Board Thread:Theories and Speculation/@comment-26490760-20150926205437/@comment-734582-20151005163509

BakumatsuWarrior wrote: If we interpret it the way you're suggesting, then the word "surpass" becomes meaningless. I'm no expert on japanese or japanese culture. however, having learned a few languages, i both feel that it's more of a saying (or expression of hope) than something meant literally. I also believe that the way it's translated into english may not be the best, or that context may be lost. I'd love to see someone with a good understanding of japanese explain this.

To be honest, reading your comment and my own, i feel that i've gone overboard with the example. I think that the surpassing does have to refer to a great feat, just not to the total picture. In other words, you could surpass your professor if you manage to prove a hypothesis he's been stumped on for a long time, even though his life-time achievements are far greater than you.

So, i believe that the correct context is that "the next generation surpasses the old" is an expression of hope, and acknowledging your student, rather than a literal comparison of strength. I think that English may be lacking the proper expressions here, as it almost feels like an idiom or saying or something. BakumatsuWarrior wrote: P.S. Agree about Naruto's intuitive ability, though. However, one can still call him dumb in the normal sense of the word True. However, i felt that it needed some context, because i've seen loads of people complain about using these great jutsu when he actually already did this from the start.

PS: i'll do some googling to see if i can find something about this generation surpassing stuff. I feel like something's missing, but that's just my intuition.