Lesson 176: とあって・とあれば・ともなると・ゆえに

N1 · Lesson 176 · 18 min — Vocational school graduation: four formal phrases for special days, strong resolve, new roles and thank-you speeches.

Last lesson, Grandpa said, "After fifty years, I'm finally coming to Japan." In this lesson, Rin graduates from vocational school! You will learn four phrases for formal occasions: とあって (because it's a special situation), とあれば (if it's for ~, I'll do it), ともなると (once you reach ~), and ゆえに (owing to ~, written style). Read the comic first!

After this lesson, you can:

• Use とあって to say "because it's this special situation, ~": 卒業式そつぎょうしきとあって、みんな スーツだ
• Use とあれば to say "if it's for ~, I'm willing to ~": おじいちゃんの ためとあれば、何なんでも する
• Use ともなると / ともなれば to say "once you reach the role or stage of ~, then ~": 社会人しゃかいじんともなると、忙いそがしく なる
• Use ゆえ(に) / ゆえの in speeches and writing to say "owing to ~": 未熟みじゅくゆえ、ご迷惑めいわくを おかけしました

Graduation Day!

Grandpa decided to come to Japan in April! In March, Rin's vocational school graduation arrives. (未熟みじゅく = immature)

とあって = special occasion; とあれば = if it's for ~, I will; ともなると = once you're in that role; ゆえ = because (formal). Next: Rin enters a travel agency!

Words for this lesson: Graduation

• 〜とあって (to atte): because it's ~ (a special situation), so ~
• 〜とあれば (to areba): if it's ~ (then I'm willing to ~)
• 〜ともなると／ともなれば (tomo naru to): once you reach ~ (a role, stage or season)
• 〜ゆえ（に）／ゆえの (yue ni): because of ~, owing to ~ (very formal, written)
• 卒業式そつぎょうしき (sotsugyōshiki): graduation ceremony
• 卒業生そつぎょうせい (sotsugyōsei): graduate (a person who is graduating)
• 代表だいひょう (daihyō): representative
• 未熟みじゅく (mijuku): immature, not good enough yet (humble, about yourself)
• ご迷惑めいわくを おかけする (gomeiwaku o okake suru): trouble, bother (humble form)
• 立派りっぱな (rippa na): splendid, impressive
• 社会人しゃかいじん (shakaijin): working adult (someone who has started working in society)
• お祝いわいの 席せき (oiwai no seki): a celebration, a happy gathering
• おめでとう (omedetō): congratulations (to people you know)
• スーツ (sūtsu): suit
• 連休れんきゅう (renkyū): long holiday weekend
• 行列ぎょうれつ (gyōretsu): a line of waiting people
• 開店かいてん (kaiten): shop opening, grand opening
• 責任せきにん (sekinin): responsibility
• 若わかさ (wakasa): youth (noun)
• 頼たのみ (tanomi): a request, a favor
• 大喜おおよろこび (ōyorokobi): great joy, delighted
• クリスマス (kurisumasu): Christmas
• 飾かざり (kazari): decoration
• 苦労くろう (kurō): hardship, struggle

Grammar 1 / 4: とあって

N / plain form + とあって = because it's this special situation, (naturally) ~. 卒業式そつぎょうしきとあって、みんな スーツだ = Because it's graduation, everyone is wearing a suit.

• Form: N / plain form + とあって: Attach directly to a noun: 卒業式そつぎょうしきとあって. Verbs work too: 開店かいてんするとあって.
• Meaning: because it's this special situation: The first part is always an unusual, special situation. For everyday things (月曜日げつようび, 朝あさ), don't use とあって. Plain ので is fine.
• Second part: a fact you can see: The second half describes the scene or people's reactions (crowds, happy people, long lines). Don't put your own request, command or invitation there.
• Feel: common in news and guides: It is more formal than から / ので and often appears in news and tourist guides. You may hear it in speech, but it sounds formal. It differs from だけあって ("as you'd expect from"), which praises someone's status or ability as well deserved.

• 卒業式そつぎょうしきとあって、みんな スーツを 着きて いる。 — Because it's graduation, everyone is wearing a suit.
• 連休れんきゅうとあって、浅草あさくさは 人ひとで いっぱいだ。 — Because it's a long holiday, Asakusa is packed with people.
• 人気にんきの 店みせが 開店かいてんするとあって、朝あさから 行列ぎょうれつが できた。 — Because a popular shop is opening, a long line formed early in the morning.
• 初はじめての 雪ゆきとあって、子こどもたちは 大喜おおよろこびだ。 — Because it's the first snow, the children are thrilled.
• 久ひさしぶりの 晴はれとあって、公園こうえんは にぎやかだった。 — Because it was the first sunny day in a while, the park was lively.

