副詞 III

彼かれはあたかも見みてきたかのように話はなす。

He talks as though he had seen it himself.

Usage あたかも〜かのようだ — as if. It always pairs with かのようだ, which is the tested point. Written, more formal than まるで.

Remember it あたかも → holding one thing up against another as though they were the same.

作業さぎょうはあらかた終おわった。

The work is mostly finished.

Usage あらかた〜した — nearly all of it. Close to ほとんど but more written. It can also introduce a guess: probably.

Remember it 粗 (rough) + 方 (extent) → to roughly the whole extent of it.

案あんはいいが、いかんせん予算よさんがない。

The plan is good, but unfortunately there is no budget.

Usage いかんせん〜 — the trouble is; it introduces the obstacle that spoils things. Written. Also written 如何せん.

Remember it 如何 (what to do) + せん → what is one to do about it.

子こどもならいざ知しらず、大人おとながすることではない。

A child might be one thing, but it is not what an adult does.

Usage AならいざしらずB — A may be excusable, but B is not. It always contrasts two cases. A much-tested N1 pattern.

Remember it いざ (in that case) + 知らず (I could not say) → who knows about that case, but this one is different.

彼かれはいとも簡単かんたんにやってのけた。

He brought it off with the greatest ease.

Usage いとも簡単に, いともたやすく — extremely easily. It goes with almost nothing but 簡単に and たやすく. Written and slightly archaic.

Remember it いと (very) + も → the old intensifier, still alive in this one phrase.

うすら笑わらいを浮うかべていた。

He wore a faint smile.

Usage A prefix, うすら〜, meaning faintly or thinly, joined directly to what follows: うすら笑い, a thin smile; うすら寒い, slightly chilly.

Remember it 薄 (thin) → laid on thinly, whatever it is.

詳細しょうさいはおって連絡れんらくいたします。

We shall contact you with the details in due course.

Usage おって連絡します — 'we will be in touch later' — is the standard business formula. Also written 追って. Do not confuse the verb 追う.

Remember it 追う (follow) + て → following on after this.

おおかたの予想よそう通どおりの結果けっかだった。

The result was as most people had predicted.

Usage おおかたの〜, the greater part; and おおかた〜だろう, probably — the second always ends in a conjecture. Also written 大方.

Remember it 大 (large) + 方 (side, portion) → the larger part of it.

かりそめにも教師きょうしがそんなことを言いうべきではない。

A teacher should on no account say such a thing.

Usage かりそめにも〜ない / べきではない — under no circumstances. Sternly admonishing. Written. Also written 仮初にも.

Remember it 仮初 (a passing thing, even in jest) + にも → not even in passing, not even as a joke.

彼かれはかたくなに口くちを閉とざしたままだった。

He kept his mouth stubbornly shut.

Usage かたくなに拒む, かたくなに口を閉ざす — obstinately, refusing to shift. Also written 頑なに. Faintly critical.

Remember it 頑 (obstinate) → set hard and refusing to move.

きわめて異例いれいの措置そちだ。

It is an extremely unusual measure.

Usage きわめて〜だ — exceedingly. Written, more formal than とても. Common in news and reports. Also written 極めて.

Remember it 極める (go to the limit) → taken as far as the word will go.

家族かぞくぐるみの付つき合あいが続つづいている。

The two families go on socialising as whole households.

Usage 〜ぐるみ — the whole of, everyone included. It attaches to a noun: 家族ぐるみ, 会社ぐるみ, 町ぐるみ. It implies every member is involved.

Remember it ぐるみ → wrapped up together, none left out.

社員しゃいんがこぞって参加さんかした。

The staff took part to a man.

Usage こぞって〜する — all together, without exception. The subject is always a group. Written. Also written 挙って.

Remember it 挙る (rise as one) → the whole body of them rising together.

さしずめ今いまは様子ようすを見みるしかない。

For the present there is nothing to do but wait and see.

Usage さしずめ今は, for now; and さしずめ〜だ, in short. Written. Also written 差し詰め.

Remember it 差し (immediate) + 詰め (the point reached) → the point immediately in front of you.

転ころんで頭あたまをしたたか打うった。

I fell and hit my head hard.

Usage したたか打つ, hitting hard; and したたかな人, someone tough and shrewd who is not easily got the better of. The second sense is the tested one.

