Japanese from zero · N2 Lesson 39
Minju's choice
〜ようか〜まいか ・ 〜としても ・ 〜ものの ・ やがて ・ せめて
In this lesson, you will learn to say you went back and forth over whether to do something with 〜ようか〜まいか, to say what stays true even if something happens with 〜としても, to say 'although' with 〜ものの, to talk about what will come in time with やがて, and to ask for the least you hope for with せめて. It is the end of March, and Minju must answer the company in Seoul.
By the end you will be able to say
受けようか 受けまいか、ずっと 迷って いました。I went back and forth over whether to accept or not.
別々の 国に 住む としても、ともだちです。Even if we live in different countries, we're friends.
決めた ものの、少し 寂しいです。I've decided, but I'm a little sad.
やがて 二人とも 社会人です。Before long, we'll both be working adults.
せめて 卒業までは、いっしょに 住もう。Let's at least live together until we graduate.
The grammar in this lesson
- 〜ようか〜まいか — whether to or not — The volitional + か, then the same verb + まい + か: going back and forth over whether to do something.
- 〜としても — even if; even supposing — A plain form + としても says 'even if (we suppose) ...', and the second half stays true.
- 〜ものの — although; but — A plain form + ものの means 'although ...': the second half is not what the first half leads you to expect.
- やがて — before long; in time — やがて says something will come in time, naturally, or in a story, 'after a while'.
- せめて — at least — せめて asks for the least you can still be happy with, followed by a wish, a request or 'let's'.