Japanese from zero · N1 Lesson 6
Training
〜まじき ・ 〜べからず ・ 〜ものとする ・ 〜ても差し支えない ・ あらかじめ
In this lesson, you will learn to say that an act is unworthy of someone in a given position with 〜に あるまじき, to read old-style rules that say 'must not' with 〜べからず and 〜べからざる, to state a rule the way a handbook does with 〜ものとする, to give or ask permission formally with 〜ても 差し支えない, and to say something is done ahead of time with あらかじめ. It is the third week of Lisa's new-employee training, and the manners instructor is going over business cards and the training rules.
By the end you will be able to say
研修中に 携帯を 見るのは、社会人に あるまじき 行為です。Looking at your phone during training is behavior unworthy of a working adult.
手引きには 『遅刻すべからず』と 書いて あります。The handbook says, 'Thou shalt not be late.'
研修を 休む 場合は、届けを 出す ものとする。Anyone who will miss training shall submit a notice.
メモは 英語で 取っても 差し支えありません。You may take notes in English.
休む 場合は、あらかじめ 講師に 連絡します。If I have to take a day off, I'll tell the instructor in advance.
The grammar in this lesson
- 〜に あるまじき — unworthy of (someone in that position) — A role + に あるまじき + a noun condemns an act as something a person in that role must never do.
- 〜べからず / 〜べからざる — must not (old rules and signs) — A verb's dictionary form + べからず is an old written 'must not' for rules and signs; べからざる does the same job before a noun.
- 〜ものとする — shall (the language of rules) — A verb's plain form + ものとする states a rule the way a contract or a handbook does: 'shall', 'is to'.
- 〜ても 差し支えない — it is all right to (formal permission) — A verb's て-form + も 差し支えない gives or asks permission formally: 'you may', 'it is no problem if'.
- あらかじめ — in advance; beforehand — あらかじめ says something is done ahead of time, before the event it prepares for.