Japanese from zero · N1 Lesson 20
The contract
〜に則って ・ いかなる ・ もしくは ・ 〜ないとも限らない ・ 〜には及ばない
In this lesson, you will learn to say that something follows the rules with 〜に則って, to say 'any ... whatsoever' in formal Japanese with いかなる, to give a formal 'or' with もしくは, to warn that something unwelcome just might happen with 〜ないとも限らない, and to say there is no need for something with 〜には及ばない. It is December, and the contract with the American supermarket chain is signed.
By the end you will be able to say
社内規定に則って、部長が 署名します。In line with company rules, the manager signs.
いかなる 場合も、費用は 売り手が 負担します。In any case whatsoever, the seller bears the cost.
支払いは、銀行振込 もしくは 信用状です。Payment is by bank transfer or letter of credit.
問題が 起きないとも限りません。A problem just might come up.
ご心配には 及びません。There's no need to worry.
The grammar in this lesson
- 〜に則って — in accordance with — Noun + に則って says something is done following a rule, a law or a set way.
- いかなる — any ... whatsoever — いかなる + noun is the formal 'any (kind of) ... at all', usually with も, でも or 〜ても.
- もしくは — or (formal) — A もしくは B is the formal 'A or B': one of the two, not both.
- 〜ないとも限らない — it just might happen — A verb's ない form + とも限らない says something unwelcome might happen, so you had better be ready for it.
- 〜には及ばない — there's no need to; is no match for — A verb's dictionary form or a noun + には 及ばない says there is no need for it; with a person or a thing, it can say 'is no match for'.