Remember it したたか → too solid to be knocked over, and it hurts if you run into it.

社長しゃちょうにじかに話はなしを聞きいた。

I heard it directly from the president.

Usage じかに会う, じかに聞く — at first hand, with no intermediary. Also written 直に — the same kanji as 直ちに (ただちに) but a different word.

Remember it 直 (direct) → nothing standing between you and it.

学生がくせいはすべからく学まなぶべきである。

Students ought as a rule to study.

Usage すべからく〜べし — one ought by rights to. It always pairs with べき, which is the tested point. Note: it does NOT mean 'all', though many assume it does.

Remember it 須 (must, ought) → the old 'must', which is why it needs べし to finish it.

せいぜい三さん日にちあれば終おわる。

Three days at most will see it finished.

Usage せいぜい〜だ, at most; and せいぜい頑張って, 'do your best', which can sound sarcastic. The first is the tested sense.

Remember it 精々 → as much as effort can squeeze out, and no more.

ぜひとも出席しゅっせきしていただきたい。

I should very much like you to attend.

Usage ぜひとも〜たい / ほしい — by all means, earnestly. Stronger than ぜひ. It always ends in a wish, never a statement of fact.

Remember it 是非 (right or wrong) + とも → whichever way it falls, let it be done.

そもそもこの計画けいかくに無理むりがあった。

There was something unreasonable about this plan from the start.

Usage そもそも〜だ — to begin with, going back to the root of the matter. As a noun: そもそもの原因, the original cause.

Remember it そもそも → going back behind the argument to where it started.

前例ぜんれいがない、それゆえ慎重しんちょうを要ようする。

There is no precedent; hence caution is required.

Usage それゆえ — therefore. Formal written style, common in academic prose. Also written それ故. Close to したがって.

Remember it 故 (reason) → for that reason.

たかが一いち点てん、されど一いち点てんだ。

It is only one point — and yet it is a point.

Usage たかが〜 — merely, dismissively. The pairing たかが〜、されど〜 means 'small, and yet not small'. It often goes with ぐらい.

Remember it 高が (the height of it) → that is the whole height of the thing.

ただでさえ狭せまいのに荷物にもつが増ふえた。

It is cramped at the best of times, and now there is more luggage.

Usage ただでさえ〜のに — it was already bad, and now this. It always leads to the situation getting worse. A much-tested pattern.

Remember it ただ (as it is) + でさえ → even as it stood, before anything was added.

折おりしも雨あめが降ふり出だした。

Just at that moment it began to rain.

Usage 折しも — at precisely that moment. Written, with a literary flavour. 折 is a point in time. Close to ちょうどその時.

Remember it 折 (a juncture) + しも → at that very fold in the time.

曲まがりなりにも最後さいごまでやり遂とげた。

Imperfect as it was, I saw it through to the end.

Usage 曲がりなりにも〜した — managing it somehow, however poorly. Used in modesty about oneself or to credit an effort. 曲がり is bent, out of true.

Remember it 曲がり (bent) + なり (shape) → it came out crooked, but it came out.

つとめて冷静れいせいに話はなすようにした。

I tried to speak as calmly as I could.

Usage つとめて〜する — making a deliberate effort. Also written 努めて. In classical Japanese the same word means 'early next morning' — a different matter entirely.

Remember it 努める (strive) → done by effort rather than by nature.

理由りゆうが何なんであれ遅刻ちこくは遅刻ちこくだ。

Whatever the reason, late is late.

Usage 〜であれ — whether it be. Often doubled: AであれBであれ, whether A or B. Written. Close to 〜でも.

Remember it で + あれ (let it be) → let it be whatever it likes.

ときおり昔むかしのことを思おもい出だす。

Now and then I remember the old days.

Usage ときおり — occasionally. Also written 時折. Written register, gentler than 時々 and less frequent than よく.

Remember it 時 (time) + 折 (a juncture) → at the odd point in time.

どうにか締しめ切きりに間まに合あった。

I somehow made the deadline.

Usage どうにか〜した — managing it one way or another. どうにかなる means it will work out; どうにもならない, nothing can be done.

Remember it どう (how) + にか → by some means or other, never mind which.

安やすく、なおかつ質しつも良よい。

It is cheap, and what is more the quality is good.

