Lesson 171: と いい〜と いい・であれ・なり〜なり・も さることながら

N1 · Lesson 171 · 18 min — Praise from every side, "no matter who," "pick one and do it," and "A is true, but B even more": the ward mayor left a letter!

Last lesson, Rin told the ward mayor in the mayor's office that he "just wanted to read that letter." The mayor listened closely. This lesson has four N1 ways to list examples: と いい〜と いい (both A and B are ...), であれ (no matter who/what ...), なり〜なり (A or B, pick one and do it), and も さることながら (A is true, of course, but B too). Read the comic first!

After this lesson, you can:

• Use と いい〜と いい to praise two sides of something: 味あじと いい 香かおりと いい、最高さいこうだ
• Use であれ for "no matter who/what, ...": 誰だれであれ、ルールは 守まもる べきだ
• Use なり〜なり to give options and ask someone to pick one: 手紙てがみなり メールなり 送おくって ください
• Use も さることながら to grant A, then stress B: 木きも さることながら、この 店みせも 宝たからだ

The Mayor's Letter

The mayor was moved by Rin's story. Last night he secretly came to くまや for a bowl of ramen. This morning, Mr. Kuma has a letter. It says the issue will be discussed at the public hearing. (区長くちょう=ward mayor, 宝たから=treasure, 公聴会こうちょうかい=public hearing)

と いい: praise. であれ: no matter what. なり: pick one and do it. も さることながら: stress the second. Next lesson, Rin writes his public hearing speech!

Words in this lesson

• 〜と いい 〜と いい (to ii ... to ii): both A and B (are) ... (evaluation)
• 〜であれ (de are): no matter ...; even if it is ...
• 〜なり 〜なり (nari ... nari): either A or B (pick one and do it)
• 〜も さることながら (mo saru koto nagara): A is true, of course, but B (even more) ...
• 区長くちょう (kuchō): ward mayor
• ゆうべ (yūbe): last night
• 置おいて いく (oite iku): to leave something behind and go
• 味あじ (aji): taste, flavor
• 香かおり (kaori): aroma, scent
• 最高さいこう (saikō): the best, top class
• 宝たから (takara): treasure
• 公聴会こうちょうかい (kōchōkai): public hearing
• 意見いけん (iken): opinion, view
• メール (mēru): email
• 〜の 分ぶん (no bun): someone's share, portion
• 三杯目さんばいめ (sanbaime): the third bowl (〜目め= the ...th)
• 景色けしき (keshiki): scenery, view
• 理由りゆう (riyū): reason
• 雰囲気ふんいき (fun'iki): atmosphere, mood
• 体力たいりょく (tairyoku): physical stamina

Grammar 1 / 4: といい〜といい

N1と いい N2と いい＋evaluation = both A and B are ...: name two sides of one thing, then give one overall evaluation. 味あじと いい 香かおりと いい、最高さいこうだ = Both the taste and the aroma are top class.

• Form: N1と いい N2と いい、〜: A noun goes straight before と いい. Usually you name two, and each one gets と いい: 味あじと いい 香かおりと いい.
• Meaning: whichever way you look, ...: Name two sides of one thing (or two people or items) and say "whichever you look at, it is ...". It also hints that the rest is probably the same.
• An evaluation follows: What follows is the speaker's judgment or feeling: 最高さいこうだ・すばらしい・ひどい. Not a request, invitation, or decision (〜て ください・〜よう).
• Praise or complaint: In complaints it often sounds a bit resigned: ねこ先生せんせいと いい 熊太くまたと いい、よく 食たべるね (Neko-sensei and Kumata both eat so much, don't they?).

• 味あじと いい 香かおりと いい、最高さいこうだ。 — Both the taste and the aroma are top class.
• この 部屋へやは、広ひろさと いい 明あかるさと いい、ちょうど いい。 — This room is just right, in both size and brightness.
• 値段ねだんと いい 量りょうと いい、学生がくせいに うれしい 店みせだ。 — Both the price and the portion make this a student-friendly shop.
• ねこ先生せんせいと いい 熊太くまたと いい、よく 食たべるね。 — Neko-sensei and Kumata both eat so much, don't they?
• 色いろと いい 形かたちと いい、この かばんは かわいい。 — This bag is cute, in both color and shape.

Grammar 2 / 4: であれ

N＋であれ = no matter ...; even if it is ...: 誰だれであれ、ルールは 守まもる べきだ = No matter who you are, you should follow the rules. Two in a row: 雨あめであれ 雪ゆきであれ = whether it rains or snows.

