「日刊四字」へようこそ!

Now Featuring 1級 Grammar, Everyday Japanese That You Won't Find in the Book, and Language and Cultural Trivia!

Tuesday, July 8, 2008

2級 Grammar 61-65

Frisbee in Japan has a weird reputation. In spite of the fact that Japan is regarded as one of the top four countries in the sport (and actually won the world championship last year), most of the people here don't know these plastic discs have non-canine applications. Indeed, when I am asked what my favorite sport is, I rarely say "frisbee" since most people think I mean throwing the disc back and forth. Or, if I am lucky, to a dog.

With these grammar points, perhaps I will ennoble this misunderstood sport!



61)  たとえ~ても
Even if ~,
Though ~,
No matter if ~,

This one is pretty simple and self-explanatory - it operates exclusively in two-part clauses to build sentences that go "even if A happens to such a degree, B will still happen."

Ex. フリスビーは弱気なヤツのスポーツじゃねぇー!たとえ雨が激しく降って疾風が荒れ狂っても、フリスビーをやろう!".


62) ~たところ
When ~,
If ~,

Like a lot of this week's grammar points, this is always a dual-clause grammar point. It's likened to "~たら" with the exception that it's something you only do one time, ie it doesn't apply to routines and other multiple-offenders. Usage is as simple as using past tense and adding "ところ”. Special note: "~てみたところ" is an especially common structure for this grammar point. LIKE SO.

Ex. フリスビーの普通な投げ方は簡単見えるんが、ハマーと言うスローを投げてみたところ、その意見をもうすぐ撤回する。


63) ~たとたん
Right as ~,
Immediately after ~,
Upon ~,

This one is as simple as it sounds - "A~たとたん, B", where "Right as A, B happened". The one condition you have to remember is this grammar point is mostly used for unusual circumstances.

Ex. そのオヤジは「フ・リ・ス・ビーか?でも。。。犬はどこ?」と言ったとたん、俺がディスクを全力で彼の顔に投げつけった。やつめいい気味だった。

64) ~たび(に)
Whenever ~,
Every time ~,

Again, as simple as it sounds, and this one without any apparent catches. SCORE.

When you use it with a noun, use the form "noun + の + たび(に)

Ex. フリスビー大会に参加するたび、次の日体をほとんど動けない。


65) ~だらけ
full of ~
~ all over
covered with ~

The source book I used for this definition made a special note that this phrase is intended only for use with bad things. However, as Clay points out in the comments, 夢だらけ gets millions of results in Google, as does 幸せだらけ. I haven't been in Japan long enough to make linguistic theories, but I'll go ahead and hazard that this phrase has followed an evolution similar to "全然", and is thus freed it from its negative vibe.

Noun+ だらけ = win.

Ex. フリスビーは選手しかにとして厳しくないスポーツじゃない。そのディスクも傷だらけだ。

Now go forth, and spread the good word of the disc to the land!

4 comments:

Claytonian said...

looking at Google, there are a lot of situations where 夢だらけ can be used

Claytonian said...

Not to imply that you were wrong about the childhood example of course

Defendership said...

huh... the book I'm learning from pretty clearly notes that it's intended only for bad things, but you're right, Google does yield a ton of examples. 幸せだらけ also yields Google hits in the millions...

If anybody who reads these comments has any insight to why/when this has changed, or has another source that doesn't establish the "bad things only" limitation, please share! For now I will bend under the insurmountable will of the internets and edit my definition. Thanks, Clay, that possibility slipped right by me.

Claytonian said...

I imagine it may reflect the attitude of the speaker. "Earth is covered in filthy children, covered themselves by... ug... dreams."