大きな拳ほどもある

English translation: a size similar to a big fist

19:19 Jun 8, 2017
Japanese to English translations [PRO]
General / Conversation / Greetings / Letters
Japanese term or phrase: 大きな拳ほどもある
大きな拳ほどもあるトマトのサラダ

I've never heard this expression before. Can anybody tell me what it means?
casey
United States
Local time: 08:47
English translation:a size similar to a big fist
Explanation:
大きな拳=a big fist
ほどもある=is similar to (in this case "a size similar to")
As a whole, it means "a size similar to a big fist" .
Selected response from:

Kayoko Kimura
United States
Local time: 07:47
Grading comment
Thank you!
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
4 +3salad with plump tomatoes the size of your fist
Teddy Okuyama (X)
4 +2large fist-sized
Reiko Ando
4 +1a size similar to a big fist
Kayoko Kimura
4 +1the size of your fist
David Patrick
4 +1large fist-sized tomato
Robert Edison
3large fist-size
cinefil


Discussion entries: 2





  

Answers


9 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +1
a size similar to a big fist


Explanation:
大きな拳=a big fist
ほどもある=is similar to (in this case "a size similar to")
As a whole, it means "a size similar to a big fist" .

Kayoko Kimura
United States
Local time: 07:47
Native speaker of: Native in JapaneseJapanese
PRO pts in category: 8
Grading comment
Thank you!
Notes to answerer
Asker: Haha! So it's literal in its meaning? Thanks! I was sure it must be some kind of idiom. :)


Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Akiha
1 day 6 hrs
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32 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +1
the size of your fist


Explanation:
I'd go with "a salad with tomatoes the size of your fist"

David Patrick
Ireland
Works in field
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 20

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Yasutomo Kanazawa
8 hrs
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1 hr   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5
large fist-size


Explanation:
http://www.yourdictionary.com/fist-size
http://ejje.weblio.jp/content/fist‐sized+rock

cinefil
Japan
Local time: 21:47
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: Native in JapaneseJapanese
PRO pts in category: 75
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27 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +2
large fist-sized


Explanation:
It likely means the size of the tomato is about the size of a large fist, so it could be translated as "the salad with a large fist-sized tomato."

This is a figurative expression, so I do not think translation of "ほどもある" is necessary.


--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 2 hrs (2017-06-08 22:01:11 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

I think my statement above a "figurative expression" is not quite correct.

The more precise translation would be "about the size of a large fist."

Reiko Ando
United States
Works in field
Native speaker of: Native in JapaneseJapanese

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Robert Edison
6 hrs
  -> Thank you!

agree  DPurohit (X)
10 days
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3 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +3
salad with plump tomatoes the size of your fist


Explanation:
大きな could qualify either (1) tomatoes, or (2) fist.
I would interpret it to be qualifying tomatoes rather than fist.
It would sound better that way in English.
And "大きな" could be translated many ways, not just "big," which would be the literal translation. If it's not a legal or technical text, you could be more creative (e.g. "plump," "hearty," "meaty,").

Teddy Okuyama (X)
Japan
Local time: 21:47
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish, Native in JapaneseJapanese

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Marc Brunet: good shot! congrats for this one :-)
4 hrs

agree  Yasutomo Kanazawa
5 hrs

agree  aphx
9 hrs
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7 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +1
large fist-sized tomato


Explanation:
It depends on how literal you want to be.

Robert Edison
Japan
Works in field
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 4

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Teddy Okuyama (X)
6 hrs
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