Lyric translating help!

Japanese
#1

Hello all, I have been trying to give myself another way to learn by slowly translating song lyrics. It has helped me expand out of my comfort zone in terms of grammar and casual forms. I need help translating this line from Ado’s RuLe.

Japanese: どかぬなら出すぞチェーンソー
Translation (that I found): If not, I’ll get out my chainsaw

I am having trouble finding information on the definition of どかぬ and also for the ぞ particle.

What is どかぬ? Am I just searching for the wrong thing?

My understanding was the ぞ was a sentence ending particle similar to よ but implying more force. That would work in the sentence but I don’t understand why there is a noun following a sentence “ending” particle.

Thanks for the help!

#2

Hey and welcome on the community forums!
どかぬ is basically どく verb with classical ぬ suffix

So it basically means, "if you don’t step aside, I will get (it) out!
(it) seems to be the chainsaw :+1:

Have fun studying!

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#3

It seems mrnoone already answered this in a clear and concise way, but I had already looked into a bit so I will also share my findings.

<ぬなら> seems to mean "if you don’t (x), … in archaic Japanese.

I found multiple examples including these phrases that come from famous Japanese poems highlighting the various perspectives of three different warring leaders.

鳴かぬなら殺してしまえほととぎす (If a bird doesn’t sing, kill it.)

鳴かぬなら鳴かして見せようほととぎす (If a bird doesn’t sing, make it.)

鳴かぬなら鳴くまで待とうほととぎす (If a bird doesn’t sing, wait for it.)

If you follow this pattern using 退く like mrnoone already stated, you’ll come to the same translation. Hope this adds a lil something extra to his explanation.

Oh, and just to add: Your understanding of the ぞ particle is correct as far as I know. It’s just a masculine emphasis particle. I wouldn’t overthink it too much in a song. Song lyrics don’t tend to be grammatically perfect (same with in English songs) and in some cases it’s just a matter of making the lyrics sound good and/or conveying a certain feeling.

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#4

Thank you both for the help. This will help me get my head around it better.

I have found a few other spots were grammar was out of order or it switches between casual and proper to better suit the song.

It may not be the most useful way to study but it’s a good way to keep it interesting.

Thanks again

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#5

I think in casual speech people tend to add a clarifying clause after the sentence proper already ended, when they realize the thought was too unclear as is. Not just in Japanese, but in any language.

出すぞ！チェーンソーを。I’m gonna get it out! The chainsaw, I mean.

In the lyrics it’s probably there just to rhyme, but once you start looking for it, you’ll probably find other examples in highschool anime and such.