In this article, we will explore how to express the idea of ‘convincing someone’ to do something in English. A common question arises when translating Japanese sentences like ‘彼になぜ車が必要かを納得させる’ into English. A question was raised about whether the phrase ‘I make himself understood why I need my own car’ is correct. Let’s break down the sentence and provide a better alternative.
1. Understanding the Mistake
The sentence ‘I make himself understood why I need my own car’ uses a structure that is not appropriate for this context. While ‘make someone understood’ may sound correct in some contexts, it is not a standard English construction. The issue here lies in how ‘make’ and ‘understood’ are used together. The phrase needs to be restructured to clearly express the act of convincing someone.
2. The Correct Way to Use ‘Convince’
In English, the most natural and correct way to express ‘convincing someone’ is to use the verb ‘convince’. Instead of ‘make himself understood’, a better construction would be ‘I convince him why I need my own car’. This directly conveys the act of persuading or convincing someone.
The verb ‘convince’ works well here because it implies that you are presenting reasons or arguments to change someone’s mind or belief. This construction is straightforward and avoids the confusion that can arise from incorrect usage of ‘make’ and ‘understood’.
3. Key Differences Between ‘Make Someone Understood’ and ‘Convince’
In English, ‘make someone understood’ is not commonly used, especially when referring to persuading or convincing someone. Instead, we use ‘make oneself understood’ when talking about communication (e.g., ‘I need to make myself understood in English’). However, when talking about convincing someone, ‘convince’ is the appropriate verb.
‘Convince’ has a direct meaning of persuading someone to accept a particular idea, opinion, or belief. It also works well with various contexts, such as explaining reasons or justifying actions, which is what the original sentence is aiming to express.
4. Other Alternatives to ‘Convince’
If you’re looking for variations in expression, there are other alternatives to ‘convince’. For instance, you could say ‘I explain to him why I need my own car’ or ‘I persuade him why I need my own car’. These alternatives also convey the act of trying to change someone’s understanding, but ‘convince’ remains the most common and direct choice for this context.
5. Conclusion
The original sentence ‘I make himself understood why I need my own car’ is incorrect in English. Instead, ‘I convince him why I need my own car’ is the best way to express the idea. Understanding how to use ‘convince’ correctly will help you communicate more effectively when trying to persuade someone in English. Remember, ‘convince’ implies changing someone’s mind with reasoning, and it’s the right choice for expressing persuasion in a clear and direct manner.
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