Japanese from zero · N1 Lesson 26
The recall
〜を余儀なくされる ・ 〜ずには済まない ・ ゆえに ・ ことごとく ・ 〜ものとして
In this lesson, you will learn to say that circumstances forced something with 〜を 余儀なくされる, that there is no getting out of doing something with 〜ずには 済まない, to give a reason in written style with ゆえに, to say every single one without exception with ことごとく, and to say what something will be treated as with 〜ものとして. The American chain has recalled the frozen food, and Lisa reads its press release to Mori and Ai.
By the end you will be able to say
先方は 販売中止を 余儀なくされました。The client was forced to stop sales.
表示の 不備ゆえに、商品を 回収します。Owing to a defect in the labeling, the product is being recalled.
店頭の 在庫は ことごとく 倉庫に 戻りました。Every last bit of the stock in the stores went back to the warehouse.
先方は 契約が 終了した ものとして 扱います。The client will treat the contract as ended.
直接 会って 謝罪せずには 済みません。We can't get by without meeting them and apologizing in person.
The grammar in this lesson
- 〜を余儀なくされる — to be forced to (with no other choice) — A noun of action + を 余儀なくされる says circumstances left someone no choice but to do it.
- 〜ずには済まない / 〜ないでは済まない — can't get out of doing — A verb in its ず form + には 済まない (or its ない form + では 済まない) says the situation will not let you off without doing it.
- ゆえに — because of; therefore (written) — ゆえに gives a reason in formal, written Japanese, after a noun or a plain form, or at the start of a sentence.
- ことごとく — every single one, without exception — ことごとく says that every one of a group, with none left out, ended up the same way.
- 〜ものとして — treating it as; on the assumption that — A plain form + ものとして says what you will treat as true, whether or not anyone has said it, and the verb after it says what you will do on that basis.