If intruders had slipped through tight surveillance and pulled it off, that would be one thing, but this is a problem that comes before security even enters the picture, isn't it?
Good grief. Thanks to this guy, ever since the incident the phone has been ringing nonstop, early morning and late at night alike, and when I answer, some stranger yells at me with language that's completely unbearable to listen to.
If it were an ordinary person, that would be another matter, but since its true identity wasn't exposed even in the police interrogation, it still has its uses.
Used when explaining something or giving an analogy, while searching for the expression that fits best. It is also used when you want to avoid saying something directly, as in 「（変な絵だと思いながら）個性的といおうか、とても真似できないといおうか、ユニークな絵だね」 (thinking the picture is odd, but saying it's "distinctive, or maybe inimitable, anyway a unique picture").
It's good that you're motivated, but whether you'd call it being too aggressive or too blunt in how you speak, I think you should consider your team members' feelings a bit more...
What people say in everyday speech
〜っていうか
「といおうか〜といおうか」 is a formal way of weighing your words. In everyday speech 「〜っていうか」 is by far the most common, as in 「個性的っていうか、独特だよね」, and it sounds much lighter and more casual. People use it all the time when they are searching for the right word, rephrasing, or softening what they say.
Freedom of expression is one of the rights we must protect, but we should not condone people who exploit it to make works that hurt others, just for fun.
What people say in everyday speech
〜のをいいことに（そのまま口語でも使う）
「のをいいことに」 can be used as it is in everyday speech, too. Its tone is sharp and critical, so it is typically used when complaining about someone's behavior, as in 「誰も見てないのをいいことに寝てたんでしょ」.
It takes the form of a question, but actually expresses a strong rhetorical denial meaning "absolutely not ...". For example, 「こんな少しで足りるか！もっとくれ」 means "This isn't nearly enough! Give me more!"
Connection 文 + か
Examples
私は医者なんです。薬がないからといって、患者を放っておけますか。
I'm a doctor. Can I leave a patient alone just because we have no medicine?
善意の寄付金を着服するなんて、そんな政治家、許すことができますか。
Embezzling donations given in good faith: how could such a politician be forgiven?
こんなくだらない番組、3時間も見ていられるか。
A program this boring? I can't sit through three whole hours of it!
あとちょっとで頂上なんだから、少し雨が降ってきたからといって今さら引き返せるか。
We're almost at the summit. Can we turn back now just because it started to rain a little?
What people say in everyday speech
〜わけない／〜もんか
This kind of emphatic rhetorical denial is already colloquial, but among friends the more casual forms are 「〜わけない」 and 「〜もんか」, as in 「そんなの許せるわけないじゃん」. They sound more direct and more emotional than ending a sentence with the question particle 「〜か」.
Means "far too ..." and emphasizes that a bad situation has gone beyond reasonable limits.
Connection P1 + にもほどがある [現在形のみ][なAだ Nだ]
Examples
両親が苦労して送ってくれたお金を遊びに使うなんて、親不孝にもほどがある。
Spending the money your parents worked so hard to send you on fun and games is the height of unfilial behavior.
無灯火の上にメールをしながら自転車に乗るなんて、非常識にもほどがありますよ。
Riding a bicycle with no light on while texting is beyond all common sense.
中身を減らして、2割引きと言って売るなんて、客を馬鹿にするにもほどがある。
Reducing the contents and then selling it as "20% off" is really treating customers like fools.
政治のことを全く知らない君が国会議員になろうなんて、冗談にもほどがある。
You, who know nothing about politics, saying you want to become a member of the Diet is a joke taken too far.
What people say in everyday speech
〜すぎる
「にもほどがある」 is a formal, written-style phrase with a tone of condemnation. In everyday speech, to say "that's going too far", people more often use 「〜すぎる」 or 「〜にも限度があるでしょ」, as in 「非常識すぎるよ」, which sounds far more natural and conversational.
Sneakers would be one thing, but climbing a mountain in sandals or high heels is reckless.
安いホテルならまだしも、有名旅館でこのサービスはひどすぎるよね。
If it were a cheap hotel, fine, but this level of service at a famous inn is just too awful.
自分で払うならまだしも、全部僕に払わせるのにまだ食べるつもり?
If you were paying for yourself, that would be one thing, but you're making me pay for everything and you still plan to keep eating?
