Japanese from zero · N2 Lesson 2
Now that you're here
〜からには ・ 〜以上は／〜上は ・ せっかく ・ 〜ことだ
In this lesson, you will learn to say what you are bound to do now that something is so with 〜からには and the firmer 〜以上は and 〜上は, to make the most of a chance, or regret one that was wasted, with せっかく, and to give firm advice with 〜ことだ. Ai stops by café みどり during Lisa's shift and talks to her about working in Japan.
By the end you will be able to say
日本に 来た からには、日本語を たくさん 話したいです。Now that I've come to Japan, I want to speak a lot of Japanese.
応募する 以上は、本気で 準備します。Since I'm applying, I'll prepare in earnest.
せっかくだから、インターンに 応募して みます。Since I have the chance, I'll try applying for the internship.
就活は 早めに 始める ことだ。The thing to do is start job hunting early.
せっかく 来たのに、ケーキは 売り切れでした。I came all this way, and the cake was sold out.
The grammar in this lesson
- 〜からには — now that; since (so of course ...) — A plain form + からには gives a fact or a decision you accept, and the rest says what you will, must or should do because of it.
- 〜以上は／〜上は — since; now that (there is no going back) — A plain form + 以上は, or a past verb + 上は, says that because something is so, you are bound to act on it.
- せっかく — a chance (or an effort) not to waste — せっかく marks something special or hard-won: make the most of it (せっかくだから), or regret that it went to waste (せっかく〜のに).
- 〜ことだ — the thing to do is ... (advice) — A dictionary form, or a ない form, + ことだ gives firm advice: 'what you should do is ...'.