Japanese from zero · N1 Lesson 25
Trouble at night
案の定 ・ 〜と見るや ・ どうにも〜ない ・ 〜ても どうにもならない ・ 〜術がない
In this lesson, you will learn to say that a worry came true with 案の定, that someone acted the moment they saw something with 〜と見るや, that something cannot be done however you try with どうにも〜ない, that an action is no use with 〜ても どうにもならない, and that there is no way to do something with 〜術がない. It is a night in late February, and an urgent email from Seattle reaches Lisa at home.
By the end you will be able to say
心配して いたら、案の定 問題が 起きた。I'd been worried, and sure enough a problem came up.
問題が あると見るや、バイヤーは すぐに 動いた。The moment she saw there was a problem, the buyer acted at once.
どうにも 連絡が つかない。I just can't get through, however I try.
今 心配しても どうにもならない。Worrying now won't change anything.
朝までに 直す 術が ない。There's no way to fix it before morning.
The grammar in this lesson
- 案の定 — sure enough; just as I feared — 案の定 says something turned out exactly as the speaker expected, almost always a worry that came true.
- 〜と見るや / 〜と見ると — the moment (someone) sees that — A plain clause + と見るや (written) or と見ると says someone acted the instant they saw or judged that something was so.
- どうにも〜ない — no way at all; however one tries — どうにも + a negative says something cannot be done at all, however hard you try: どうにも 連絡が つかない.
- 〜ても どうにもならない — it's no use — A verb's て-form + も どうにもならない says doing it will not change anything.
- 〜術がない — there is no way to — A verb's dictionary form + 術が ない says there is no means of doing it at all.