Japanese Grammar 2

挙げる

Expression: 挙げる（あげる）
Meaning: to cite; to raise; to mention as an example
Part of Speech: Verb (Group 2 / Ichidan)

日本の文化の特徴としてよく挙げられるのは、礼儀正しさと時間厳守です。

What is often cited as a feature of Japanese culture is politeness and punctuality.

What is often cited as a feature of Japanese culture is politeness and punctuality.

日本の文化の特徴としてよく挙げられるのは、礼儀正しさと時間厳守です。

この研究では、五つの事例が成功例として挙げられている。

In this study, five cases are cited as successful examples.

In this study, five cases are cited as successful examples.

この研究では、五つの事例が成功例として挙げられている。

彼は説明の中でいくつかのデータを挙げた。

He cited several pieces of data in his explanation.

He cited several pieces of data in his explanation.

彼は説明の中でいくつかのデータを挙げた。

むしろ

Expression: むしろ
Meaning: rather; instead; on the contrary
Part of Speech: Adverb (副詞)

暑いというより、むしろ痛いほどの日差しだった。

Rather than just hot, the sunlight was painfully intense.

Rather than just hot, the sunlight was painfully intense.

暑いというより、むしろ痛いほどの日差しだった。

叱られるのが嫌というより、むしろ期待に応えたいと思っている。

It’s not so much that I hate being scolded — rather, I just want to live up to expectations.

It’s not so much that I hate being scolded — rather, I just want to live up to expectations.

叱られるのが嫌というより、むしろ期待に応えたいと思っている。

その失敗は、むしろ彼の成長につながった。

That failure actually led to his growth.

That failure actually led to his growth.

その失敗は、むしろ彼の成長につながった。

〜からすれば／〜からすると

〜からすれば／〜からすると
🔹 Meaning:
Judging from..., From the standpoint/perspective of...
Used to express an evaluation or conclusion based on someone's perspective or certain criteria.

🔹 Form:
Noun ＋ からすれば / からすると

🔹 Example Sentence:
契約の一般理論からすれば、具体的にどういう労働に従事するかが明らかでなければ、そもそも契約になりえません。

📝 Translation:
Judging from general contract theory, unless it is clear what kind of work someone is engaged in, it cannot even be considered a contract in the first place.

経験者の意見からすれば、その方法はあまり効果がないそうだ。

Judging from the opinion of someone with experience, that method doesn’t seem very effective.

Judging from the opinion of someone with experience, that method doesn’t seem very effective.

経験者の意見からすれば、その方法はあまり効果がないそうだ。

子どもの立場からすれば、そのルールはちょっと厳しすぎる。

From a child’s point of view, that rule is a bit too strict.

From a child’s point of view, that rule is a bit too strict.

子どもの立場からすれば、そのルールはちょっと厳しすぎる。

医者からすれば、もっと早く病院に来るべきだった。

From the doctor’s perspective, you should have come to the hospital sooner.

From the doctor’s perspective, you should have come to the hospital sooner.

医者からすれば、もっと早く病院に来るべきだった。

そもそも

📘 Grammar Flashcard

そもそも
Meaning: To begin with / In the first place / Fundamentally

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🧠 How to Use:

• そもそも is an adverb used to introduce the original point, premise, or reasoning behind something.

• It often comes at the beginning of a sentence or clause, to shift focus back to the root cause or foundation of a topic.

• Common in logical arguments, critiques, or when questioning assumptions.

そもそも、どうしてこの問題が起きたのか考える必要がある。

We need to think about why this problem happened in the first place.

We need to think about why this problem happened in the first place.

そもそも、どうしてこの問題が起きたのか考える必要がある。

そもそも彼にそんな仕事を任せるべきではなかった。

He shouldn't have been given that job in the first place.

He shouldn't have been given that job in the first place.

そもそも彼にそんな仕事を任せるべきではなかった。

そもそもこの企画自体が無理だったのではないか。

Wasn’t this plan impossible from the very beginning?

Wasn’t this plan impossible from the very beginning?

そもそもこの企画自体が無理だったのではないか。

〜うる / 〜得る（える）

〜うる / 〜得る（える）
Meaning: Can / Be possible to / Capable of

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🧠 How to Use:

• 〜うる／〜得る is attached to the verb stem to express possibility or capability of something happening or being done.

• Written as 得る but read either as 「える」 or 「うる」 depending on the formality and word.

• Often used in formal, written, or academic contexts.

• Negative form: ～得ない（えない） = cannot / not possible to

このような事故は誰にでも起こりうる。

This kind of accident can happen to anyone.

This kind of accident can happen to anyone.

このような事故は誰にでも起こりうる。

彼の成功は努力の結果だと言い得る。

His success can be said to be the result of his efforts.

His success can be said to be the result of his efforts.

