Lesson 179: 社説と 書評を 読む
N1 · Lesson 179 · 20 min — Read a newspaper editorial and a book review with Rin, and review all of Lessons 173–178 in one go
No new grammar in this lesson! In mid-March, the tree has been fenced off for construction. One morning, the newspaper runs an editorial about Yanaka, with a book review of a photo book beside it. Read both articles with Rin, see how the opponents react, and practice the patterns of Lessons 173–178 (opinion, emphasis, purpose) together.
After this lesson, you can:
- Use 極まりない・の至り・といったらない・かぎりだ to say “extremely ~ / ~ to the utmost / incredibly ~ / really ~”
- Use ときたら・からして・たりとも to complain, to give the most basic example, and to say “not even one ~”
- Use たる・にして・ばこそ・とは to say “as a ~ / only after ~ / both ~ and ~ / precisely because ~ / to think that ~!”
- Use とあって・とあれば・ともなると・ゆえに to talk about special situations and reasons
- Use んばかりに・んがため・あっての・べく・まじき・べからず to understand formal, written emphasis and purpose
Editorial Sparks Talks
The tree is fenced off for construction. This morning, the paper ran an editorial about Yanaka⋯⋯ (社説＝editorial)
The headline uses あっての; まじき is the criticism. Neko-sensei's ともなると has the editorial tone! Next lesson: the ward council decides⋯⋯
Read an Editorial and a Book Review
Text in “ ” is from the newspaper. Find where the patterns of Lessons 173–178 are used! Tap each line to hear the Japanese.
Words in This Lesson
- 社説 (shasetsu): editorial (a piece in which the newspaper states its own position)
- 書評 (shohyō): book review (an article that introduces and evaluates a book)
- 見出し (midashi): headline (of a newspaper or article)
- 記憶 (kioku): memory
- 工事 (kōji): construction work
- 柵 (saku): fence
- 立ち入る (tachiiru): to enter (a place)
- 囲む (kakomu): to surround, to enclose
- 集まる (atsumaru): to gather
- 狭い (semai): narrow, cramped
- 救急車 (kyūkyūsha): ambulance
- 危険 (kiken): danger, dangerous
- 命 (inochi): life
- 広げる (hirogeru): to widen, to expand
- 愛する (aisuru): to love
- 両方 (ryōhō): both sides, both
- 残す (nokosu): to leave behind, to preserve
- 話し合い (hanashiai): discussion, talks
- 反対派 (hantaiha): the opposition, opponents
- うなずく (unazuku): to nod
- 写真集 (shashinshū): photo book
- 写真家 (shashinka): photographer
- 住民 (jūmin): resident
- 筆者 (hissha): author, writer
- 表紙 (hyōshi): cover (of a book)
- 見逃す (minogasu): to miss, to overlook
- 心強い (kokorozuyoi): reassuring, encouraging
- 光栄 (kōei): honor
- 切り抜く (kirinuku): to cut out (from a newspaper)
- 特集 (tokushū): special feature, special issue
Grammar 1 / 6: 極まりない・の至り・といったらない・かぎりだ
na-adjective stem＋極まりない＝extremely ~; N＋の至り／の極み＝~ to the utmost; ～と いったら ない＝incredibly ~; ～かぎりだ＝(I feel) really ~
- na-adjective stem＋極まりない: With na-adjectives like 危険・失礼・不便, drop な and attach directly: 危険 極まりない. Mostly used for bad things. It is very strong and common in editorials and criticism.
- N＋の至り／の極み: 光栄の 至り (an honor beyond words), 感激の 極み (deeply moved). These are very formal set phrases, mostly used in speeches and polite talk.
- 〜と いったら ない: Noun (often adjective＋さ)＋と いったら ない: incredibly ~. It works for good and bad: 温かさと いったら ない, 寒さと いったら ない.
- 〜かぎりだ: i-adjective / na-adjective＋な＋かぎりだ: really ~, so ~. Used only for how “I” feel right now: うれしい かぎりだ, 心強い かぎりだ.
- 約束を 守らないのは、失礼 極まりない。 — Breaking a promise is extremely rude.
- 一人で 待つ 夜の 寂しさと いったら ない。 — On a night spent waiting alone, it's incredibly lonely.
- 友だちが 来て くれて、うれしい かぎりです。 — A friend came to see me, and I'm really happy.
Grammar 2 / 6: ときたら・からして・たりとも
N＋と きたら＝speaking of ~ (ugh); N＋からして＝even from ~ (the most basic part); 一＋counter＋たりとも＋negative＝not even one ~
- N＋と きたら: Bring up someone or something familiar, then complain: うちの 兄と きたら、また 寝て いる. It usually carries a feeling of “I can't do anything about him.” It is more casual.
- N＋からして: Points to the most basic, first-seen part: 名前からして, 表紙からして. It means “this alone says it all, never mind the rest.” Works for good or bad.
- 一＋counter＋たりとも＋negative: 一日たりとも・一円たりとも・一人たりとも: mostly “one＋counter,” always followed by a negative (～ない・～ては いけない・～べきでは ない) to stress that not even one is allowed.
