Lesson 129: ピヨの 絵と 町の 物語

N3 · Lesson 129 · 20 min — Follow Rin to Piyo's school to see her prize-winning painting, and review Lessons 123-128: concession phrases and N + particle patterns, all in one go.

No new grammar in this lesson! Rin, Neko-sensei, Kumata and Mr. Kuma visit the art show at Piyo's school, and we practice Lessons 123-128 together: concession and N + particle patterns.

After this lesson, you can:

• Use ものの, と いっても, たとえ〜ても and いくら〜ても to say “although…”, “well, it's not that much”, “even if…” and “no matter how…”
• Use しか ない and かわりに to say “have no choice but to…”, “instead of…” and “in return / on the other hand”
• Use に よって, に よって 違ちがう, に 関かんして and に 対たいして to say cause, difference, topic and target
• Use に とって, と して and に 加くわえて to say viewpoint, role and “in addition to…”
• Use を もとに, を 通とおして and を 中心ちゅうしんに to say basis, means and center

Piyo's painting: わたしの まち

The Yanaka story map is done. Today, Piyo's painting won a prize at her school contest! (絵え = picture, 賞しょう = prize, 描かく = to draw)

With concession, you step back first, then turn around. N + particle patterns make viewpoint, target and basis clearer. Next lesson, Rin starts writing his Japanese draft of the reply to Grandpa...

Piyo's art show

Can you find the patterns from Lessons 123-128? Tap each line to hear the Japanese.

Words in this lesson

• 賞しょう (shō): prize, award
• 金賞きんしょう (kinshō): gold prize (first place in a contest)
• 選えらばれる (erabareru): to be chosen
• 審査員しんさいん (shinsain): judge
• 感想かんそう (kansō): impression, comment
• 色いろ (iro): color
• 伝つたわる (tsutawaru): (feelings, a story) to get across; to spread
• 場所ばしょ (basho): place, spot
• はずかしい (hazukashii): embarrassed, shy
• 校長こうちょう先生せんせい (kōchō sensei): principal (of a school)
• 作品さくひん (sakuhin): work (of art)
• よだれ (yodare): drool

Grammar 1 / 5: ものの・といっても・たとえ・いくら

ものの = although ~ (calm, formal), と いっても = they say ~, but not so much (toning down), たとえ〜ても = even if ~, いくら〜ても = no matter how much ~

• ものの: although ~, but ~: Plain form + ものの (na-adjective + な / noun + である). You accept the first fact, then add a result that is not what you expected. The tone is calm and a bit formal: 返事へんじを 書かいた ものの、出だせない. (I wrote the reply, but I can't send it.)
• と いっても: they say ~, but actually ~: Plain form or noun + と いっても. After saying one thing, you quickly add that it is not as big or as much as it sounds: 料理りょうりが できると いっても、カレーだけです. (I can cook, but only curry.)
• たとえ〜ても・いくら〜ても: たとえ = imagine a case: “even if it really happens”. いくら or どんなに = degree: “no matter how much”. The result or decision after it does not change. Verbs: 〜ても. い-adjectives: 〜くても. Nouns and な-adjectives: 〜でも.

• 勉強べんきょうした ものの、試験しけんに 合格ごうかくできなかった。 — I read the book, but I didn't pass the exam.
• 休やすみと いっても、一日いちにちだけです。 — It's called a holiday, but it's only one day.
• たとえ 雨あめでも、ツアーは 中止ちゅうししません。 — Even if it rains, the tour won't be canceled.
• いくら 食たべても、ふとらない。 — No matter how much I eat, I don't gain weight.

Grammar 2 / 5: しかない・かわりに

Verb dictionary form + しか ない = have no choice but to ~; Nの かわりに = instead of ~; verb / adjective + かわりに = in return, on the other hand

• しか ない: have no choice but to ~: Verb dictionary form + しか ない = there is no other way, only this one road left. A more formal way is 〜より ほか（は）ない. Careful: Nしか〜ない means “only N”: 百円ひゃくえんしか ない. (I only have 100 yen.)
• Nの かわりに: instead of ~: Nの かわりに = another person or thing does it in place of N. The formal way is Nに 代かわって: 部長ぶちょうに 代かわって、わたしが 話はなします. (I'll speak in place of the manager.)
• Verb / adjective + かわりに: in return, on the other hand: Plain form + かわりに (na-adjective + な). It is a trade: “you do this, I do that”. After a good or bad point, it means “on the other hand”: 安やすい かわりに、駅えきから 遠とおい. (It's cheap, but far from the station.)