電気代が上がった。それだけならまだしも、4月から家賃を2,000円上げると言われて、困っている。
The electricity bill went up. That alone would be bearable, but I've also been told the rent will go up 2,000 yen from April, and I don't know what to do.
What people say in everyday speech
〜ならいいけど
「ならまだしも」 is a written-style contrast meaning "A is acceptable, but B is not". In everyday speech 「〜ならいいけど」 is more common, as in 「安いホテルならいいけど、この値段でこれはひどい」, which sounds much more natural and conversational than 「ならまだしも」.
It's a website introducing Japanese culture, but it only has Japanese and English. That's a bit... but an even more basic problem is that there are few photos and it isn't appealing.
These mushrooms are pretty, aren't they? Do you think they taste good? Wait a minute. Whether they taste good or not is beside the point; is it even safe to eat them?
This car has good fuel economy and a refined design; you could say it sold well for good reason.
従業員の幸福と顧客の満足を追求したこのスーパーは、成功するべくして成功したと言えよう。
This supermarket, which has pursued the happiness of its employees and the satisfaction of its customers, can be said to have succeeded as it was bound to.
指摘された欠陥を放置していたのだから、これは起こるべくして起こった事故だ。
The reported defect was left unattended, so this was an accident that was bound to happen.
70億の人間の中で、私たち2人はめぐり会うべくしてめぐり会ったのだと思います。
Out of seven billion people, the two of us met, and I think we were destined to meet.
I heard you accidentally sent an email badmouthing your boss to the whole company? Given what the email said, I can't show my face at work. What should I do...
これは国宝級の仏像なのです。物が物なだけに、普通の運送業者には頼めません。
This is a national-treasure-class Buddha statue. Given what it is, we can't entrust it to an ordinary shipping company.
Means "whether A or B, everything without exception".
Connection N1 + といわず + N2 + といわず
Examples
昼といわず、夜といわず、大型のダンプカーが通るのでうちが揺れて困る。
Day or night, big dump trucks keep passing by and shaking our house; it's a real problem.
キティちゃん好きの彼女は服といわず、文具といわず、全部キティちゃんグッズで統一している。
She loves Hello Kitty, so everything, clothes and stationery alike, is Hello Kitty merchandise.
社交的な田中君は、先輩といわず後輩といわず、誰彼なしに気軽に声をかける人だ。
Tanaka is sociable, the kind of person who casually greets anyone, whether senior or junior.
彼の部屋は、床といわずベッドの上といわず、いろいろなものが散乱しています。
In his room, things are scattered everywhere, on the floor, on the bed, all over.
What people say in everyday speech
〜でも〜でも
「といわず〜といわず」 is a formal, written way of saying "A and B alike, everything". In everyday speech, the same meaning is expressed with 「〜でも〜でも」, as in 「昼でも夜でもうるさいんだよ」, which sounds far more natural and relaxed than 「といわず」.
Used to say "whether it is A or not A, either way it's no good" (you can't win), as in 「車はないと不便だが、あったらあったで維持費がかかるから困ったものだ」 (a car is inconvenient to be without, but having one means upkeep costs, so it's a nuisance either way). It is also used to say "it's no big deal; if it happens, it happens", as in 「失敗したら失敗したでまたやればいい」 (if you fail, you just try again).
If dust collects in the room he complains, and if I clean it he gets angry and says I came in without permission; my high-school son is really hard to deal with.
家賃が高いのも困るけど、安かったら安かったで何か問題がありそうで不安だよね。
High rent is a problem, but if it's cheap, it also makes me uneasy that there might be something wrong with the place.
I don't like sports day. It would be embarrassing to come in last... But if I do come in last, I can just practice and get faster.
What people say in everyday speech
〜でも〜でも／〜たらそれで
「たらたで」 is a pattern that is used in conversation as well as in writing. To say the same thing in a plainer way, people use 「〜でも〜でも」, as in 「あってもなくても大変なんだよね」, or 「〜たらそれで」, as in 「失敗したらそれでまたやればいいよ」. In conversation, 「安かったら安かったで不安なんだよね」 sounds natural and casual.
Plus〜ば〜で★★
「〜ば〜で」も同じように使われる。
「〜ば〜で」 is used in the same way and has the same meaning.
The remarks of a politician who does nothing but make excuses are unbearable to listen to.
