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Chapter 6: The Journey from Platform Nine and Three Quarters

Simplified Chinese (Mandarin: China)
从93/4 站台开始的旅程
Cóng jiǔ yòu sì-fēn-zhī-sān zhàntái kāishǐ de lǚchéng
cóng = 'from'.
jiǔ = '9'.
yòu (not written) = 'and' (with fractions).
3/4 sì-fēn-zhī-sān = '3/4'. (Literally 'of four parts three'.)
站台 zhàntái = 'platform'.
开始 kāishǐ = 'start'.
de = connecting particle
旅程 lǚchéng = 'journey'.
The Journey Starting from Platform 9 and 3/4
Traditional Chinese (Mandarin: Taiwan)
自九又四分之三月台出發的旅程
Zì jiǔ yòu sì-fēn-zhī-sān yuètái chūfā de lǚchéng
= 'from' (formal).
jiǔ = '9'.
yòu = 'and' (with fractions).
四分之三 sì-fēn-zhī-sān = '3/4'. (Literally 'of four parts three'.)
月台 yuètái = 'platform'.
出發 chūfā = 'depart'.
de = connecting particle
旅程 lǚchéng = 'journey'.
The Journey Departing from Platform 9 and 3/4
Japanese
9と3/4番線からの旅
Kyū to yonbun no san bansen kara no tabi
kyū = '9'.
to = 'and'.
3/4 yonbun no san = '3/4'.
(Literally 'of four parts three'.)
ban = 'number'.
sen = 'track'.
から kara = 'from', i.e., 'from track number'.
no = connecting particle
tabi = 'journey'.
The Journey from Track no. 9 and 3/4
Korean
9와 4분의 3번 승강장
Gu-wa sa-bun-ui sam-beon seunggang-jang
9 gu = '9'.
wa = 'and'.
4분의 3번 sa-bun-ui sam '3/4'.
(Literally 'of four parts three'.)
번 (番) beon = 'number'.
승강장 (乘降場) seunggang-jang = 'platform'.
Platform no. 9 and 3/4
Vietnamese (Chinese characters show etymology)
Hành trình từ sân ga chín-ba-phần-tư hành trình (行程) = 'journey'.
từ () = 'from'.
sân ga = 'platform'.
chín = '9'.
ba-phần-tư = '3/4'. (Literally 'three part four')
The Journey from Platform 9 and 3/4
Mongolian (previous)
9 3/4 Тавцангаас эхэлсэн аялал
Yösön bükhel dörövnii gyrav-dugaar tavtsangaas ekhelsen aylal
9 3/4 yösön bükhel dörövnii gurav = 'nine and three quarters'.
(бүхэл bukhel = 'integer', dörövnii gurav = 'of four, three'.)
дугаар -dugaar = 'number'.
тавцан tavtsan = 'platform' (-(г)аас -(g)aas is Ablative case, meaning 'from'.)
эхлэх ekhlekh = 'begin' (-сэн -sen Past tense.)
аялал aylal = 'journey'.
The Journey that Started from Platform no. 9 3/4
Mongolian (new)
Есөн бүхэл дөрөвний гуравдугаар тавцангаас эхэлсэн аялал
Yösön bükhel dörövnii gyrav-dugaar tavtsangaas ekhelsen aylal
есөн бүхэл дөрөвний гурав yösön bükhel dörövnii gurav = 'nine and three quarters'.
(бүхэл bukhel = 'integer', дөрөвний гурав dörövnii gurav = 'of four, three'.)
дугаар -dugaar = 'number'.
тавцан tavtsan = 'platform' (-(г)аас -(g)aas is Ablative case, meaning 'from'.)
эхлэх ekhlekh = 'begin' (-сэн -sen Past tense).
аялал aylal = 'journey'.
The Journey that Started from Platform no. Nine and three quarters

The fictitious platform Nine and Three Quarters is now undoubtedly the most famous platform at Kings Cross Station in London.

How is 'platform' translated?

Britain has a tradition of naming the place of departure of trains in terms of 'platforms'. The U.S. uses 'track'.

How is 'platform no.' translated?

In English, a platform or track may be identified either as 'platform no. 1' or, omitting the word 'no.', as 'platform 1'. In the languages covered here, it is more normal to insert a word functioning like English 'no.'.

How is the fraction '3/4' translated?

In English vulgar fractions, the numerator comes before the denominator. Thus, 'three' (numerator) 'quarters/fourths' (denominator).

How is 'journey' translated?

'Journey' is generally used in English for longish trips requiring preparation.

The Korean translation omits the word 'journey'.

How is 'from platform 9 3/4' (prepositional phrase) translated?

The English places the prepositional phrase 'from platform 9 3/4' directly after 'journey'. This a special feature of English that is not necessarily shared with other languages.

Translators adopt two approaches to this (apart from the Korean, which omits the phrase).

(Korean appears thanks to "Hiro".)

(Detailed notes on the chapter can be found at Harry Potter Lexicon)

Chapter 5
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