Grammar 2 / 4: とあれば

N / plain form + とあれば = if it's ~ (this special reason), then (I'm willing to) ~. おじいちゃんの ためとあれば、何なんでも する = If it's for Grandpa, I'll do anything.

• Form: N / plain form + とあれば: Most common is Nの ためとあれば. You can also say 必要ひつようとあれば or 会あえるとあれば.
• Meaning: if it's ~, then ~: It's a condition: "if that's the reason or situation." The first part is a very important, special reason (family, a customer, a teacher's request). That reason may already be settled.
• Second part: strong resolve: 何なんでも する / いつでも 行いく / 断ことわれない: "For this, any hardship is fine."
• How it differs from なら: なら is a plain condition: 雨あめなら 傘かさを 持もって いく. とあれば adds the feeling "I'll give it everything for this." Don't use it for small daily things.

• おじいちゃんの ためとあれば、何なんでも する。 — If it's for Grandpa, I'll do anything.
• 必要ひつようとあれば、いつでも 行いきます。 — If it's needed, I'll come over any time.
• 先生せんせいの 頼たのみとあれば、断ことわれない。 — If my teacher asks, I can't say no.
• お客様きゃくさまの ためとあれば、夜よるでも 電話でんわに 出でます。 — If it's for a customer, I'll answer the phone even at night.
• 孫まごに 会あえるとあれば、遠とおい 国くにへも 行いく。 — If I can see my grandchild, I'll go to any faraway country.

Grammar 3 / 4: ともなると

N / V dictionary form + ともなると (ともなれば) = once you reach ~ (a higher role, stage or season), things are different. 社会人しゃかいじんともなると、忙いそがしく なる = Once you're out in the working world, you get busy.

• Form: N / V dictionary form + ともなると: Attach directly to a noun: 社会人しゃかいじんともなると. Use the dictionary form of a verb: 外国がいこくで 働はたらくともなると. ともなれば is the same.
• Meaning: once you reach ~, it's different: Before it comes a role, stage or season that is higher or more special than usual. Once you get there, the situation naturally changes.
• Second part: a judgment that it naturally goes this way: The second half says "of course ~": 忙いそがしく なる / 責任せきにんが 重おもい / にぎやかだ. Don't put an invitation or will such as "let's ~" there.
• Don't add なる again: ともなると already has なる (to become) inside. Don't say "社会人しゃかいじんに なるともなると". Just say 社会人しゃかいじんともなると.

• 社会人しゃかいじんともなると、朝あさが 早はやく なる。 — Once you're working, you have to get up early in the morning.
• 部長ぶちょうともなれば、責任せきにんも 重おもい。 — Once you become a manager, the responsibility is heavy too.
• 十二月じゅうにがつともなると、町まちは にぎやかに なる。 — Once December comes, the streets get lively.
• 卒業生そつぎょうせいの 代表だいひょうともなると、あいさつも 立派りっぱだ。 — Once you're the graduates' representative, even your speech sounds impressive.
• 外国がいこくで 働はたらくともなると、準備じゅんびが 大変たいへんだ。 — Once you're going to work abroad, the preparation is hard.

Grammar 4 / 4: ゆえに

N / na-adjective stem / verb or i-adjective plain form + ゆえ(に) = because of ~, owing to ~ (very formal, written). N + ゆえの + N = a ~ that comes from ~. 未熟みじゅくゆえ、ご迷惑めいわくを おかけしました = Owing to my immaturity, I caused everyone trouble.

• Form: N / na-adjective stem / verb or i-adjective plain form + ゆえ(に): Nouns and na-adjectives take the stem directly, with no だ: 未熟みじゅくゆえ. Verbs and i-adjectives use the plain form: 少すくないゆえに.
• Meaning: because of ~, owing to ~: Like から / ので / ため, it gives a reason. ゆえ and ゆえに mean the same.
• Feel: very stiff, written style: Use it in formal speeches, writing and essays. Modern notices and announcements usually use ため. If you said "すいたゆえに" to a friend, it would sound funny. Just say から.
• ゆえの + N: Before a noun, use ゆえの: 若わかさゆえの 失敗しっぱい = a mistake that comes from youth; 留学生りゅうがくせいゆえの 苦労くろう = hardships that come from being an international student.

• 未熟みじゅくゆえ、ご迷惑めいわくを おかけしました。 — Owing to my immaturity, I caused everyone trouble.
• 経験けいけんが 少すくないゆえに、失敗しっぱいも 多おおかった。 — Owing to a lack of experience, there were many failures too.
• 若わかさゆえの 失敗しっぱいだった。 — It was a mistake born of youth.
• 初はじめての 経験けいけんゆえ、失敗しっぱいも ありました。 — Because it was my first experience, I also failed.
• 留学生りゅうがくせいゆえの 苦労くろうも ありました。 — There were also hardships that came from being an international student.