But the man paid no attention to his friend's worries. "The house may be dirty, but I'm getting along fine. Living alone actually saves me money," he said, not caring in the least.
"Well, if she were a wife who didn't eat anything, I might not mind taking her," he went so far as to say, and his friend, exasperated, said nothing more.
ある日の夕方、男の家に若い女が訪ねてきて、「どうか私をお嫁さんにしてください。
One evening, a young woman came to his door and said, "Please take me as your wife.
One day, his wife said, "I can't clean properly with you at home. Please go out and amuse yourself during the day." So the man went out for the first time in a long while.
男が歩いていると、道の向こうから友達がやって来た。
As the man was walking along, his friend came toward him from across the road.
The friend had heard that the man had married, so he had stopped by to offer his congratulations and, while he was at it, to see what the wife was like. The man was delighted and began to show off his wife to his friend.
The next day, the man pretended to go out, then quietly came back and peeked into the house. His wife, who had always been all smiles, changed to a terrifying expression the moment she saw the man leave.
"That stingy, lazy good-for-nothing! Drinking in broad daylight, lying around doing nothing, and it's such a hassle just to get him out of the house. Oh, I'm starving." Muttering this, she began cooking rice in a huge pot.
結んでいた長い髪をほどいた。すると、頭の後ろから、鋭い歯が生えた大きな口が現れた。
She also let down her long hair, which had been tied up. Then, at the back of her head, a huge mouth with sharp fangs appeared.
As soon as the rice was cooked, she quickly shaped rice balls and, as she shaped them, stuffed them into the mouth at the back of her head, gobbling them down greedily.
「これでは足りぬ。肉はどこじゃ。」前の口から、恐ろしい言葉が飛び出した。
"This isn't enough. Where's the meat?" Terrible words came out of the mouth at the front, too.
The man was startled and couldn't help crying out, "Ah!" "Who's there?!" Through the gaps in her long hair, a pair of glaring eyes stared fiercely at him.
Expresses "ignoring ... or paying no attention to ... (and doing something else regardless)."
Connection N＋をよそに
Examples
教師の再三の注意をよそに、学生は授業中も携帯電話をいじっている。
Ignoring the teacher's repeated warnings, the student kept fiddling with his phone during class.
恋人が泣いて引きとめるのをよそに、彼はカメラを携えて戦場に向かった。
Ignoring his girlfriend's tearful pleas to stay, he went off to the battlefield with his camera.
友人たちが就職活動を始めるのをよそに、山田さんはサークル活動にのめり込んでいる。
While his friends were all starting their job hunts, Yamada threw himself into club activities regardless.
景気の低迷をよそに、順調に売り上げを伸ばしている会社もある。
Some companies keep growing their sales regardless of the economic slump.
What people say in everyday speech
気にしないで／無視して
"をよそに" is a fairly formal, written-style expression meaning "in disregard of ..." or "ignoring ...". It is rarely used in such a refined way in everyday conversation; Japanese people usually just say "〜を気にしないで" or "〜を無視して". For example, the written "友達の心配をよそに" would be said in conversation as "友達が心配してるのを気にしないで".
A: "If you insist that I drink, I suppose I could, but I've been cutting back on alcohol lately." B: "Well, then, just a little..."
君がそんなに頼むんだったら、今回だけ特別に認めないものでもないんだけどね。
Since you are begging me like this, I could make an exception just this once.
お寺まで歩いて行けなくもないですが、山道だし、ちょっと大変ですよ。
It's not that we can't walk to the temple, but it's a mountain path, so it will be a bit tough.
What people say in everyday speech
そうかも／しないこともない
"ないでもない" is a roundabout, written-style way of softening a statement. In everyday speech people say it more directly, using "〜しないこともない" or simply "まあ、〜かも". For example, the written "認めないものでもない" would be said in conversation as "まあ、認めてもいいかも".
My mother, whose catchphrase is "It's such a bother," drives to the supermarket even though it's a five-minute walk, and ended up being scolded by her doctor for lack of exercise.
あの女は子どものころから嘘ばかりついていて、最後には詐欺で捕まるしまつだ。
That woman has been telling lies since she was a child, and she ended up being arrested for fraud.
Even though my friend has changed jobs six times, he still says, "There is no company that can make use of my talents," leaving everyone around him exasperated.
