Japanese from zero · N1 Lesson 47
In the paper
〜にあって ・ 〜となると/〜となれば ・ 〜でもあり〜でもある ・ 〜に〜 (A and B) ・ 〜ところを
In this lesson, you will learn to set something in a time or a situation with 〜にあって, to say 'when it comes to' and 'in that case' with 〜となると and 〜となれば, to say something is two things at once with 〜でもあり〜でもある, to pile up a list with 〜に〜に, and to apologize for taking someone's time with 〜ところを. It is late January, a business newspaper has written about みどり町's tea, and Matsumoto calls from Nagano.
By the end you will be able to say
人手不足の 時代にあって、小さな 農家が 海外で お茶を 売って いる。In an age of labor shortages, small farms are selling tea abroad.
輸出となると、提携する 相手が 必要です。When it comes to exporting, you need a partner.
この お茶は、町の 伝統でもあり、挑戦でもある。This tea is the town's tradition and a challenge at the same time.
メニューには、抹茶に 煎茶に ほうじ茶まで 並んで います。The menu lists matcha, sencha and even hojicha.
お忙しい ところを すみません。I'm sorry to bother you when you're busy.
The grammar in this lesson
- 〜にあって — in (a time, a situation, a position) — A noun + にあって sets what follows in a time, a situation or a position, often a hard one.
- 〜となると / 〜となれば — when it comes to; in that case — After a noun or a plain form, となると or となれば says 'if it comes to that', and gives what follows.
- 〜でもあり〜でもある — both ... and ... — AでもありBでもある says something is A and B at the same time.
- 〜に〜に — A and B (and C), piled up — Nouns joined with に pile up one on top of another: A, and B, and C too.
- 〜ところを — when you are (busy ...), sorry to ... — 〜ところを + an apology or thanks says you know you are taking someone's time at that moment.