Expresses a feeling of nostalgia upon recalling the past. It is also used when you want to express your inner feelings strongly.
Connection PI ＋ ものだ ［なAだな Nだ］
Examples
昔はよく友達と近くの川で泳いだものだ。
We used to swim in the nearby river with our friends all the time.
娘も昔は「パパ、大好き！」と言ってくれて、かわいかったものだが…。
My daughter used to say "Daddy, I love you most!" too. She was so cute back then...
10年前はこのあたりも静かだったものだが、今ではすっかり変わってしまった。
Ten years ago this area was quiet too, but it has changed completely now.
あんな高いところから落ちて、よくけがをしなかったものだ。
To fall from such a height and not get hurt — that's really something.
あの子がもう成人式ですか。時間がたつのは早いものですね。
That child is already old enough for the Coming-of-Age ceremony, huh. How time flies.
うちの猫はちっとも家に帰ってこない。困ったものだ。
My cat never comes home at all. It's really a headache.
What people say in everyday speech
〜たよね／よく〜したなあ
「〜ものだ」for fond recollection is also used in everyday speech (older people say things like 「昔はよく〜したものだ」), but in an editorial this kind of emotive written tone is more dignified. When friends reminisce, a more relaxed way to put it is 「昔はよく国全体で喜んだよね」or「みんなすごい喜んでたなあ」, which is lighter and more down-to-earth than 「喜んだものだ」.
「〜をめぐって」means "with ~ as the topic". It is used when various opinions are voiced from different standpoints or angles, or when a dispute, conflict, or opposition arises, centering on ~.
Connection N ＋ ［をめぐって／をめぐる＋N］
Examples
遺産をめぐって、兄弟の争いが起こることを父は心配していた。
My father has always worried that the inheritance would cause a quarrel between my brothers.
ダムの建設をめぐって、村人の意見が対立し、計画の実行までにはまだ時間がかかりそうだ。
The villagers are divided over the construction of the dam, so it will probably take a while before the plan can be carried out.
スポーツ大会のやり方をめぐって、意見が分かれ、結論は来週に持ち越された。
Opinions differ over how to hold the sports day, and the conclusion has been postponed until next week.
どこのマンションでも、改修工事をめぐる話し合いは、なかなかまとまらないものだ。
In any apartment building, it is always hard to reach agreement in discussions about renovation work.
What people say in everyday speech
〜について／〜のことで
「〜をめぐって」is a set written phrase in news and editorials for describing disagreement or debate over an issue. It is almost never used in everyday speech. People would say 「オリンピックの開催について意見が分かれる」or「オリンピックのことでいろいろ揉めてる」, which is much more direct and is what ordinary people use when chatting about the news.
Used when explaining a reason or situation to show that "it naturally turns out this way".
Connection PI ＋ わけだ ［なAだな Nだの］ ＊「〜というわけだ」の形も使われる。
Examples
食生活の改善と適度な運動によって免疫力が高まり、病気にかかりにくくなるわけです。
By improving your diet and exercising moderately, your immunity goes up, so naturally you become less likely to get sick.
うちのお店は若い人向けの服を中心に扱っているので、20〜30代のお客様が多いわけです。
Our shop mainly deals in clothing for young people, so naturally many of our customers are in their 20s and 30s.
少子高齢化が進めば、労働人口が減ってしまうわけですから、経済構造にも当然影響が出てきます。
If the declining birthrate and aging population intensify, the working population will naturally shrink, and of course the economic structure will be affected too.
前の店舗が再開発によって取り壊されることになって、ここに移転することになったというわけです。
The previous shop was demolished due to redevelopment, which is why we moved here.
What people say in everyday speech
〜んだよね／だから〜なんだよ
「〜わけだ」is also used in everyday speech to express a sudden realization ("I see, so that's why"), but the editorial pattern of stating a cause and then wrapping up with 「わけだ」has a written, argumentative tone. A more relaxed way to say it in conversation is 「だから抗議の声が上がるんだよね」, or an exclamation like 「なるほど、それで反対されるわけか」, which is much more natural than the editorial-style 「〜ことになるわけだ」.
At the opening, allow me to say a few words first.
診療所の開設にあたっては、まずその地域の医療環境を調べる必要があります。
When opening a clinic, the first thing you need is to research the medical environment of the area.
復興にあたり、世界中の皆様から様々なご支援をいただきました。
At the time of the reconstruction, we received various kinds of support from people all over the world.
研修を始めるにあたり、社員としての心構えについてお話しします。
As we begin the training, I would like to talk about the mindset expected of you as employees.
What people say in everyday speech
〜のときは／〜する時は
「〜にあたって」is a formal expression commonly used in speeches, announcements, and the opening of instructions (e.g. 「開会にあたって」). It is almost never used in everyday speech. People would say 「オリンピックを開催するときは」or「オリンピックやるとなったら」, which is much more casual and down-to-earth than 「にあたっては」.
