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無理がきく

English translation: willing to go the extra mile

GLOSSARY ENTRY (DERIVED FROM QUESTION BELOW)
Japanese term or phrase:無理がきく
English translation:willing to go the extra mile
Entered by: casey

02:01 Jan 9, 2007
Japanese to English translations [PRO]
Bus/Financial - General / Conversation / Greetings / Letters
Japanese term or phrase: 無理がきく
This comes from a company listing the merits of one of its overseas offices. It says that "human relationships are strong, so 無理がきく". I have never seen this phrase before, but I assume that it means something like "they will go above and beyond the call of duty." Any suggestions for a good way to finish this sentence?
casey
United States
Local time: 14:52
willing to go the extra mile
Explanation:
Although I agree with Kurt's explanation of the term, which is without a doubt correct, I think that it is probably better to avoid the use of words such as 'persuade' or 'convince' when phrasing the English, as these could be perceived as having negative connotations. That is to say, the element of needing to convince or persuade someone to do something not necessarily in their job description could sound a little harsh or even undesirable.

I would probably parse it along the lines of 'we have an excellent relationship with the dedicated staff at (O/S office), who are willing to go the extra mile for us', or your own suggestion of 'going above and beyond the call of duty.'
Either way, it's clear you've got the gist of it.
Selected response from:

KathyT
Australia
Local time: 04:52
Grading comment
Thanks, Kathy, for the nice idiom. And thanks to everybody else for their input, especially Kurt. I wish I could give points to everyone...
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
2 +3willing to go the extra mile
KathyT
5able to (OR has ability to) make impossible possible
humbird
3 +2be able to convince or persuade someone to do something above what is normally expected"
Kurt Hammond
3Put oneself "outside the comfort zone"
snowbees


Discussion entries: 8





  

Answers


1 hr   confidence: Answerer confidence 2/5Answerer confidence 2/5 peer agreement (net): +3
willing to go the extra mile


Explanation:
Although I agree with Kurt's explanation of the term, which is without a doubt correct, I think that it is probably better to avoid the use of words such as 'persuade' or 'convince' when phrasing the English, as these could be perceived as having negative connotations. That is to say, the element of needing to convince or persuade someone to do something not necessarily in their job description could sound a little harsh or even undesirable.

I would probably parse it along the lines of 'we have an excellent relationship with the dedicated staff at (O/S office), who are willing to go the extra mile for us', or your own suggestion of 'going above and beyond the call of duty.'
Either way, it's clear you've got the gist of it.

KathyT
Australia
Local time: 04:52
Native speaker of: English
PRO pts in category: 42
Grading comment
Thanks, Kathy, for the nice idiom. And thanks to everybody else for their input, especially Kurt. I wish I could give points to everyone...

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Kurt Hammond: I would support with interpretation as well, as long as it's clear that the people "going the extra mile" are the contacts in the OTHER company.
1 hr
  -> Thank you.
agree  catlover
9 hrs
  -> Thank you, catlover.
agree  Will Matter: with Kurt.
13 hrs
  -> Thanks, willmatter. I think it's fairly clear. :-)
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2 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 5/5
able to (OR has ability to) make impossible possible


Explanation:
Casey, your own anser is perfect.
無理 means "impossible", "unreasonalbe", "beyond reason", and depending on context "in excess".
http://dictionary.www.infoseek.co.jp/?ii=1&sm=1&sc=1&gr=ml&q...
Closest translation of this word in your case would be "impossible", or taking different view, "in excess".
Also in your context, they are boasting that "the office has very solid human relationship", theregy underlying message is that is their strength and merit.
My answer may sound like a catch-phrase, but given the message in your story, that is what it is.

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Note added at 3 hrs (2007-01-09 05:09:07 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

My first answer in 2007 includes typo and I am very ashamed.
theregy??? Of course you know what's the correct spelling.
Happy New Year to everyone (belatedly)!

humbird
Native speaker of: Native in JapaneseJapanese, Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 40
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17 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5 peer agreement (net): +2
be able to convince or persuade someone to do something above what is normally expected"


Explanation:

無理が利くmeans something like "to be able to convince or persuade someone to do something above what is normally expected."

I can't think of the exact word for it, but I will try to explain through an example.

Example: Company A orders a product from Company B and the standard delivery time is 4 weeks, but Company A needs the product in 3 weeks. The overseas employee for Company A has good personal relationships with the sales team at Company B so makes a phone call and explains the situation. Because they have good personal relationship, the sales person at Company B says he'll try to see what he can do to speed up the delivery. Behind the scenes he shuffles priorities and works within his company to ensure that Company A's deadline is met.


So, I would finish your sentence as something like: Our strong personal relationships at (overseas office) enable deal at an advantage with our customers and vendors.

It almost has nuance of 'preferential treatment' in case there is a conflict of what is promised and what can be squeezed out of the system.

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Note added at 3 hrs (2007-01-09 05:12:31 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

Please see Susan Koyama-Steele's very valid comment:

neutral Susan Koyama-Steele: Your definition of 無理が利くis only half true. This is not a matter of persuation. With all due respect I would suggest you cut off first part. 2 hrs
My reply -> I understand your point. Party B is not being "forced" to go extra mile. Party B does it for Party A because they are like friends in a sense.

Nobody is 'forcing' anyone to do anything. It is a synergistic relationship based on mutual respect.


Kurt Hammond
United States
Local time: 11:52
Works in field
Native speaker of: English
PRO pts in category: 47

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  conejo: Yes, in this example, it means that Company A is asking Company B for something that is beyond what was promised, and something that is probably difficult, and that Company A is able to use that tactic because the relationships are strong.
12 mins
neutral  humbird: Your definition of 無理が利くis only half true. This is not a matter of persuation. With all due respect I would suggest you cut off first part.
2 hrs
  -> I understand your point. Party B is not being "forced" to go extra mile. Party B does it for Party A because they are like friends in a sense.
agree  Will Matter
15 hrs
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3 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5
Put oneself "outside the comfort zone"


Explanation:
Toyota people always put themselves “outside the comfort zone”: whenever they hit one target, they set another, more demanding one. That relentless pursuit of excellence certainly explains much of what has been happening to the company in recent years, at home and abroad.


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Note added at 3 hrs (2007-01-09 05:42:50 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

See the article:
http://www.economist.com/research/backgrounders/displaystory...

snowbees
Local time: 03:52
Native speaker of: Native in JapaneseJapanese
PRO pts in category: 4
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