Japanese from zero · N1 Lesson 11
The minutes
〜に至る ・ 〜に至るまで ・ 〜ものと思われる ・ 〜とされる ・ 〜可能性がある
In this lesson, you will learn to write the way a Japanese business document writes: to say a discussion reached a conclusion with 〜に至る, to cover everything from one thing down to another with 〜に至るまで, to put a guess on paper with 〜ものと思われる, to report a generally held view with 〜とされる, and to name a risk with 〜可能性がある. It is July of Lisa's first working year, and Ai has just handed back the minutes Lisa wrote, covered in red ink.
By the end you will be able to say
協議の 結果、契約を 継続すると いう 結論に 至りました。After discussion, we reached the conclusion to continue the contract.
日付から 肩書きに 至るまで、確認しました。I checked everything, from the date down to the titles.
需要は 今後も 伸びる ものと 思われます。Demand is expected to keep growing.
日本の 冷凍食品は 人気が あると されて います。Japanese frozen food is said to be popular.
台風で 荷物が 遅れる 可能性が あります。The goods may be delayed by a typhoon.
The grammar in this lesson
- 〜に至る / 〜に至った — to reach (a conclusion, a point) — Noun + に至る says a process has finally reached a result, most often a conclusion or an agreement; it is the language of minutes and reports.
- 〜に至るまで — everything, from A all the way to B — AからBに至るまで lists a range and stresses that it reaches all the way to B, often the smallest or least expected item.
- 〜ものと思われる / 〜ものと見られる — it is thought / expected that — Plain form + ものと思われる (or ものと見られる) puts a guess on paper in the careful, impersonal voice of a report.
- 〜とされる — is considered; is said to be — Plain form + とされる reports what is generally held, by experts, a market or tradition, without naming who holds it.
- 〜可能性がある — there is a possibility that — Plain form + 可能性が ある names something that may happen; it is the written and business way to state a risk.