The All-Purpose "Translation Request" Thread

[Zebra]

So, this isn't really a translation request, but more of a clarification on one. The line:

Is there a reason why Vegeta would mention his "latent" power rather than his power in general? The "latent" term often refers to hidden power, but it just seems odd to use here.

It is a bit odd. The phrase in Japanese is 潜在パワー/senzai pawaa; 潜在/senzai=latent/dormant/potential, and パワー/pawaa=the English word "power". It's not too far off from the standard term for the type of dormant power Gohan always seem to have, 潜在能力/senzai nouryoku; it just replaces 能力/nouryoku (ability) with the English word power. While we're on the subject, in the new movie (or the manga adaptation, at least) 潜在能力/senzai nouryoku is what Freeza says he'll unlock by training for four months.

As for why Vegeta says "latent power" here...your guess is as good as mine. I suppose it might be because third form Freeza still hasn't done anything yet, so his power is still "latent" in that sense. And/or maybe he's suppressing it. It is notable that Kuririn apparently isn't noticing whatever Vegeta is, despite being the one with more experience sensing ki. But Vegeta also assumes Kuririn could notice it, if he payed attention.

Just to be clear, Herms's translation was a bit off here.

「バ … バカめ …！潜在パワーを さぐってみろ … !! さ… さっきまでとは また別物だぞ… !!」
"Ba ... baka me ... ! Senzai pawā o sagutte miru ... !! Sa ... sakki madetowa mata betsumono da zo ... !!"

That translates naturally to, "You ... you idiot ... ! Try feeling out his latent power ... !! It ... it's nothing like what it was just a moment ago ... !!"

Vegeeta wasn't telling Kurilin to simply "check out" Freeza's latent power; you can't really "check out" something that's latent or hidden. さぐって (sagutte), also written as 探って (sagutte), means to "probe", "gauge", "feel out", "feel around for", etc. I know Steve Simmons's subtitle for the anime had Vegeeta saying, "Try gauging his hidden power!"

Even when one conceals their power, it can still be sensed by someone skilled enough; Kurilin could tell Nail was much stronger than all the other Nameckians despite Nail being suppressed, and Gokuu could tell Piccolo had gotten much stronger in DBS chapter 103 despite Piccolo only being in base (not Orange or Potential Unleashed).

It's still confusing, though, because it's not like Freeza was greatly suppressing himself when he entered his third form; Gokuu in the tank could feel that his Ki had greatly increased (and he literally says his Ki's increased, nothing about his latent power). So, why is Vegeeta talking about Freeza's "latent power" and not the power that he's displaying in that moment? I guess the implication is that Freeza's hiding a great deal of power on top of the power he's already displaying, but you'd think the focus would be more on the latter.