Japanese from zero · N1 Lesson 37
The first proposal
〜たところで ・ 〜にしたところで ・ 〜たら〜たで ・ 〜には無理がある ・ 〜べくもない
In this lesson, you will learn to say that doing something would not help with 〜たところで, that even someone you would expect to manage could not with 〜にしたところで, to shrug off what might happen with 〜たら〜たで, to call a plan or a figure unrealistic with 〜には 無理が ある, and to say there is no comparing two things with 〜べくもない. Lisa has written her first proposal, and Ai reads it late at night.
By the end you will be able to say
量では、大手とは 比べるべくもない。In volume, there's no comparing us with the big brands.
この 数字には 無理が あります。These figures are unrealistic.
大手にしたところで、物語は 出せません。Even a big brand can't offer a story.
今さら 直したところで、何も 変わらない。Even if I fix it now, nothing will change.
失敗したら したで、また 考えれば いい。If it fails, so be it: we can think again.
The grammar in this lesson
- 〜たところで — even if (you did it), it wouldn't help — A verb's past form + ところで says that doing something would be useless or change very little.
- 〜にしたところで / 〜としたところで — even (someone); even supposing — A noun + にしたところで says that even someone you would expect to manage is in the same position.
- 〜たら〜たで — if it happens, so be it (or: then that's another problem) — The same verb in the たら form and then the past + で says that if something happens, you will deal with what it brings.
- 〜には 無理が ある — is unrealistic; doesn't hold up — A noun + には 無理が ある says a plan, a figure or an argument is forced and cannot work as it stands.
- 〜べくもない — there is no way to (compare, hope) — A verb's dictionary form + べくもない says an action is out of the question: the gap is far too large.