Lesson 155: ことだから・あまり・からには

N2 · Lesson 155 · 18 min — Guessing from knowing a person, feelings too big to control, and 'since I did it, I'll see it through': Neko-sensei goes home to Kyoto for New Year

Last lesson, Rin learned to respect a neighbor with a different view. This lesson has three ways to say 'first the reason, then the conclusion': ことだから (knowing that person), あまり (too much, so it gets out of control), and からには (since you did it, follow through). Read the comic first!

After this lesson, you can:

• Use Nの ことだから to guess from what you know about someone: おばあちゃんの ことだから、また 三杯さんばい 食たべる
• Use あまり to say 'so much ~ that ...': 懐なつかしさの あまり、何度なんども 読よんで しまった
• Use からには／以上いじょう（は）／上うえは to say 'since ~, I must ...' (resolve and duty)

Grandma's Old Photo

Last lesson, Rin learned to respect a neighbor with a different view. New Year has come, and Neko-sensei goes home to Kyoto! (懐なつかしさ = nostalgia, 何度なんども = many times, あんた = you (casual, family), どんぶり = big bowl, ちょうちん = lantern)

ことだから = knowing that person; あまり = too much, so it gets out of control; からには = since ~, then must ~. The photo is exactly like Rin's. So Grandma is はな! How will he tell Rin?

Words for this lesson: New Year, memories and resolve

• 〜の ことだから (no koto dakara): knowing (that person), surely ~
• 〜あまり（に） (amari): because it's too much ~, so ~
• 〜からには (kara ni wa): since ~, (you must) ~
• 〜以上いじょう（は） (ijō): since ~ (= からには)
• 〜上うえは (ue wa): since ~ (most formal)
• お雑煮ぞうに (ozōni): ozoni, rice-cake soup (New Year dish)
• 白しろみそ (shiromiso): white miso (the sweet miso for Kyoto ozoni)
• 三杯さんばい (sanbai): three bowls, three cups
• 記事きじ (kiji): (newspaper or magazine) article
• 懐なつかしさ (natsukashisa): nostalgia (the feeling)
• 何度なんども (nando mo): many times, over and over
• あんた (anta): you (casual)
• 驚おどろき (odoroki): surprise, shock
• 緊張きんちょう (kinchō): nervousness
• 引ひき受うける (hikiukeru): to take on (a job, a task)
• 約束やくそく (yakusoku): promise, appointment
• お箸はし (ohashi): chopsticks
• 落おとす (otosu): to drop (something)

Grammar 1 / 3: ことだから

Noun (person) + の ことだから = since it's that person, surely ~: you guess what they will do from what you know of their usual personality. おばあちゃんの ことだから、また 三杯さんばい 食たべる = Knowing my grandma, she'll surely have three bowls again.

• Form: N + の ことだから: Put a noun first, then の ことだから: おばあちゃんの ことだから、先生せんせいの ことだから. Usually a person you know well (a familiar company or shop also works). Plain reasons such as rain don't work. You can say it to the person themselves too, and family often say あんたの ことだから (あんた = you).
• Meaning: knowing that person, so ~: The speaker knows well how this person usually is (loves food, gets lost, works hard) and guesses what they will do from that.
• A guess or judgment follows: Often used with きっと、だろう、でしょう、はずだ. Good or bad: リンさんの ことだから、最後さいごまで がんばる はずだ (good); 先生せんせいの ことだから、道みちに 迷まよう だろう (bad).
• Compare with ものだから: ものだから, which you learned before, means 'because, you see...' and gives a reason for your own action. ことだから follows a person and guesses what that person will do.

• おばあちゃんの ことだから、また 三杯さんばい 食たべるだろう。 — Knowing Grandma, she'll probably have three bowls again.
• 先生せんせいの ことだから、きっと 道みちに 迷まよって いる。 — Knowing the teacher, he must be lost.
• 店長てんちょうの ことだから、今日きょうも 休やすまないでしょう。 — Knowing the manager, he probably won't take a day off today either.
• リンさんの ことだから、最後さいごまで がんばる はずだ。 — Knowing Rin, he should try hard to the end.
• 熊太くまたくんの ことだから、また バイトを 増ふやすだろう。 — Knowing Kumata, he'll probably take on another part-time job.

Grammar 2 / 3: あまり

Nの / verb dictionary form + あまり（に） = so much ~ that ...: a feeling or degree is so strong that it causes a result that normally wouldn't happen. 懐なつかしさの あまり、何度なんども 読よんで しまった = I was so nostalgic that I read it over and over.

• Form: Nの / V + あまり: Noun + の: 緊張きんちょうの あまり. Verbs mostly use the dictionary form: 心配しんぱいする あまり、急いそぐ あまり.
• Meaning: so much ~ that ...: The first half is a feeling or degree that is too strong. The second half is the result it causes, one that normally wouldn't happen (often bad, or exaggerated).
• The second half is not your decision: The result happens 'in spite of yourself', so it can't be followed by ～よう, ～たい or ～て ください. Often ～て しまった or ～なかった is used.
• Don't mix it up with あまり〜ない: The あまり〜ない you learned in N5 means 'not very ~': あまり 食たべない. In this lesson あまり comes right after a word: 驚おどろきの あまり. The position is different, and the meaning is completely different!

• 懐なつかしさの あまり、何度なんども 読よんで しまった。 — I was so nostalgic that I read it over and over.
• 緊張きんちょうの あまり、声こえが 出でなかった。 — I was so nervous that I couldn't get a word out.
• 心配しんぱいする あまり、眠ねむれなかった。 — I was so worried that I couldn't sleep.
• 急いそぐ あまり、財布さいふを 忘わすれて しまった。 — I was in such a hurry that I forgot my wallet.
• 驚おどろきの あまり、お箸はしが 止とまった。 — I was so shocked that my chopsticks stopped.

Grammar 3 / 3: からには

Plain form + からには = since ~, then (you must) ~: the first half is something already decided or true, and the second half is the speaker's resolve, duty or request. 約束やくそくした からには、守まもる = Since we promised, we keep it.

• Form: plain form + からには: Verbs use the plain form: 帰かえる からには、約束やくそくした からには. A noun needs である: 学生がくせいである からには.
• Meaning: since ~, then (you must) ~: The first half is something already decided or true. The second half says 'so naturally I must ~'. It is stronger than から and feels like taking responsibility.
• What can follow?: Resolve (～つもりだ、～しか ない), duty (～なければ ならない、～べきだ) or a request (～て ください). It can't be followed by just a fact that happened.
• 以上いじょう（は）・上うえは: The meaning is almost the same as からには. 以上いじょう（は） is common with rules and at work. 上うえは is the most formal, used in writing or after a big decision.

• 帰かえる からには、はなさんを 探さがして ください。 — Since you're going back, please look for はな.
• 約束やくそくした からには、守まもらなければ ならない。 — Since we promised, we must keep it.
• 引ひき受うけた 以上いじょう、最後さいごまで やります。 — Since I took it on, I'll do it to the end.
• 学生がくせいである 以上いじょうは、勉強べんきょうする べきだ。 — Since you're a student, you should study.
• ここまで 来きた 上うえは、やるしか ない。 — Having come this far, all we can do is keep going.