What people say in everyday speech
〜ことになる／結局〜しちゃう
"しまつだ" is a written expression with a critical tone that sums up how a series of bad things ended in a certain result. It is not so formal in everyday conversation, where Japanese people simply say "結局〜しちゃう" or "〜ことになる". For example, the written "解雇されるしまつだ" would be said in conversation as "結局クビになっちゃった".
Expresses "either A or B (giving examples that come to mind, with either being fine)," and is often used when making a suggestion or proposal to the other person.
The athletes from our prefecture have done remarkably well this year: the soccer team won the championship and a marathon runner has been selected for the Olympics. It really has been a year of one good thing after another.
What people say in everyday speech
〜だらけ／〜ばかり
"ずくめ" is a somewhat formal, written-style expression; in everyday conversation "〜だらけ" or "〜ばかり" is more common. For example, the written "結構ずくめな話" would be said in conversation as "いいことばっかりの話".
Expresses "being A and, at the same time, also B."
Connection なAだ／Nだ＋にして
Examples
彼は大学の教授にして、有名な作家でもある。
He is a university professor and, at the same time, a well-known writer.
彼女のデザインする服は、どれも個性的にして実用的だと定評がある。
The clothes she designs are widely praised for being both highly individual and practical.
怪盗と呼ばれた男の犯行の手口は大胆にして、かつ繊細だった。
The man known as the phantom thief was both bold and meticulous in his methods.
What people say in everyday speech
〜で、しかも
"にして" has a literary flavor; in everyday conversation people just say "〜で、しかも". For example, the written "働き者にして美人" would be said in conversation as "働き者で、しかも美人".
Expresses "not to mention A, even B is not ...," emphasizing an extreme degree.
Connection N1＋はおろか＋N2＋も／さえ／まで／すら＋…ない
Examples
彼は真夏でも、エアコンはおろか、扇風機さえ使わないそうだ。
They say that even in midsummer he doesn't use a fan, let alone an air conditioner.
最近は、恋人はおろか友人さえ1人もいない人も珍しくないらしい。
These days, it seems not uncommon for people to have not only no partner but not even a single friend.
重い物を持とうとして腰を痛め、起き上がることはおろか、寝返りを打つこともできない状態だった。
I wanted to move something heavy and threw my back out; I couldn't even roll over, let alone stand up.
What people say in everyday speech
〜はもちろん／〜すら
"はおろか" is a strongly written-style expression; in everyday conversation "〜はもちろん" or simply "〜すら" is more common. For example, the written "食べ物はおろか水すら口にしない" would be said in conversation as "食べ物はもちろん水も飲まない".
I'm so busy with work that I can't even rest properly during my lunch break.
本に夢中になって、夜が明けたことにすら気づかなかった。
I got so absorbed in my book that I didn't even notice day had broken.
スピーチに慣れた人ですら、話し始めはどきどきするそうだ。
They say that even people who are used to giving speeches get nervous as soon as they start talking.
夕べはすっかり酔ってしまって、どうやって家に帰ったかすら思い出せない。
I got so drunk last night that I can't even remember how I got home.
予算不足で工事が中断されたまま、再開されるかどうかすらわからない。
Construction has been stopped for lack of budget, and we don't even know whether it will resume.
What people say in everyday speech
さえ／も
"すら" is more strongly written-style than "さえ" and often appears in fairly formal writing. In everyday conversation, Japanese people tend to use "さえ" or "も". For example, the written "水すら口にしなかった" would be said in conversation as "水さえ飲まなかった".
Expresses "doing B with A as an additional purpose," as in "going to see someone partly to visit them in the hospital (お見舞いかたがた会いに行く)." B is mostly a verb involving movement, such as "visit," "go," or "come."
Expresses "immediately after the action of ..., something happens right away," and is often used when surprised at what happened or at someone's unexpected behavior.
Connection V-る＋なり
Examples
警部は受話器を置くなり、コートを片手に飛び出していった。
The moment the police inspector put down the phone, he rushed out with a coat in one hand.
彼女は立ち上がるなり、コップの水を彼の顔にかけた。
The moment she stood up, she threw the water in her glass in his face.
王子はシンデレラを一目見るなり、恋に落ちてしまった。
The moment the prince saw Cinderella, he fell in love with her.
