Lesson 101: つまり・なぜなら・ただし

N3 · Lesson 101 · 18 min — In other words, because, however: three linking words to organize your thoughts, give reasons, and read notices

Last lesson you learned ところが, すると, その上うえ and そこで, and found an old New Year's card with a Kyoto sender address. This lesson has three linking words for organizing your thinking. At the end, you will read a shop notice. Comic first!

After this lesson, you can:

• Use つまり to restate the previous sentence or give the conclusion you draw from it
• Understand 要ようするに (in short) and ということは (so that means...)
• Give the result first, then add the reason with なぜなら、〜からです
• Read ただし in shop notices: the condition or exception after a rule

Detective Rin on the case!

Last lesson, we found an old New Year's card with a Kyoto sender address. What does it mean? (年賀状ねんがじょう = New Year's card, 住所じゅうしょ = address)

つまり = in other words (a conclusion), なぜなら〜から = adds a reason, ただし = adds a condition. Next lesson: surprising news appears on the school bulletin board.

Words for this lesson: linking words for organizing thoughts

• つまり (tsumari): in other words, that is to say
• 要ようするに (yō suru ni): in short, to sum up
• ということは (to iu koto wa): so that means..., in that case
• なぜなら (nazenara): because (explains the reason)
• 〜からです (kara desu): (ends a reason sentence) it is because ~
• ただし (tadashi): however, but (adds a condition or exception)
• 年賀状ねんがじょう (nengajō): New Year's card
• はがき (hagaki): postcard
• 住所じゅうしょ (jūsho): address
• 以上いじょう (ijō): ~ or more, over ~
• お知しらせ (oshirase): notice, announcement
• 定休日ていきゅうび (teikyūbi): regular closing day
• おかわり (okawari): a refill, seconds (rice, soup, drinks, etc.)
• 無料むりょう (muryō): free of charge
• ラストオーダー (rasuto ōdā): last order
• 予約よやく (yoyaku): reservation
• フラッシュ (furasshu): (camera) flash

Grammar 1 / 3: つまり・ということは

つまり = in other words: restates the previous sentence, or gives a conclusion drawn from it. 要ようするに = in short; ということは = so that means... (a conclusion after hearing someone)

• つまり = it means, we can conclude: The first sentence is a fact. Start the second with つまり and give your reading of it or the conclusion: "this is what it really means." 現金げんきんだけです → つまり、カードは つかえません。
• How is it different from だから?: Look at the second sentence. If it is "the meaning of the first / a conclusion from it" (cash only → no cards; from Kyoto → はな is in Kyoto), use つまり. If it is "an action or result caused by the first" (hungry → go eat ramen), use だから. English "so" covers both, but Japanese keeps them apart.
• 要ようするに: sum up a long speech: After several points, 要ようするに wraps them into one main point. Used on an elder's words, it sounds like "What are you trying to say?" To teachers and customers, use つまり instead.
• ということは: after the other person's words: You hear something and draw your own conclusion: 「明日あしたは 定休日ていきゅうびです。」「ということは、明日あしたは 食たべられないんですね。」 The sentence often ends with ね or becomes a question.

• 現金げんきんだけです。つまり、カードは つかえません。 — Cash only. In other words, no cards.
• 明日あしたは 水曜日すいようびです。水曜日すいようびは 定休日ていきゅうびです。つまり、明日あしたは 開あいて いません。 — Tomorrow is Wednesday. Wednesday is the closing day. In other words, they are closed tomorrow.
• この 年賀状ねんがじょうは 京都きょうとから 来きました。つまり、はなさんは 京都きょうとに いました。 — This New Year's card was sent from Kyoto. In other words, はな was in Kyoto then.
• 安やすいし、おいしいし、近ちかいです。要ようするに、いい 店みせです。 — Cheap, tasty, and close. In short, it's a good shop.
• 「明日あしたは 定休日ていきゅうびです。」「ということは、明日あしたは 食たべられないんですね。」 — "We're closed tomorrow." "So that means I can't eat there tomorrow."

Grammar 2 / 3: なぜなら〜から

なぜなら、〜からです = because ~: say the result first, then add the reason in the next sentence. Formal tone, like explaining or writing a report

• Result first, then the reason: The first sentence says what you do or what it is. The second sentence starts with なぜなら and explains why.
• The most natural ending: 〜からです: The most common, natural ending for なぜなら is 〜からです (plain form 〜からだ). Without it, the sentence feels unfinished. For now, just remember this pair.
• Noun / な-adjective + だから: Verbs and い-adjectives go straight before から: あるからです, 降ふって いるからです, 遠とおいからです. Nouns and な-adjectives need だ first: 定休日ていきゅうびだからです, 必要ひつようだからです.
• A fairly formal tone: Common in reports, explanations and notices. In casual talk with friends, people usually skip なぜなら and say it in one sentence: 雨あめが 降ふって いるから、タクシーで 行いく。 〜からだ is a written plain form, or a playful detective tone like Kumata in the comic.

• タクシーで 行いきます。なぜなら、雨あめが 降ふって いるからです。 — I'll take a taxi. Because it's raining.
• 予約よやくが 必要ひつようです。なぜなら、いすが 六むっつしか ないからです。 — A reservation is required. Because there are only six chairs.
• 今日きょうは 早はやく 帰かえります。なぜなら、明日あした 試験しけんが あるからです。 — I'm going home early today. Because I have a test tomorrow.
• 京都きょうとに 行いきたいです。なぜなら、はなさんを さがしたいからです。 — I want to go to Kyoto. Because I want to find はな.
• 今日きょうは 店みせに 行いきません。なぜなら、定休日ていきゅうびだからです。 — I'm not going to the shop today. Because it's the closing day.

Grammar 3 / 3: ただし

ただし = however (with a condition): state the rule first, then add a condition or exception. Very common in shop notices, menus and rules

• First the main rule, then the exception: State the general rule, then add a condition or exception with ただし. 毎日まいにち 開あいて います。ただし、水曜日すいようびは 休やすみです。
• A must for travel: stop when you see it: On shop-door お知しらせ, menus, and rules at stations and temples, the important limits hide after ただし: once only, different on Sundays, no flash...
• Different from でも: でも means "but" and expresses a feeling that contrasts with what came before (expensive, but delicious). ただし does not overturn the first part; it only adds a limit, so you can't use it for feelings.
• You can use it when speaking, too: ただし is not only for rules. In speech, you can add a "watch out" note after a fact, and the first part stays true. Like Mr. Kuma in the comic: first it is a New Year's card from Kyoto, then ただし、三十年さんじゅうねん以上いじょう 前まえの はがきだよ。

• 毎日まいにち 開あいて います。ただし、水曜日すいようびは 休やすみです。 — We are open every day. However, we are closed on Wednesdays.
• おかわりは 無料むりょうです。ただし、一回いっかいだけです。 — Refills are free. However, only once.
• ラストオーダーは 9時じです。ただし、日曜日にちようびは 8時じです。 — Last order is 9:00. However, on Sundays it is 8:00.
• 写真しゃしんを 撮とっても いいです。ただし、フラッシュは だめです。 — Photos are allowed. However, no flash.
• 京都きょうとから 来きた 年賀状ねんがじょうです。ただし、三十年さんじゅうねん以上いじょう 前まえの ものです。 — It's a New Year's card sent from Kyoto. However, it's over thirty years old (adding a point to watch out for).