Wednesday, June 16, 2010

中途半端な文法パート3

Part III of 中途半端な文法 will discuss grammar points that use 例示, or examples to illustrate ideas, choices and other examples of things.

1.~なり~なり: Either ~ or ~
例文: 行くなり行かないなり、とにかく早く返事をした方がいいですよ。
If you're going to go or not, whatever the case, you should reply quickly.
Notes: Not used with past tense. Has an "anything is all right" nuance, so not often used with superiors.

2.~といい~といい: Both ~ and ~; in terms of, both ~ and ~
例文: といいといい、いつ行っても札幌は素晴らしい。
In terms of both winter and summer, Sapporo is wonderful.
Notes: Often positive; similar to も~も~.

3.~と言わず~と言わず: Not only A, B, but ~(also other things to which A and B belong); A, B and every~ else.
例文: あの作家の家は部屋の中と言わず廊下と言わず、本でいっぱいだ。
The rooms, hallways and everywhere else in the author's home were full of books.
Notes: Can have a nuance of "everywhere, always, all, etc."

4.~であれ~であれ: Whether ~ or ~
例文: 入学式であれ就職試験であれ、試験の前はするもんだ。
Whether it's a entrance ceremony or a work entrance exam, before the test being nervous is the nature of the beast.
Notes: Interchangeable with ~でも~でも.
い-adjectives derived from this form, which have become idioms, are mainly limited to: 遅かれ早かれ (sooner or later); 良かれ悪しかれ (better or worse); 多かれ少なかれ (more or less).

4 comments:

Blue Shoe said...

Interesting post! On number 2, though, I think you need to change either "秋" or "summer."

jljzen said...

Yeah, I thought about that when writing it, but what got me was that summer is freaking hot in Sapporo! Fall was nice and winter was gorgeous. But yeah, maybe the contrast of summer/winter would work better...

Blue Shoe said...

Oh, no, sorry - either works fine. I just meant that your Japanese and the English translation don't match up.

Daniel Lau said...

I'm liking this series, very helpful. Hope it continues indefinitely or evolves into 半端ない文法.