Japanese in this case.

humbird
Native speaker of:

Japanese,

English
PRO pts in category: 16

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カーライフ

English translation: automotive lifestyle

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