彼の成功は努力の結果だと言い得る。

そのような条件では、同意し得ない。

Under those conditions, I cannot possibly agree.

Under those conditions, I cannot possibly agree.

そのような条件では、同意し得ない。

〜に対して

How to Use:

1. Structure:
   [Noun] + に対して

   • The noun is the person, thing, or concept you're addressing or reacting to.

   • This can refer to a contrast (like "in contrast to") or an action toward someone or something.

2. Position in Sentence:

   • 〜に対して is typically placed after a noun (the target of action or the subject you're contrasting).

   • It connects to the rest of the sentence to show direction or contrast.

   • The following verb (or other elements) explains the action, reaction, or situation towards or in contrast to that noun.

3. Function:

   • Used when you are showing a reaction to someone or something.

   • Used to contrast two different things or situations.

彼はこの問題に対して積極的に意見を述べた。

He actively expressed his opinion regarding this issue.

He actively expressed his opinion regarding this issue.

彼はこの問題に対して積極的に意見を述べた。

私たちは社会問題に対して責任を持つべきだ。

We should take responsibility with respect to social issues.

We should take responsibility with respect to social issues.

私たちは社会問題に対して責任を持つべきだ。

この結果は、前回の結果に対して大きな改善を示している。

This result shows a big improvement in contrast to the previous one.

This result shows a big improvement in contrast to the previous one.

この結果は、前回の結果に対して大きな改善を示している。

ことになる

Meaning: It is decided that / It turns out that / It comes to be that / It will result in (something happening)

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🧠 How to Use:

1. Structure:

   • [Verb (dictionary form)] + ことになる
     or

   • [Noun] + ことになる

2. Function:

   • This structure is used when expressing a decision, result, or outcome that was not necessarily planned by the speaker, but it is the natural consequence of a situation.

   • It can also express something that is decided upon or that is going to happen due to a particular condition or circumstance.

3. Position in Sentence:

   • ことになる follows a verb or noun and expresses the result of a situation or decision. It often implies something indirectly decided (i.e., it is the result of a series of events or external factors).

   • In a future tense, it indicates that something will happen as a consequence of current conditions.

この問題については、上司と相談することになっています。

It has been decided that I will consult with my boss about this issue.

It has been decided that I will consult with my boss about this issue.

この問題については、上司と相談することになっています。

今の経済状況では、会社の経営が厳しくなることになる。

In the current economic situation, it will result in the company’s management becoming difficult.

In the current economic situation, it will result in the company’s management becoming difficult.

今の経済状況では、会社の経営が厳しくなることになる。

これから会議は毎週行うことになる。

From now on, the meetings will be held every week.

From now on, the meetings will be held every week.

これから会議は毎週行うことになる。

わけにはいかない

Meaning:

わけにはいかない is used to express a situation in which something is not possible, often because of moral or practical reasons. It implies that one cannot do something due to a constraint or limitation.

How to use:

• Verb (non-past form) + わけにはいかない: This construction is used after the verb's dictionary form or its negative form. It means "cannot" or "should not" because of a specific reaso

It's not possible to continue employing someone when there is no work.

仕事もないのに雇い続けろというわけにはいかないからです。

仕事もないのに雇い続けろというわけにはいかないからです。

It's not possible to continue employing someone when there is no work.

彼女には秘密を話すわけにはいかない。

I can't tell her the secret.

I can't tell her the secret.

彼女には秘密を話すわけにはいかない。

この状況で休むわけにはいかない。

I can't take a break in this situation.

I can't take a break in this situation.

この状況で休むわけにはいかない。

わたる

わたる in this context means "to span", "to cover a wide range of", or "to extend across". It is used when something is spread over a broad scope—such as topics, fields, areas, or time.

🔹 Common phrase:

• 多岐にわたる = "to span various areas," "to cover a wide range"

🔹 How to use:

• Noun + にわたる / にわたり / にわたって + noun/verb
  Used as a modifier before a noun or verb to describe broad range or extent.

地域の共同業務など多岐にわたる。

The community’s joint tasks span various areas.

The community’s joint tasks span various areas.

地域の共同業務など多岐にわたる。

彼の研究は、医学から工学まで多岐にわたる。

His research spans a wide range from medicine to engineering.

His research spans a wide range from medicine to engineering.

彼の研究は、医学から工学まで多岐にわたる。

会議では多岐にわたる問題が話し合われた。

A wide range of issues was discussed at the meeting.

A wide range of issues was discussed at the meeting.

会議では多岐にわたる問題が話し合われた。

あまり（にも）

あまり（にも） means "too much," "excessively," or "so ... that". It is used to describe something that goes beyond normal or acceptable levels, often with a negative nuance.

🔹 How to Use:

• あまりにも + adjective/verb
  Used before an adjective or verb to emphasize excessiveness.

