Bayonetta/ja-en

This translation is intended for people who already know English and are learning Japanese. It is not intended to be used to learn English, because the sentences in English may use strange or awkward wording in order to illustrate the vocabulary and grammar of the original Japanese.

Records of Time　～　魔女狩り

Japanese

「光と闇が生み出す　

認識こそ真理の世界で…」

English

In a world that light and darkness creates, where perception is truth...

こそ is used to emphasise the preceding word, giving it the meaning of 'it is this [that is important, etc.], and not anything else'.

Japanese

「目も眩む昔――」

English

TODO — Missing text

TODO — Explanation of phrase 目も眩む

Japanese

「ヨーロッパの辺境に　

歴史の観測者たる一族がいた」

English

In a remote region of Europe, there were clans who served as overseers of history.

"N1たるN2" means "N2 which has the (outstanding/superior) quality or capacity of N1". たる comes from the written expression てあり, its use giving a solemn feel to the text. It has an exaggerated tone, and is used mainly in formal written language or formal spoken language, such as in speeches.

Japanese

「闇の従者　アンブラの魔女と――」

English

The followers of darkness, the Umbra Witches and...

Japanese

「光の使者　ルーメンの賢者」

English

the emissaries of light, the Lumen Sages.

Japanese

「両者は互いを敬い　

力の均衡を保ちながら――」

English

They both respected each other, and while maintaining the balance of power...

TODO — Explanation of ながら.

Japanese

「歴史を支え合った」

English

they supported history.

TODO — Check translations; why is 支え合う being used?

Japanese

「その均衡が壊れるまで…」

English

Until that balance breaks...

TODO — Leave translation literal (breaks) or change to a more natural phrasing (broke/was broken)?

Japanese

「突如　両者は反目し　

互いに憎悪を燃やして――」

English

Suddenly, the two (clans) became antagonistic and stoked the hatred between them and...

TODO — Polish translation?

Japanese

「争い始める」

English

they began to fight.

TODO — Explanation of ～始める.

Japanese

「その炎はヨーロッパ全土を　

無限の戦渦に陥れた」

English

Its flames plunged all of Europe into an endless chaos of war.

Japanese

「奇襲　暗殺　惨殺 」

English

Surprise attacks, assassinations, massacres...

Japanese

「壮絶な抗争だった」

English

It was a fierce conflict.

Japanese

「賢者たちは　

神の力を以って戦ったが――」

English

The sages fought with the power of God, but...

TODO — Explanation of が?

Japanese

「闇に暗躍する　

魔女の攻勢に圧され始め――」

English

they began to be overwhelmed by the attack of the witches, who secretly act in the darkness, and...

TODO — Explanation of the passive?

Japanese

「開戦から数年後　

抗争は魔女の勝利で幕となる

English

several years after the start of the war, the conflict ends in victory for the witches.

幕となる could also be written 幕になる.

Japanese

「安息も束の間――」

English

The rest was brief...

Japanese

「力を恐れた人々による　

魔女の糾弾が始まった」

English

Denouncement of the witches by the people who feared their power began.

Japanese

「生き残った魔女は　

捕らえられ――」

English

The witches who had survived were captured and...

Japanese

「徹底的に断罪された」

English

they were exhaustively convicted.

Japanese

「神の奇跡も　

”魔女狩り”を加速させ――」

English

The miracles of God also accelerated the "witch-hunts" and...

～狩り（がり） can be attached to other words as well. Some modern examples include おたく狩り (criminals or police targeting otaku) or おやじ狩り (criminals targeting older men).

TODO — Explanation of させる?

Japanese

「ついにアンブラの魔女も　

全て滅び去った」

English

in the end, the Umbra Witches also all perished.

Japanese

「ただ一人を除いて…」

English

Except for just one...

Japanese

ベヨネッタ　「ジャンヌ！」

English

Bayonetta: "Jeanne!"

Japanese

ジャンヌ　「無事だ！」

English

Jeanne: "I'm okay!"

Japanese

ベヨネッタ　「行くぞ　離れるな！」

English

Bayonetta: "Let's go! Stay close to me!

TODO — Explanation of な

Japanese

現代

English

Present day