この小説は内容も低俗で、表現も稚拙で、読むにたえない。
This novel is vulgar in content and clumsy in expression; it is not worth reading.
人目も構わず電車の中で化粧している女性の姿は見るにたえないと祖母は嘆く。
My grandmother laments that the sight of women putting on makeup on the train without caring who is watching is unbearable to see.
強行採決をめぐる国会での乱闘騒ぎは、全く正視にたえない。
The brawl in the Diet over the forced vote was truly painful to watch.
What people say in everyday speech
聞いてられない
「にたえない」 is a formal, written way of saying something is "unbearable". In everyday speech, to say "I can't stand listening to this", people directly use 「聞いてられない」 or 「見てられない」, as in 「あの人の話、もう聞いてられないよ」, which sounds much more natural and conversational than 「聞くにたえない」.
Means "if ... should happen (an undesirable result follows)". It is often used to say that "things will get serious" or "it will have a major impact".
Connection V-よう + ものなら ＊話し言葉では「〜もんなら」も使われる。
Examples
近頃のアルバイトはちょっと注意しようものなら、すぐ「じゃ、辞めます」と言いかねない。
These days, if you give a part-timer even a little warning, they might immediately say, "Then I quit."
帰宅途中で彼女に捕まろうものなら、1時間はおしゃべりに付き合わされる。
If she catches me on my way home, I'll be stuck chatting for an hour.
1個でも不良品が出ようものなら、契約が取り消されるんだ。お前、下請けの厳しさがわかっているのか。
If even one defective item turns up, the contract will be canceled. Do you understand how tough it is to be a subcontractor?
うちの奥さん、ちょっとでも言い返そうもんなら、こっちが謝るまで口をきいてくれないんだ。
My wife, if I so much as talk back a little, won't speak to me until I apologize.
What people say in everyday speech
〜たら大変
「（よ）うものなら」 is a formal, written way of stressing "if it should happen, the consequences would be unthinkable". In everyday speech the same idea is more naturally expressed with 「〜たら大変」, as in 「ちょっと注意したら大変なことになるよ」, which sounds lighter and more direct than 「ようものなら」.
That might have been fine in your student days, but you're a working adult now, so shouldn't you have at least some sense of responsibility as an adult?
自分が不愉快な思いをしたならいざしらず、ネットの情報だけで駄目な店だと言いふらすのはおかしい。
If you had a bad experience yourself, that would be one thing, but going around saying a shop is bad based only on information from the internet is strange.
That may have been true twenty years ago, but today we can contact people all over the world instantly. Couldn't you just hold a video conference instead of making a business trip on purpose?
What people say in everyday speech
〜ならまだしも
「ならいざしらず」 is close in meaning to 「ならまだしも」 (point 5 of this lesson), and both are written-style. In everyday speech, to say "it might be fine if ...", people more often just use 「〜ならまだしも」 or the more casual 「〜だったらまだしも」. The word 「いざしらず」 itself has a literary flavor and is almost never used in daily conversation.
Expresses the feeling "I want to somehow do ..." or "I wish someone would ...", and the wish to see something realized or have it done even though one knows it is difficult.
Hay fever season is here again. Can't something be done about this itchy eyes and runny nose?
ラッシュアワーの殺人的な混雑は何とかならないものか。
Can't something be done about the murderous crowding at rush hour?
学校に行けない子どもたちのために、何か支援はできないものだろうか。
Isn't there some kind of support we can provide for children who can't go to school?
お忙しいことは存じておりますが、一度お話だけでも聞いていただけないものでしょうか。
I know you're busy, but could you possibly just listen to me, even once?
What people say in everyday speech
〜ないかな
「〜ないものか」 is a formal, written way of earnestly expressing a wish. In everyday speech the same wish is more naturally expressed with 「〜ないかな」, as in 「何とかならないかな」, which sounds much lighter and more casual than something like 「働かせられないものか」.
If you want to become a pianist, starting early is of course best, but there are people who began in high school and became professionals.
運動は毎日続けるに越したことはないですが、無理せず自分のペースですることも大切です。
It's best to exercise every day, of course, but it's also important not to push yourself and to go at your own pace.
万一に備えて消火器は必ず設置してください。もちろん使わないに越したことはありませんが……。
Please be sure to install a fire extinguisher just in case. Of course, it's best if you never have to use it...
