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いちおうかんじをおぼえてみる！
Ichiou kanji o oboetemiru!
I will try to remember the kanji!
Even so それにしては
それにしては is an expression meaning 'even so', 'notwithstanding' or 'nevertheless'. The word それ in it comes from the demonstrative 'that', which is far from the speaker, but close to the listener. You will find it in many other expressions:
それから (after that)
それで (so)
それはそうと (anyway)
それに (in addition)
それにしては is seen in sentences like despite A, we must consider B.
SENTENCE + それにしては + SENTENCE
Summer is always hot, and yet (this year) is cool.
なつはいつもあつくて、それにしてはすずしい。
Natsu wa itsumo atsukute, sorenishitewa suzushii.
They say a storm is approaching, but nevertheless, it is quiet.
あらしがちかづいているというが、それにしてはしずかだ。
Arashi ga chikadzuiteiru to iu ga, sorenishitewa shizuka da.
NOUN + にしては
それ can be replaced by a noun. In this case, it is used to make comments about people and situations with a bit of irony.
Despite being a Sumo wrestler, his body is small.
すもうとりにしては、からだがちいさいよね。
Sumou tori nishitewa, karada ga chiisai yo ne.
The first example can also be formed this way.
Despite being summer, it is cool.
なつにしてはすずしい。
Natsu nishitewa suzushii.
That transfer student is really good at Japanese, despite being a first year.
あのりゅうがくせいは、いちねんせいにしてはずいぶんにほんごがじょうずです。
Ano ryuugakusei wa, ichi nen sei nishitewa zuibun nihongo ga jouzu desu.
それにしても
This expression will be used a little bit differently than それにしては. Let's view it with examples to better understand!
Summer is always hot, and yet (this year) it's too hot.
なつはいつもあつくて、それにしてもあつすぎる。
Natsu wa itsumo atsukute, sorenishitemo atsusugiru.
Even though we observe that the temperature in summer is always hot, we also make the observation that this year's summer is too hot. それにしても will be used to convey observations that go beyond what is expected.
I understand when you say it is a good product. Nonetheless, isn't it a bit expensive?
いいしなだというのはわかる。それにしても、ちょっとたかすぎやしないか？
Ii shina da to iu no wa wakaru. Sorenishitemo, chotto takasugiya shinai ka?
NOUN + にしても
We can also use it with nouns.
It is warm, even though it is winter.
ふゆにしてもあたたかい。
Fuyu nishitemo atatakai.
Both.... and
にしても can also state the expression 'whether it is A, whether it is B'.
VERB (inf.) + にしても + ....
VERB (inf.) + にしても
You are good at both reading and writing kanji.
にほんごのかんじはよむにしてもかくにしても、じょうずだ。
Nihongo no kanji wa yomu nishitemo kaku nishitemo, jouzu da.
NOUN + にしても + NOUN + にしても
You are good with both hiragana and katakana.
ひらがなにしてもカタカナにしてもじょうず。
Hiragana nishitemo katakana nishitemo jouzu.
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Kind of いちおう
The expression いちおう means 'kind of' or 'more or less', and is used often to make a sentence more polite and humble, especially when talking about ourselves.
However, in some contexts, too much humility using いちおう can have the opposite effect, so be careful when using it.
Using いちおう when referring to ourselves
In most situations, in Japanese, it is better to use ambiguous expressions. This allows us to never be too direct when stating something about ourselves. This is called けんそん (humility).
For instance, you studied Japanese thoroughly, you practised a lot, and now you consider your Japanese to be good. In Western cultures, it is okay to say that you are good at something (your tone will tell us if you are bragging or not), but in Japan, we never say such thing about ourselves. We won't be as direct.
I am good at Japanese.
にほんごがじょうずです。
Nihongo ga jouzu desu.
We would never say it that way in Japan.
In this case, いちおう makes the sentence more humble.
I can more or less speak it.
いちおうちょっとできます。
Ichiou chotto dekimasu.
It conveys the idea that you cannot speak the language fully, but you understand fairly enough to get by.
This is also why we tend to refuse compliments by saying 'no, not really'. If we reject your compliments, we are actually being polite, but it might sound rude for Westerners.