• Can also appear as ～のあまり, especially in written or formal expressions.

その理由はあまりにも長時間働いていることにある。

The reason lies in the fact that they are working for far too many hours.

The reason lies in the fact that they are working for far too many hours.

その理由はあまりにも長時間働いていることにある。

あまりにも寒くて外に出られなかった。

It was too cold to go outside.

It was too cold to go outside.

あまりにも寒くて外に出られなかった。

彼の態度はあまりにも失礼だった。

His behavior was excessively rude.

His behavior was excessively rude.

彼の態度はあまりにも失礼だった。

にせよ

にせよ is a conjunction that means "even if", "even though", or "whether... or...". It’s used to concede a condition, acknowledging it while often presenting a contrasting or overriding point.

It has a similar nuance to としても or たとえ〜でも, and is often used in more formal or written contexts.

🔹 How to Use:

• [Verb/い-adj/な-adj/noun] (plain form) + にせよ

• Often paired with other similar clauses (e.g., 一時的にせよ、本気にせよ...)

本当の話にせよ、信じるのは難しい。

Even if it’s a true story, it’s hard to believe.

Even if it’s a true story, it’s hard to believe.

本当の話にせよ、信じるのは難しい。

冗談にせよ、人を傷つけるのはよくない。

Even if it’s a joke, it’s not okay to hurt someone.

Even if it’s a joke, it’s not okay to hurt someone.

冗談にせよ、人を傷つけるのはよくない。

学生にせよ社会人にせよ、マナーは大切だ。

Whether you're a student or a working adult, manners are important.

Whether you're a student or a working adult, manners are important.

学生にせよ社会人にせよ、マナーは大切だ。

いわゆる

いわゆる means "so-called" or "what is commonly known as".
It introduces a term or phrase that is widely recognized or referred to, often in quotation-like fashion.

🔹 How to Use:

• Structure: いわゆる + [Noun]

• Placed directly before a noun to describe it as commonly referred to by that term

彼は、いわゆる「天才タイプ」だ。

He is what you’d call a "genius type."

He is what you’d call a "genius type."

彼は、いわゆる「天才タイプ」だ。

これは、いわゆる伝統的な日本家屋です。

This is a so-called traditional Japanese house.

This is a so-called traditional Japanese house.

これは、いわゆる伝統的な日本家屋です。

いわゆる「ブラック企業」で働いた経験がある。

I’ve worked at a so-called “black company” before.

I’ve worked at a so-called “black company” before.

いわゆる「ブラック企業」で働いた経験がある。

並み

並み means “on the same level as”, “equal to”, or “comparable to”.
It is used to indicate that something is being compared to a standard or level—often referring to effort, quality, or condition.

🔹 How to Use:

• Structure: [Noun] + 並み（の／に）

• Use 並みの before a noun: to describe a person or thing as being like another.

• Use 並みに after a noun: to describe an action or condition as being on the same level.

彼女はプロ選手並みに速く走れる。

She can run as fast as a professional athlete.

She can run as fast as a professional athlete.

彼女はプロ選手並みに速く走れる。

子どもでも大人並みの責任を求められている。

Even children are expected to take on adult-level responsibilities.

Even children are expected to take on adult-level responsibilities.

子どもでも大人並みの責任を求められている。

新しいレストランは高級店並みのサービスを提供している。

The new restaurant offers service on par with high-end places.

The new restaurant offers service on par with high-end places.

新しいレストランは高級店並みのサービスを提供している。

ものの

ものの means “although” or “even though”.
It’s used to acknowledge a fact or situation while contrasting it with an unexpected or opposite result.

🔹 How to Use:

• Structure:
  Verb / い-adjective (plain form) + ものの
  な-adjective + な + ものの
  Noun + である + ものの

It connects two contrasting clauses, similar to けれども, but often carries a more formal or literary nuance.

試験には合格したものの、自信はまだない。

Although I passed the exam, I still don’t feel confident.

Although I passed the exam, I still don’t feel confident.

試験には合格したものの、自信はまだない。

便利なものの、このアプリは時々バグが多い。

Although it’s convenient, this app often has bugs.

Although it’s convenient, this app often has bugs.

便利なものの、このアプリは時々バグが多い。

彼は若いものの、経験が豊富だ。

Even though he's young, he has plenty of experience.

Even though he's young, he has plenty of experience.

彼は若いものの、経験が豊富だ。

加える

加える means “to add (something)”—physically or abstractly.
In grammar, it's often used in the structure:
👉 〜に加えて meaning “in addition to 〜”

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🔹 How to Use:

• Noun + に加えて、[clause]
  → Used to introduce an additional factor or element related to the topic.

雨に加えて風も強くなってきた。

In addition to the rain, the wind also got stronger.