Japanese from zero · N2 Lesson 16
A letter from Seattle
〜ものだ ・ 〜ものが ある ・ 〜反面 ・ 〜一方で
In this lesson, you will learn to say how things naturally are, or what you used to do, with 〜ものだ, to say that something has a quality that moves you with 〜ものが ある, to give the other side of the same thing with 〜反面, and to set two facts side by side with 〜一方で. It is September, and Tanaka sends Lisa his first long email from Seattle, her hometown.
By the end you will be able to say
一人で 外国に 住むのは、寂しい ものだ。Living alone abroad is lonely; that's just how it is.
シアトルでは 毎週 日本の 料理番組を 見た ものだ。In Seattle, I used to watch a Japanese cooking show every week.
坂の 上から 見る 景色には、心を 打つ ものが ある。There is something moving about the view from the top of the hill.
シアトルは 便利な 反面、物価が 高い。Seattle is convenient, but on the other hand, prices are high.
授業は おもしろい 一方で、宿題が 多い。The classes are interesting, while there's a lot of homework.
The grammar in this lesson
- 〜ものだ — that's just how it is; used to (looking back) — A plain present form + ものだ says how things naturally are, with feeling; a た-form + ものだ looks back on something you used to do.
- 〜ものが ある — there is something (moving, striking) about it — A plain form + ものが ある says a thing has a quality you feel strongly: 心を 打つ ものが ある.
- 〜反面 — but on the other hand (the other side of the same thing) — 〜反面 sets two opposite sides of the same thing next to each other: 便利な 反面、物価が 高い.
- 〜一方で — while; on the other hand (two facts side by side) — 〜一方で sets two facts side by side: two sides of one thing, two different things, or two things one person does.