• Form: N＋であれ / NであれNであれ: A noun or question word takes であれ directly, with no だ. Two in a row: 雨あめであれ 雪ゆきであれ.
• Meaning: no matter ...: Whatever you put in front, the conclusion does not change. With one noun it often means "even if it is ...": たとえ 区長くちょうであれ (even if it's the mayor).
• Compare: にしても・にしろ: The meaning is close (you learned にしても／にしろ／にせよ before). であれ is more formal and stiff. You see it in speeches, writing, and rules. In conversation, にしても sounds more natural.
• Often a principle or resolve follows: It often ends with べきだ・だめだ・〜ない, endings for rules and decisions: 誰だれであれ、店みせの 中なかで 走はしっては いけない.

• 誰だれであれ、ルールは 守まもる べきだ。 — No matter who you are, you should follow the rules.
• 雨あめであれ 雪ゆきであれ、店みせは 開あける。 — Rain or snow, the shop opens as usual.
• 理由りゆうが 何なんであれ、遅刻ちこくは だめだ。 — Whatever the reason, being late is not OK.
• 大人おとなであれ 子こどもであれ、意見いけんを 言いう ことが できる。 — Adults and children alike can share their opinions.
• たとえ 区長くちょうであれ、三杯目さんばいめは 渡わたさない。 — Even if it's the mayor, he won't get the third bowl.

Grammar 3 / 4: なり〜なり

Dictionary-form V / N＋なり, V / N＋なり = A or B (pick one and do it): name a few ways and ask someone, or yourself, to choose one. 手紙てがみなり メールなり 送おくって ください = Send a letter or an email, please.

• Form: dictionary-form V / N＋なり、〜なり(する): Nouns: 手紙てがみなり メールなり. Verbs: 電話でんわする なり 会あいに 行いく なり して ください. The verb version often ends with する.
• Meaning: A or B (pick one and do it): These are only examples, not a complete list. The point is "just do something."
• A request, advice, or decision follows: 〜て ください・〜しなさい・〜ば いい・〜よう. You cannot report past events (〜た). It sounds a bit like "you choose, now go do it," so be careful when speaking directly to elders or bosses.
• Don't mix it up with なり in Lesson 166: A single なり followed by an unexpected past action means "as soon as": 家いえに 帰かえる なり 寝ねて しまった (As soon as I got home, I fell asleep). Two なり in a row followed by a request or advice is this lesson's "A or B."

• 意見いけんは 手紙てがみなり メールなり 送おくって ください。 — If you have opinions, please send a letter or an email.
• わからない ときは、辞書じしょを 引ひく なり 先生せんせいに 聞きく なり しなさい。 — When you don't understand, look it up in a dictionary or ask the teacher. Just do something.
• 疲つかれたら、お茶ちゃを 飲のむ なり 少すこし 休やすむ なり して ください。 — When you're tired, have a cup of tea or take a short rest.
• 明日あしたは 電車でんしゃなり バスなりで 来きて ください。 — Come tomorrow, by train or by bus.
• 週末しゅうまつは 公園こうえんを 歩あるく なり 本ほんを 読よむ なり しよう。 — This weekend, take a walk in the park or read a book. Do something.

Grammar 4 / 4: もさることながら

N1＋も さることながら、N2も／が〜 = N1 is true, of course, but N2 is also (even more) ...: first grant N1, then put the focus on N2. 木きも さることながら、この 店みせも 町まちの 宝たからだ = The tree is precious, of course, but this shop is also a treasure of the town.

• Form: N1＋も さることながら、N2も／が〜: A noun comes before it, and it is always も. After the comma, you usually get N2も (also ...) or N2が (even more ...).
• Meaning: N1 is true, but N2 is also (even more) ...: Grant N1, then put the focus on N2. It is most often praise, but it can also describe two problems (値段ねだんも さることながら、量りょうが 問題もんだいだ = The price is a problem, of course, but the portion is even worse).
• Compare: はもちろん: 味あじは もちろん、香かおりも: the taste is good, of course, and the aroma too (a general expression, common in speech and writing). 味あじも さることながら、香かおりも: the focus leans to the second part, and it is more formal and written.
• Used in formal settings: Common in speeches, introductions, and letters, just like the mayor's letter. With friends, はもちろん is enough.

• 木きも さることながら、この 店みせも 町まちの 宝たからだ。 — The tree is precious, of course, but this shop is also a treasure of the town.
• 景色けしきも さることながら、温泉おんせんも すばらしい。 — The scenery is great, of course, and the hot springs are wonderful too.
• この 店みせは、味あじも さることながら、値段ねだんが うれしい。 — The taste of this shop is great, of course, and the price makes you even happier.
• 京都きょうとは、寺てらも さることながら、和菓子わがしも 有名ゆうめいだ。 — Kyoto's temples are great, of course, and its Japanese sweets are famous too.
• 熊太くまたは、体力たいりょくも さることながら、明あかるさが すばらしい。 — Kumata's stamina is impressive, of course, but his cheerfulness is even rarer.