約20mgを精密に量り

English translation: precisely measure about 20 grams

GLOSSARY ENTRY (DERIVED FROM QUESTION BELOW)
Japanese term or phrase:約20mgを精密に量り
English translation:precisely measure about 20 grams
Entered by: maiki

15:42 Sep 26, 2008
Japanese to English translations [PRO]
Medical - Medical: Pharmaceuticals
Japanese term or phrase: 約20mgを精密に量り
This type of phrase is standard in Japanese clinical trial reports (約20mgを精密に量り), but this makes no sense and the translation into English (approximately 20 mg is measured precisely) therefore also makes no sense. Does anyone have any idea what the Japanese report authors mean by this? I know it's not a typo or other error, because I've seen it in dozens of reports.
Thanks.
maiki
precisely measure about 20 grams
Explanation:
precisely measure approx. 20 mg

This makes perfect sense to a chemist or pharmacist.
"measure about 20 mg and precisely determine the weight)
The point is the sensitivity of the balance and significant figures.
The measured weight might be recorded as 19.95,19.97, 20.05, 20.10
You get the the idea; precisely measure about 20 grams.
Selected response from:

Fred Moosreiner
United States
Local time: 18:47
Grading comment
Thanks for the answer. It seems clear now.
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
5 +6precisely measure about 20 grams
Fred Moosreiner
3 +1precisely weigh(ed) out approximately 20 grams
Brian Dritschler (X)
3when precisely measured, it was some 20 mg.
Jason Kang


Discussion entries: 1





  

Answers


25 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5
when precisely measured, it was some 20 mg.


Explanation:
While the measurement was precise, the author thought he (she) did not have to report it precisely, e.g. 19.47193 mg.

Jason Kang
Canada
Local time: 15:47
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: Native in KoreanKorean
PRO pts in category: 12
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

28 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 5/5 peer agreement (net): +6
precisely measure about 20 grams


Explanation:
precisely measure approx. 20 mg

This makes perfect sense to a chemist or pharmacist.
"measure about 20 mg and precisely determine the weight)
The point is the sensitivity of the balance and significant figures.
The measured weight might be recorded as 19.95,19.97, 20.05, 20.10
You get the the idea; precisely measure about 20 grams.

Fred Moosreiner
United States
Local time: 18:47
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 4
Grading comment
Thanks for the answer. It seems clear now.

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Yuki Okada
16 mins

agree  Aogara: It should be 20 mg, not 20 g, though.
1 hr

agree  humbird
3 hrs

agree  borha
15 hrs

agree  Tokyo_Moscow
15 hrs

agree  Nilton Junior
1 day 12 hrs
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

6 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5 peer agreement (net): +1
precisely weigh(ed) out approximately 20 grams


Explanation:
It really depends on the situation. This is one alternative using "out" if the context was taking some chemical out of a bottle, for example, to be mixed with another chemical.

Brian Dritschler (X)
Japan
Local time: 07:47
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Yumico Tanaka (X): Because this is a weight (mg) "weigh" seems logically correct.
3 days 38 mins
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