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地球を制覇する生物は人類の次は鼠と言われ

English translation: It is said that the mice will outlive the human race (to rule the earth)

03:58 Dec 27, 2007
Japanese to English translations [PRO]
Tech/Engineering - Business/Commerce (general)
Japanese term or phrase: 地球を制覇する生物は人類の次は鼠と言われ
Your help is much appreciated!
Joyce A
Thailand
Local time: 08:36
English translation:It is said that the mice will outlive the human race (to rule the earth)
Explanation:
I know this is not literal translation and this is a bit softer, more sensitve approach. Maybe I'm too Japanese here, but, if this is part of the text probably presented soon in January (干支 is a popular topic around the start of New Year usually.), I rather want to avoid somewhat negative expressions, just so is the same for 年賀状.

"人類の次" implies "after human extinction", and so I don't want to include this could-be negative connotation (I don't like 地球を制覇 either, but that's totally my personal thing, hence rule the earth, not the world ;-)).

それでは、良いお年をお迎えください。
Selected response from:

RieM
United States
Local time: 21:36
Grading comment
Thank you, Rie-san! I agree with your accompanying comments and, therefore, used your answer.
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
3 +3It is said that (next) creatures to conquer the world after humans will be mice (rats)
Krzysztof Łesyk
3 +3It is said that the mice will outlive the human race (to rule the earth)
RieM
3 +1It is said that mice (rats) will be the next species to take over the world after humans
Yo Mizuno


  

Answers


8 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5 peer agreement (net): +3
It is said that (next) creatures to conquer the world after humans will be mice (rats)


Explanation:
depending on what follows と言われ, the beginning might instead say "Being said that...", "It was said that..." and so on

Krzysztof Łesyk
Japan
Local time: 10:36
Native speaker of: Native in PolishPolish
PRO pts in category: 12

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Shannon Morales: Exactly, though I suspect "rule the world" might be best. Is this really something that's been said? Yikes.
1 min
  -> Agree, "Rule the world" sounds better than "conquer the world", doesn't it? And yes, it's said that mice and cockroaches are the only creatures able to survive a nuclear holocaust. No year of the cockroach in any zodiac I know though ;)
agree  JPMedicalTrans
10 hrs
agree  casey
10 hrs
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12 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5 peer agreement (net): +1
It is said that mice (rats) will be the next species to take over the world after humans


Explanation:
Just another option...



Yo Mizuno
Japan
Local time: 10:36
Works in field
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish, Native in JapaneseJapanese

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  casey
10 hrs
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1 hr   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5 peer agreement (net): +3
It is said that the mice will outlive the human race (to rule the earth)


Explanation:
I know this is not literal translation and this is a bit softer, more sensitve approach. Maybe I'm too Japanese here, but, if this is part of the text probably presented soon in January (干支 is a popular topic around the start of New Year usually.), I rather want to avoid somewhat negative expressions, just so is the same for 年賀状.

"人類の次" implies "after human extinction", and so I don't want to include this could-be negative connotation (I don't like 地球を制覇 either, but that's totally my personal thing, hence rule the earth, not the world ;-)).

それでは、良いお年をお迎えください。

RieM
United States
Local time: 21:36
Works in field
Native speaker of: Japanese
PRO pts in category: 56
Grading comment
Thank you, Rie-san! I agree with your accompanying comments and, therefore, used your answer.

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  casey: Or how about "It is believed that mice will be around long after mankind has disappeared/vanished."
9 hrs
  -> Thanks, Casey. Whichever it is, I don't want to think about it especially this time of the year! Happy Holidays!
agree  Leochan: 企業トップの新年の挨拶っぽいですね。
1 day 34 mins
  -> そんなイメージ、沸きましたよね、やっぱり。どうもありがとう。来年もよろしくです。
agree  Ruth Sato
1 day 19 hrs
  -> ありがとう、来年も宜しくお願いします。
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