Verbs and sentences with English translations in the infinitive

Bunpro
#1

I come across a lot of samples sentences where the English translation is in the infinitive. For example:

ショッピングセンターに行って、買い物をします。
To go to the mall and then shop.

Due to the ambiguity that is inherent in Japanese, that would normally be clarified by context, I tend to add another translation in my head:

I will go to the mall and then shop.

…as I imagine this would be the more likely way that I would use this Japanese in daily life.

And if I’m not mistaken, this could also be translated as

I habitually go to the mall and then shop.

I’m curious to know how other learners tend to use these infinite sentences, and how BunPro intend them to be useful.

Also, I think I may have a feature request brewing, as I do like the way that resources like Tae Kim’s Grammar Guide and Jlab’s grammar Anki deck tend to place the inferred parts of the English translation in brackets (or In the case of Tae Kim, omitting then completely), e.g.

[I will] go to the mall and then shop.

I wonder if something like that would be helpful on BunPro. Although I appreciate it could be difficult to implement.

Edited to add: do native speakers ever speak or think in the infinitive? Or are these translations simply there to allow for the aforementioned ambiguity of a sentence like this?

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#2

I appreciate you bringing this up as I have often been confused by these fragment sentences. This isn’t how people speak in English, so these sentences don’t really help me get a sense of how a person might use them in Japanese. Your examples of possible alternative translations are really helpful!

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#3

I’m glad my alternative translations are useful! Hopefully some more advanced learners can confirm or correct them.

Also, your reply made me think of another question (will add it to the OP).

#4

ChatGPT agrees with the two alternative translations I gave, and adds two more nuances:

Here are some interpretations for ショッピングセンターに行って買い物をします:

  1. “I will go to the mall and shop.” (Future intention)

  2. “I go to the mall and shop.” (Present habitual action)

  3. “I am going to the mall and shopping.” (Present continuous action)

  4. “I go to the mall to shop.” (Purpose of going)

I’m not sure about number 3, it doesn’t sound natural, in English at least. It is AI after all, so best to take it. with a pinch of salt.

#5

It doesn’t always have to be “I,” right? Could the translation also be something like “You go to the mall to shop,” “We go to the mall to shop,” “They go to the mall to shop,” etc? I’m wary of training my brain to insert a specific pronoun when there isn’t one in the Japanese.

#6

I believe that’s correct. If it was an answer to a question, like “what will Mr Tanaka do today?” then the answer could be read as “Mr Tanaka will go the the mall and shop”.

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