Usage なおかつ — and moreover. It adds a further merit or condition. Written. Also written 尚且つ.

Remember it 尚 (still more) + 且つ (and also) → and on top of that as well.

なにしろ初はじめてのことで戸惑とまどった。

It being my first time, after all, I was at a loss.

Usage なにしろ〜ので / から — the fact is, since. Used to explain or excuse by stressing the circumstances. Colloquial. Also written 何しろ.

Remember it 何 (whatever) + しろ (let it be) → whatever else you say, this is the situation.

なるたけ早はやめにお知しらせください。

Please let me know as early as you can.

Usage なるたけ — as far as possible. Colloquial, a variant of なるべく. The same meaning as できるだけ.

Remember it 成る (as it can be) + たけ (extent) → to whatever extent it can be managed.

去年きょねんにもまして忙いそがしい。

I am busier than I was last year.

Usage 〜にもまして — even more than. It follows a noun to mark a comparison exceeded. 以前にもまして means more than before. Written.

Remember it にも + 増して (exceeding) → exceeding even that.

ひとしきり笑わらってから本題ほんだいに入はいった。

After laughing for a while, we got down to business.

Usage ひとしきり〜する — doing something in a burst and then stopping. It describes a short concentrated spell that then subsides. Also written 一頻り.

Remember it 一 (one) + 頻り (a spell of frequency) → one round of it, then done.

資料しりょうをひとまとめにして渡わたした。

I gathered the materials together and handed them over.

Usage ひとまとめにする — combining into a single bundle. Also written 一纏めに. Close to まとめて, with the stress on making them one.

Remember it 一 (one) + まとめ (bundle) → all of it into a single bundle.

ひるがえって我わが国くにの現状げんじょうを見みてみよう。

Turning now to the state of affairs in our own country...

Usage ひるがえって — conversely, turning to look at something else. It shifts the point of view. Written. From the verb 翻る.

Remember it 翻る (flip over) → turning the page over to the other side.

旬しゅんの野菜やさいをふんだんに使つかっている。

They use seasonal vegetables in abundance.

Usage ふんだんに使う — using lavishly, without stinting. Positive. Close to たっぷり but more formal.

Remember it ふんだんに → poured in without counting the cost.

べつだん困こまってはいない。

I am not particularly troubled.

Usage べつだん〜ない — nothing in particular. It goes almost always with a negative. Also written 別段. Close to 特に〜ない.

Remember it 別 (separate) + 段 (degree) → nothing to set apart from the ordinary.

まことに申もうし訳わけございません。

I am truly sorry.

Usage まことに申し訳ございません is the standard formula of apology. Formal. Also written 誠に. Considerably politer than 本当に.

Remember it 誠 (sincerity) → said in earnest, not as a form of words.

そんなことは露つゆほども思おもわなかった。

Such a thing never crossed my mind in the slightest.

Usage 露ほども〜ない — not by a hair. It ALWAYS takes a negative. 露 is a drop of dew, which is the measure meant. Read つゆほども.

Remember it 露 (a dewdrop) + ほども → not even as much as a drop of dew.

まちがいなく彼かれが犯人はんにんだ。

He is without a doubt the culprit.

Usage まちがいなく〜だ — certainly, beyond error. Also written 間違いなく. Stronger than たぶん, close to 確実に.

Remember it 間違い (error) + なく → with no room for error in it.

語学ごがく、なかんずく英語えいごが得意とくいだ。

I am good at languages, English above all.

Usage なかんずく — above all, among them especially. Formal written style, slightly archaic. Also written 就中. Close to とりわけ.

Remember it 中 (among) + んずく → out of the middle of them, this one.

むろん反対はんたいする者ものもいた。

There were, of course, those who opposed it.

Usage むろん — of course. Also written 無論. Written, a shade more formal than もちろん.

Remember it 無 (no) + 論 (argument) → there is nothing to argue about.

もっともらしく説明せつめいしていたが嘘うそだった。

He explained it plausibly, but it was a lie.

Usage The adverbial form of もっともらしい: with an air of reason and a straight face. It always carries doubt, since what is said is usually untrue.

Remember it もっとも (reasonable) + らしく → wearing the look of reason.

