Japanese from zero · N2 Lesson 32
The birthrate feature
〜どころか ・ 〜ということは ・ 〜を除いて/〜以外 ・ 少なくとも
In this lesson, you will learn to say that the opposite of what was expected is true with 〜どころか, to draw a conclusion from what was just said with 〜ということは, to leave something out with 〜を除いて and 〜以外, and to give the lowest figure you are sure of with 少なくとも. It is March, and Lisa is finishing the newspaper club's last feature of the year, on births and population.
By the end you will be able to say
子どもの 数は 増えるどころか、減って いる。Far from rising, the number of children is falling.
ということは、働き手も 減る。That means the number of workers will fall too.
祝日を除いて、店は 毎日 開いて いる。The shop is open every day except public holidays.
数字以外の 言葉も 確かめる。I check the words as well as the numbers.
少なくとも 一回は 記事で 確かめる。I check it against the article at least once.
The grammar in this lesson
- 〜どころか — far from; not ... but the opposite; let alone — 〜どころか throws out one idea and puts something stronger, or the very opposite, in its place.
- 〜ということは — that means; so (what follows from it) — ということは takes what was just said and draws the conclusion that follows from it.
- 〜を除いて / 〜以外 — except (for) — Noun + を除いて or 以外 leaves one thing out of a statement that holds for everything else.
- 少なくとも — at least — 少なくとも gives the lowest amount you are sure of, or the minimum that must hold.