家を借りるなら車庫つきに越したことはないけど、近くに駐車場があれば我慢するよ。
When renting a house, one with a garage is best, but I'd put up with it if there's a parking lot nearby.
What people say in everyday speech
〜のが一番
「に越したことはない」 is a formal, written way of stating a generally accepted "it's best to ...". In everyday speech the same meaning is expressed with 「〜のが一番」, as in 「早いのが一番だよ」, which sounds far more natural and conversational than 「に越したことはない」.
Used as in 「春とはいえ、今日はまだ寒い」 ("Though it's spring, it's still cold today"): "A is certainly true (it is spring), but B (still cold) differs from what you would expect from A". In short, "although ..., nevertheless ...".
Connection P1 + とはいえ [なA(だ) N(だ)] ＊接続詞としても使われる。
Examples
親子とはいえ、触れてはならないプライバシーというものがある。
Even between parent and child, there is such a thing as privacy that must not be touched.
ペット可のマンションとはいえ、どんな動物でも飼えるわけではない。
Even if it's a pet-friendly apartment, that doesn't mean you can keep just any animal.
いくら虫が苦手だとはいえ、そんなに殺虫剤をまくと体に悪いよ。
No matter how much you dislike bugs, spraying that much insecticide is bad for your health.
容疑者が逮捕されたとはいえ、事件の全面解決までには、まだ時間がかかるだろう。
Even though the suspect has been arrested, it will probably still take time before the case is fully resolved.
In the last few years, citizens' awareness of environmental hygiene has improved dramatically. That said, we must not neglect preparations for new infectious diseases.
What people say in everyday speech
〜って言っても
「とはいえ」 is a written-style turn meaning "that said". In everyday speech the same turn is more naturally expressed with 「〜って言っても」, as in 「ロボットって言っても、いい相棒だったよ」, which sounds much lighter and more conversational than 「とはいえ」.
Means "the degree or quantity is roughly about that much". It often carries a nuance of "not quite enough; barely so" and is frequently used together with words such as 「せいぜい」, 「やっと」 and 「なんとか」.
Connection V-る／N + といったところだ
Examples
時給が上がるといっても期待しないほうがいいよ。せいぜい50円といったところだよ。
Even if they say the hourly wage will go up, don't expect too much. It'll be about 50 yen at the most.
桜はまだ五分咲きといったところで、見頃になるまであと数日です。
The cherry blossoms are only about half open; it will be a few more days until they're at their best.
ご趣味はピアノだと伺いましたが……。いやいや、やっと右手でドレミが弾けるといったところですよ。
I hear your hobby is the piano... Oh no, I can barely play do-re-mi with my right hand, that's about the level I'm at.
It's raining so hard that I can't go out even if I want to, so could we push back the appointed time? Well, there's nothing we can do about this rain. Then let's make it an hour later...
娘が私に寄りかかって寝てしまったので、動くに動けず肩が凝ってしまった。
My daughter fell asleep leaning against me, so I couldn't move even if I wanted to, and my shoulders got stiff.
雑誌の間に10万円を隠しておいたが、何も知らない妻がゴミに出してしまって、泣くに泣けない。
I hid 100,000 yen between the pages of a magazine, but my wife, not knowing, threw the magazine out with the trash. I can't even cry about it.
人間誰でも言うに言えない悩みがあるものだ。
Everyone has worries they can't bring themselves to tell anyone.
I heard Yamamoto used entertaining a client as an excuse to order dishes costing tens of thousands of yen at a high-class restaurant? Apparently he was sternly warned by the department head for it.
防災対策にかこつけて、粗悪な商品を売りつける悪徳業者に注意しましょう。
Beware of unscrupulous dealers who use disaster-prevention measures as a pretext to push shoddy products.
要するに、雪とか桜とか季節の何かにかこつけて、集まって騒ぎたいんだろう。
In the end, they just want to gather and make a ruckus, using something seasonal like snow or cherry blossoms as an excuse.
What people say in everyday speech
〜を口実に／〜のせいにして
「にかこつけて」 is a written-style way of saying "using ... as a pretext". In everyday speech, "the excuse is ..." is more often expressed with 「〜を口実に」, as in 「出張を口実に彼女に会いに行ってる」, or even more bluntly with 「〜のせいにして」. Both are more common in conversation than 「にかこつけて」.