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法的に

English translation: Legally

14:47 Feb 4, 2020
Japanese to English translations [Non-PRO]
Art/Literary - Cinema, Film, TV, Drama
Japanese term or phrase: 法的に
Dear ProZ members,

I have a doubt about the following sentence I've found in a cartoon. A government inspector is speaking.

法的に最上位の捜査権限を与えられています
(I've been legally given top investigative authority.)

I'm not sure about how to take that 法的に.

Interpretation 1: They gave me the highest investigative authority that's permitted by law. More than this would be illegal.
Interpretation 2: I have the highest investigative authority, and it's all legal. What I'm doing is not against the law.

What's your opinion?

Thank you very much!
Riccardo91
Italy
English translation:Legally
Explanation:
It is difficult to say for sure without more context, but the character is simply saying that their investigative authority is backed up by law. So "Legally, I have the highest investigative authority," or even possibly "I have been given the highest investigative authority under the law."

I agree with the above poster who said that there is not really the sense of "more than this would be illegal".
Selected response from:

Joshua Reyer
Japan
Local time: 04:32
Grading comment
I agree, the better thing it's to keep it vague enough.

Thank you very much!
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
4 +1Legally
Joshua Reyer
4Legally
Amy Kasuga
3Legally speaking
Henry Dotterer


  

Answers


2 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
Legally


Explanation:
I agree with your #1 assessment.

Amy Kasuga
United States
Local time: 15:32
Works in field
Native speaker of: English
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2 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5
Legally speaking


Explanation:
I take it in a different way. I understand it more along the lines of "in a legal sense" / "legally speaking" / "as for the legal aspect". I don't detect either the sense of "More than this would be illegal." or "What I'm doing is not against the law."

Example sentence(s):
  • 日本では、法的には２０歳で成人になる。

    https://tangorin.com/definition/%E6%B3%95%E7%9A%84
Henry Dotterer
United States
Local time: 15:32
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
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11 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +1
Legally


Explanation:
It is difficult to say for sure without more context, but the character is simply saying that their investigative authority is backed up by law. So "Legally, I have the highest investigative authority," or even possibly "I have been given the highest investigative authority under the law."

I agree with the above poster who said that there is not really the sense of "more than this would be illegal".

Joshua Reyer
Japan
Local time: 04:32
Native speaker of: English
Grading comment
I agree, the better thing it's to keep it vague enough.

Thank you very much!

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Henry Dotterer: Right. "Legally" is enough.
3 hrs
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