- うちの 兄と きたら、一日中 ゲームを して いる。 — Speaking of my older brother, he plays video games all day.
- この 店は 名前からして おもしろい。 — This shop is interesting from its name alone.
- 試合まで 一日たりとも 休めない。 — Before the match, you must not rest even for a day.
Grammar 3 / 6: たる・にして・ばこそ・とは
N＋たる もの＝as a ~ (you should ~) / N＋とも あろう＋N＝someone like ~, yet⋯⋯; N＋にして＝only after ~ / both ~ and ~; Vば＋こそ＝precisely because ~; plain form＋とは＝to think that ~!
- N＋たる もの／N＋とも あろう N: 教師たる もの＝as a teacher (you should ~), often followed by べきだ. 先生とも あろう 人が＝a teacher of all people, yet⋯⋯, followed by something that should not happen.
- N＋にして: ① Time or age＋にして＝only after ~ did something finally happen (looking back on something achieved): 五十年にして、ようやく 会えた. ② N1＋にして＋N2＝both N1 and N2: 写真家にして 住民.
- Vば＋こそ: ba-form＋こそ: precisely because ~. More formal and more emotional than からこそ: 待って いれば こそ、会える.
- Plain form＋とは: “To think that ~!” Shows surprise or deep feeling, and often the sentence stops halfway: 反対派も 読んだとは.
- 先生とも あろう 人が、道に 迷うとは。 — A teacher of all people, and he got lost.
- 五十年にして、ようやく 会えた。 — After fifty years, we finally met.
- 家族を 思えば こそ、遠い 国で 頑張れる。 — Precisely because I think of my family, I can keep trying in a faraway country.
Grammar 4 / 6: とあって・とあれば・ともなると・ゆえに
Plain form＋と あって＝since it is ~ (special situation); plain form＋と あれば＝if it is ~ (I'm willing); N＋とも なると／とも なれば＝once you reach ~; plain form／N (の)＋ゆえ (に)＝because ~ (written)
- Plain form＋と あって: Because of a special situation (a festival, a celebrity, a limited offer), a natural result happens. What follows is mostly description, not a request or a command.
- Plain form／N＋と あれば: If it is for ~, I'm willing (even to do what I don't usually do): 子どもの ためと あれば、夜も 働く.
- N＋とも なると／とも なれば: Once you reach a certain position, age, or stage, something naturally follows: 社長とも なると、休む 時間も ない.
- Plain form／N (の)＋ゆえ (に): The written “because”: 古い 町で ある ゆえに. A noun can attach directly: 大雪ゆえに. There is also ゆえの＋N (a ~ that exists because of ~).
- 日曜日と あって、公園は 人が 多い。 — Since it's Sunday, the park is crowded.
- 子どもの ためと あれば、夜も 働く。 — If it's for my child, I'll even work at night.
- 大雪ゆえに、電車が 止まった。 — Because of heavy snow, the trains stopped.
Grammar 5 / 6: んばかりに・んがため・あっての
V nai-form (ない→ん)＋ばかりに／quote＋と ばかりに＝as if about to ~; V nai-form (ない→ん)＋が ため (に)＝in order to ~ (strong purpose); N1＋あっての＋N2＝N2 exists only because of N1
- V nai-form (ない→ん)＋ばかりに: It looks as if something is about to happen (but it doesn't): 泣かんばかりに, 言わんばかりに. Often used as “と ばかりに” right after a quote: 「どうだ」と ばかりに. する → せんばかりに.
- V nai-form (ない→ん)＋が ため (に): “In order to ~,” much stronger than ために, with a feeling of “I must do it.” Mostly written: 合格せんが ため. する → せんが ため.
- N1＋あっての＋N2: With N1, there is N2. N1 is an essential condition for N2: お客様 あっての 仕事, 記憶あっての 町.
- 子どもは 泣かんばかりに 頼んだ。 — The child begged as if about to cry.
- 試験に 合格せんが ため、毎日 勉強した。 — In order to pass, I studied every day.
- お客様 あっての 仕事だ。 — Without customers, there would be no job.
Grammar 6 / 6: べく・まじき・べからず
V dictionary form＋べく (する→すべく)＝in order to ~ (written purpose); V dictionary form＋まじき＋N (Nに あるまじき)＝~ unbecoming (of a ~); V dictionary form＋べからず／べからざる＋N＝do not ~, must not ~
- V dictionary form＋べく: “In order to ~,” more formal than ために. What follows is something already done or a resolve, not a request or command: 迎えるべく 準備する. する → すべく.
- V dictionary form＋まじき＋N: “Unbecoming (of a ~),” often as Nに あるまじき＋N: 教師に あるまじき 態度. Very strong, a harsh criticism.
- V dictionary form＋べからず／べからざる＋N: The “Do not ~” of signs: ここで 泳ぐべからず. Before a noun, use べからざる: 許すべからざる こと (an unforgivable thing). する → すべからず.
- 祖父を 迎えるべく、毎日 準備して いる。 — I prepare every day in order to welcome my grandfather.
- それは 教師に あるまじき 態度だ。 — That is an attitude unbecoming of a teacher.
- ここで 泳ぐべからず。 — No swimming here.