Using いちおう to brag
As mentioned, いちおう can have the opposite effect of humility.
I graduated from university.
わたしはだいがくにそつぎょうしました。
Watashi wa daigaku ni sotsugyou shimashita.
わたしはいちおうだいがくにそつぎょうしました。
Watashi wa ichiou daigaku ni sotsugyou shimashita.
At first glance, it seems that the use of いちおう makes it more humble, but in reality, in this context, it actually puts emphasis on the fact that you graduated. It sounds a bit like 'Well, I actually graduated from university'. It sounds like you are bragging or that you are putting yourself above people who might not have graduated from university.
In most cases, the tone and what is said after いちおう will tell you if the person is bragging or not.
Indication that you will try to do something
いちおう can also indicate that you are unsure of your abilities and you will try to do it anyway.
Some view the use of いちおう in this context as an excuse to do poor work.
Have you finished that job yet?
れいのしごとはもうできた？
Rei no shigoto wa mou dekita?
Yes, I am more or less done.
はい、いちおうできました。
Hai, ichiou dekimashita.
In this case, you are done with the work, but maybe the work is not perfectly done.
You can also use いちおう to say that you will try to do something, but don't promise that it will be perfect.
I'll try.
いちおうやってみる。
Ichiou yatte miru.
I'll try to make Okonomiyaki.
いちおうおこのみやきをつくってみる。
Ichiou okonomiyaki o tsukutte miru.
In these sentences, you say that you will try, but you are unsure if the final results will be perfect.
Asking a favour with いちおう
いちおう can be used when asking for favours if you do not want to put too much pressure on the person.
Could you give me an answer by tomorrow?
いちおう、あしたまでにへんじをくれる？
Ichiou, ashita made ni henji o kureru?
いちおう to mean more or less
In its raw meaning, いちおう will be translated to 'more or less'.
I managed to more or less pass the exam.
いちおうしけんにうかりました。
Ichiou shiken o ukarimashita.
You can more or less make a living with 80 000 yen a month.
つきはちまねなればいちおうせいかつはできる。
Tsuki hachi man en areba ichiou seikatsu wa dekiru.
いちおう to mean for now
いちおう can also have the meaning of 'for now'.
I'll give you 2000 yen per hour for now.
いちおうにせんえんわたしておくね。
Ichiou ni sen en watashite oku ne.
And with that, the meeting is over for now.
これでいちおうかいぎはおわりです。
Kore de ichiou kaigi wa owari desu.
いちおう to mean anyway
Finally, いちおう can mean 'anyway'.
Anyway, I'll go check.
いちおう、しらべておきます。
Ichiou, shirabete okimasu.
Can you give me your contacts, in case you need?
いちおう、れんらくさきをおしえてくれる？
Ichiou, renraku saki o oshiete kureru?
As you can see, いちおう can have different meaning depending on the context and sentences.
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Absolutely not でもなんでもない
The expression でもなんでもない is used to put a lot of emphasis on the fact that something is not what it is.
Let's see the parts that makes up this expression:
でも: puts into contrast what was previously indicated
なん: means 'what' and emphasises the negation
でも: the second でも will emphasise even more the sense of contrast
ない: is the negation to say 'is not'
Other expressions such as べつに and ぜんぜん can also be used to say 'absolutely not'.
I don't like it.
すきじゃない。
Suki janai.
I absolutely don't like it.
すきでもなんでもない。
Suki demonandemonai.
NOUN + でもなんでもない
な-ADJ + でもなんでもない
I can reassure you I am not lying.
うそでもなんでもない。
Uso demonandemonai.
This sentence can also be translated as 'I am absolutely not lying' or 'this is absolutely not a lie'.
This guy is absolutely not my father anymore!
あいつはもうおやでもなんでもない！
Aitsu wa mou oya demonandemonai!
These documents are really nothing important.
そのしょるいというのはたいせつなものでもなんでもない。
Sono shorui to iu no wa taisetsuna mono demonandemonai.
It has absolutely no value.
かねめのものでもなんでもありません。
Kaneme no mono demonandemo arimasen.
(Polite form)
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You have completed lesson 32!
レッシュン32ができた！
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