• 終電しゅうでんが ない。タクシーで 帰かえる しか ない。 — The last train is gone, so I have no choice but to take a taxi home.
• 先生せんせいの かわりに、わたしが 説明せつめいします。 — I'll explain in place of the teacher.
• 手伝てつだって くれる かわりに、ご飯はんを 作つくるよ。 — If you help me, in return I'll cook for you.
• この 仕事しごとは 給料きゅうりょうが いい かわりに、休やすみが 少すくない。 — This job pays well, but on the other hand, there are few days off.

Grammar 3 / 5: によって・に関かんして・に対たいして

に よって = because of ~, by means of ~; に よって 違ちがう = depends on ~; に 関かんして = about ~ (topic); に 対たいして = toward ~ (target)

• に よって・に よって 違ちがう・に よっては: Nに よって = because of N, by means of N (rather formal). Nに よって 違ちがう = differs depending on N. Nに よっては = depending on the N, in some cases (it will) ~. Before a noun, use Nに よる + N.
• に 関かんして (に 関かんする + N): “About ~”. It is the formal version of に ついて. It is common in briefings, notices and reports: 料金りょうきんに 関かんして、受付うけつけで 聞きいて ください. (For the fee, please ask at the desk.)
• に 対たいして (に 対たいする + N): An answer, attitude or feeling directed at a target: 質問しつもんに 対たいして 答こたえる. (To answer a question.) A のに 対たいして B = A is like this, while B is like that.

• 国くにに よって、料理りょうりの 味あじが 違ちがう。 — The taste of the food differs from country to country.
• 雪ゆきに よって、電車でんしゃが 遅おくれた。 — Because of the snow, the train was late.
• 料金りょうきんに 関かんして、受付うけつけで 聞きいて ください。 — About the fee, please ask at the desk.
• リンは 甘あまい ものが 好すきなのに 対たいして、熊太くまたは 辛からい ものが 好すきだ。 — Rin likes sweet things, while Kumata likes spicy things.

Grammar 4 / 5: にとって・として・に加くわえて

に とって = for ~ (whose viewpoint, evaluation), と して = as ~ (role, status), に 加くわえて = in addition to ~ (one more thing)

• に とって: for ~: A に とって B = standing in A's position, B is ~. A is a person or group, and an evaluation follows: 大切たいせつだ (important), 難むずかしい (hard), 便利べんりだ (handy).
• と して: as ~: A と して = in the role, status or use of A. What follows says what you do in that role. と しては = looking at it from that role.
• に 加くわえて: in addition to ~: A に 加くわえて B も = on top of A, add one more thing in the same direction. It is close to 〜だけで なく〜も, but more formal and more bookish.

• 子こどもに とって、この 本ほんは 難むずかしい。 — For children, this book is hard.
• 通訳つうやくと して、会議かいぎに 出でます。 — I attend the meeting as an interpreter.
• 雨あめに 加くわえて、風かぜも 強つよく なった。 — In addition to the rain, the wind has gotten stronger.
• 留学生りゅうがくせいと して、日本にほんに 来きました。 — I came to Japan as an international student.

Grammar 5 / 5: をもとに・を通とおして・を中心ちゅうしんに

を もとに = based on ~ (material), を 通とおして = through ~ / throughout ~, を 中心ちゅうしんに = centered on ~

• を もとに（して）: based on ~: Noun + を もとに = you take the thing in front as material and make something new (a map, a painting, a movie, a report). Before a noun, say を もとに した + N.
• を 通とおして: through ~; throughout ~: (1) You get a result through a person, experience or activity: ボランティアを 通とおして 友ともだちが できた. (2) With time words: 一年いちねんを 通とおして = all year long. を 通つうじて means the same and is more formal.
• を 中心ちゅうしんに（して）: centered on ~: The thing in front is the center or focus (a place, person or topic), and other things spread out around it. Before a noun, say を 中心ちゅうしんに した + N.

• アンケートを もとに、新あたらしい ツアーを 作つくった。 — Based on a survey, we made a new guided tour.
• ボランティアを 通とおして、友ともだちが できた。 — Through volunteering, I made friends.
• この 町まちは 一年いちねんを 通とおして 観光客かんこうきゃくが 多おおい。 — This town has many tourists all year round.
• 関東かんとうを 中心ちゅうしんに、雨あめが 降ふるでしょう。 — Centered on the Kanto area, it will probably rain.