Question

[wolfie-18.livejournal.com]

Is there a Russian equivalent to the phrase "to speak beyond the grave?"

Also, if one were speaking about Japan, and how the West opened it up, how does one say открыть Японию without making it sound that they discovered Japan as opposed to opening it up?

Comments

[maceochi.livejournal.com]

There is the noun phrase открытии Японии, so why not the verb открыть Японию?

[moai-s.livejournal.com]

It's OK "открыть Японию".
I wonder why he says that "to discover Japan" is opposed to "opening it up"?

[wolfie-18.livejournal.com]

Because doesn't открыть страну means to discover a country? That is, that country was never known before and someone found it? If so, then that would be the wrong interpretation, as the Westerners who came to Japan knew it existed, but they forcibly opened up its ports for international trade using, as khathi above mentioned, "gunboat diplomacy," pretty much threatening them with war.

[oryx_and_crake]

You are right, открыть only means discover and does not convey the meaning of opening up at all.

[moai-s.livejournal.com]

Кажется понял:
1) to discover - to find a country which has never been known before
2) to open it up - to find the country which was disouvered earlier?

If so, then
1) to discover - открыть страну
2) to open it up - войти в страну figuratively, eg "Они вошли в страну в 19-м веке" - "They has opened it up as far back as 19th century".