What people say in everyday speech
〜たらすぐに／〜たとたん
"なり" is an expression commonly used in written narrative, and emphasizes the surprise of "as soon as ..., immediately ...". In everyday conversation, people more often say "〜たらすぐに" or "〜たとたん". For example, the written "家を出るなり" would be said in conversation as "家を出たらすぐに".
Similar to "なり," expresses "almost at the same time as ...," and is often used to express amazement at how short the interval between events is.
Connection V-る／V-た＋が早いか
Examples
店員がドアを開けるが早いか、待っていた客がなだれ込んできた。
The moment the clerk opened the door, the customers who had been waiting for so long rushed in.
侍が刀に手をかけるが早いか、敵は悲鳴を上げる間もなく倒れた。
The instant the samurai put his hand on the hilt of his sword, the enemy fell down without even time to cry out.
魔法使いが呪文を唱えるが早いか、王子はたちまち蛙に変わった。
No sooner had the magician finished the incantation than the prince turned into a frog in an instant.
刑事はタクシーに乗り込んだが早いか、「前の車を追ってくれ」と言った。
The moment the detective got into the taxi, he said, "Follow that car."
What people say in everyday speech
〜とすぐに
"が早いか" is a strongly narrative, written-style expression and is rarely used this way in everyday conversation; Japanese people usually say more simply "〜とすぐに". For example, the written "米が炊けるが早いか" would be said in conversation as "ご飯が炊けるとすぐに".
Expresses "immediately after A, B," and is often used to describe two actions A and B happening repeatedly, or "even though one worked hard to do A, B happens right afterwards, making the effort pointless."
Connection V-る／V-た＋そばから
Examples
父は肉が焼けるそばから私たちの皿にどんどん載せてくれた。
As soon as the meat is grilled, Dad keeps putting it on our plates one piece after another.
工場では新しい製品が完成するそばから箱詰めされて出荷されていく。
In the factory, as soon as a new product is made, it is immediately packed in boxes and shipped.
今日は大雪で、帽子にも肩にも払うそばから雪が降り積もってしまう。
It snowed heavily today, and no sooner had I brushed the snow off my hat and shoulders than another layer built up.
ゴミを片付けたそばからカラスが散らかすので、道が汚れて困る。
No sooner have I cleaned up the garbage than the crows scatter it everywhere again, which is a real headache.
What people say in everyday speech
〜たら／するとすぐ
"そばから" is a written, narrative expression; in everyday conversation "〜たら" or "〜するとすぐ" is more common. For example, the written "作るそばから食べられる" would be said in conversation as "作ったらすぐ食べられちゃう".
If a major automaker really went bankrupt, it would inevitably cause a management crisis for many small and medium-sized companies.
地球外生命体の異様な映像は、見る人に衝撃を与えずにはおかないだろう。
The strange images of an extraterrestrial life form are bound to give viewers a strong shock.
What people say in everyday speech
絶対〜する／きっと〜する
"ずにはおかない" is a strongly written-style expression of strong determination; in everyday conversation Japanese people say it more directly, as "絶対〜する" or "きっと〜する". For example, the written "捕まえずにはおかない" would be said in conversation as "絶対捕まえてやる".
Expresses "once ... happens, it inevitably leads to ... (a bad result)."
Connection V-た＋が最後 ＊話し言葉では「〜たら最後」がよく使われる。
Examples
彼はアトリエにこもったが最後、寝食を忘れてしまうので家族は心配している。
Once he shuts himself in his studio, he forgets to sleep or eat, which worries his family.
顧客からの信頼は一度失ったが最後、取り戻すことは難しいだろう。
Once a customer's trust is lost, it will probably be very hard to win it back.
この本は読み始めたが最後、徹夜してでも一気に終わりまで読みたくなる面白さです。
Once you start reading this book, it is so interesting that you'll want to read it straight through, even if it means staying up all night.
このボタンを押したら最後、データの復元は二度とできなくなるから、注意してね。
Once you press this button, the data can never be recovered, so be careful.
What people say in everyday speech
〜たら、もう
"たが最後" is a strongly narrative, written-style expression; in everyday conversation people more often say simply "〜たら、もう". For example, the written "捕まったが最後" would be said in conversation as "捕まったら、もう終わりだよ".