If you buy a house, in addition to the real estate agent's fee there are taxes, moving costs, and so on, so you need various expenses on top of the purchase price.
これまでのサービスに加え、新たなサービスを企画してお客様のニーズに応えたい。
On top of our existing services, we want to plan new services to meet our customers' needs.
この町は、自然の豊かさに加えて、子育て支援が充実していることから、若い世代の転入が増加している。
In addition to its abundant nature, this town offers excellent childcare support, so more and more young families are moving in.
What people say in everyday speech
〜だけじゃなくて／〜も
「〜に加えて」is a connecting phrase for adding information, common in explanatory writing and news reports, and it leans toward written language. In everyday speech, 「〜だけじゃなくて」is more common, or you simply join items with 「も」, as in 「資金だけじゃなくて、土地の確保も大事な問題だよね」, which is much more natural and offhand than 「資金に加え」.
「〜としても」means "even supposing ..." and is used to state your own opinion or prediction.
Connection PI ＋ ［としても／としたって］
Examples
こんなにいい天気なんだから、雨が降るとしても夜になってからだろう。
With weather this nice, even if it does rain, it won't be until evening.
いい商品なんだから、売り上げがすぐには伸びないとしても、時間をかけて売っていこう。
It's a good product, so even if sales don't rise right away, let's take our time and keep selling it.
無理して働いて病気になったとしても、会社は補償してくれないよ。
Even if you work yourself sick by pushing on, the company won't compensate you, you know.
仮に私を悲しませないためのうそだとしたって、私は絶対許せない。
Even if it was a lie told so as not to hurt me, I could never forgive it.
What people say in everyday speech
〜でも
「〜としても」has a strong sense of logical supposition. In editorials it is used to reason that "even if the condition holds, the conclusion remains...". In everyday speech it is more common to simplify it to 「〜でも」, as in 「補償金が用意されても、簡単には納得できないよね」, or to say outright 「たとえ補償金があっても」, which is more relaxed and down-to-earth than 「としても」.
Used when explaining the thing that serves as a basis or reference.
Connection N ＋ ［に基づいて／に基づき／に基づく＋N／に基づいた＋N］
Examples
集めた資料に基づいて、論文を書いた。
Based on the data collected, I wrote a paper.
区域内の道路建設は法律に基づいて、各市町村が基本計画を作成する。
For road construction within the area, each city, town, and village draws up a basic plan based on the law.
国民健康保険は前年の収入に基づいて保険料が決められる。
The premium for National Health Insurance is determined based on the previous year's income.
この会社では、社員の教育計画に基づいた人材の育成が行われている。
This company trains its personnel based on a development plan for employees.
What people say in everyday speech
〜をもとに／〜を参考に
「〜に基づいて」is a rigorous written expression common in policy, legal, and academic texts. It is almost never used in everyday speech. People would use 「〜をもとに」or「〜を参考に」, as in 「この理念をもとに、平和を目指すのはいいことだ」, which is considerably more relaxed. Note, though, that 「〜をもとに」itself leans toward explanatory writing, and in casual chat people would more likely simply say 「この考え方で」.
Plus〜をもとに／〜をもとにして★★★
「〜をもとに」は「〜に基づいて」とほぼ同じ意味で使われる。
「〜をもとに」has basically the same meaning as 「〜に基づいて」.
調査結果をもとに新製品の宣伝方法を考えましょう。
Let's think about how to advertise the new product based on the survey results.
当店では、お客様からの意見をもとに日々サービスの向上に努めております。
Our shop works every day to improve its service based on customers' opinions.
目撃者の証言をもとにして、犯人のモンタージュ写真を作成した。
A composite sketch of the culprit was made based on the eyewitness's testimony.
この映画はある地方に伝わる伝説をもとにして作られたと言われている。
This movie is said to be based on a legend passed down in a certain region.
「〜てこそ…」is used to emphasize the feeling that "without ~, ... does not hold; ~ is an absolutely necessary condition".
Connection Vて ＋ こそ
Examples
どんな健康法も、続けてこそ効果がある。
No matter what kind of health regimen it is, it only works if you keep at it.
苦労してこそ、わかることもたくさんある。
It is only by going through hardship that you come to understand many things.
相手にわかりやすく説明できてこそ、本当の知識と言えるのです。
Only when you can explain something clearly and simply to others can it be called true knowledge.
What people say in everyday speech
〜しないと〜にならない／〜してはじめて
「〜てこそ」is a written rhetorical expression used in editorials and speeches to stress "only if ~, then ...", with a strongly emphatic logical tone. In everyday speech, a more direct way to say it is 「賛同する人が多くないと意味がない」or「みんなが賛成してはじめて意味があるよね」, which is more natural than 「賛同してこそ」and is what ordinary people say when discussing current events.