今日きょうはやけに静しずかだ。

It is awfully quiet today.

Usage やけに〜だ — unusually, more than normal. Colloquial, with a note of suspicion or irritation. Close to 妙に.

Remember it やけに → odd enough that you notice and wonder why.

前提ぜんていが誤あやまっている、ゆえに結論けつろんも誤あやまりだ。

The premise is wrong; therefore the conclusion is wrong too.

Usage ゆえに — therefore. Formal written style, characteristic of logic and mathematics. Also written 故に.

Remember it 故 (cause) → from that cause, this follows.

よくよく考かんがえた末すえの結論けつろんだ。

It is a conclusion reached after very careful thought.

Usage よくよく考える, thinking hard; and よくよくのことだ, meaning there must have been a serious reason. The second implies unavoidable circumstances.

Remember it よく doubled → well, and then well again.

果物くだもの、わけても桃ももが好すきだ。

I like fruit, peaches above all.

Usage わけても — especially. Written and slightly archaic. Also written 分けても. Close to とりわけ and なかんずく.

Remember it 分ける (separate out) + ても → this one taken out from the rest.

研究けんきゅうに一途いちずに打うち込こんできた。

I have devoted myself single-mindedly to research.

Usage 一途に〜する — wholeheartedly, on one thing only. Read いちずに. Do not confuse 一途 read いっと in 衰退の一途をたどる, going steadily downhill.

Remember it 一 (one) + 途 (road) → one road, and no turning off it.

無名むめいから一躍いちやく有名ゆうめいになった。

He went from unknown to famous overnight.

Usage 一躍〜になる — at a single bound. 躍 is to leap. It always refers to a sudden change of standing. Read いちやく.

Remember it 一 (one) + 躍 (leap) → the whole distance in one jump.

初心しょしん者しゃは往々おうおうにして同おなじ失敗しっぱいをする。

Beginners often make the same mistake.

Usage 往々にして〜する — often, not infrequently. It always describes an unwelcome tendency. Written. Read おうおうにして.

Remember it 往 (going, as things go) doubled → as it goes, time and again.

現げんに被害ひがいが出でている。

Damage is actually occurring.

Usage 現に〜ている — in point of fact. Used to produce evidence against what someone has claimed. Close to 実際に. Read げんに.

Remember it 現 (actual, present) → here in front of us, not in theory.

本人ほんにんは至いたって冷静れいせいだった。

The man himself was extremely calm.

Usage 至って〜だ — exceedingly, placed before an adjective. Written. Close to 極めて, 非常に. Read いたって.

Remember it 至る (reach) → reaching the far end of the scale.

終ついぞ本音ほんねを聞きくことはなかった。

Never once did I hear what he really thought.

Usage 終ぞ〜ない — never once. It ALWAYS takes a negative. Written and slightly archaic. Read ついぞ.

Remember it 終 (the end) + ぞ → right to the end, and it never happened.

実じつに見事みごとな出来できだ。

It is a truly splendid piece of work.

Usage 実に〜だ — truly, used in exclamation. Also 実に〜年ぶり, a full so-many years since. Read じつに.

Remember it 実 (reality) → really so, not merely said.

質問しつもんは随時ずいじ受うけ付つけます。

Questions are accepted at any time.

Usage 随時〜する — at any time, as required. Common in job advertisements and instruction manuals. Read ずいじ.

Remember it 随 (follow) + 時 (time) → following whatever time suits.

経過けいかを逐一ちくいち報告ほうこくしてください。

Please report on progress in full detail.

Usage 逐一報告する — reporting every single item. 逐 means one after another. It can imply tiresome excess of detail. Read ちくいち.

Remember it 逐 (one after another) + 一 (one) → one, and then the next one, and the next.

仮かりにも責任せきにん者しゃなら逃にげるべきではない。

If you are the person in charge at all, you should not run away.

Usage 仮にも〜なら — if you bear the title at all, then. Admonishing in tone. Close to いやしくも and かりそめにも. Read かりにも.

Remember it 仮 (provisional) + にも → even taking the title provisionally, it still binds you.

結果けっかは追おって通知つうちします。

The results will be notified subsequently.

Usage 追って通知します is the standard wording in official documents. 追って書き means a postscript. Read おって.

Remember it 追う (follow) + て → following along after this one.