Example sentences are translated by AI.
ものではないN2
Expresses that something should not be done as a matter of common sense or good manners — 'one shouldn't', 'it's not the done thing to'.
過去は、文句の言えない形で③「これだ」と見せられるようなものではない。
The past is not something that can be presented in an indisputable form and declared, ③“This is exactly what it was.”
からこそN2
Emphasizes a reason as the very cause — 'precisely because,' 'it is exactly because.'
過去の解釈は、本人が切実に感じているからこそ人生に陰影を与えるため、主観の記憶の何が真実かさえも重要ではない場面がある。
Because a person feels their interpretation of the past so deeply, it gives light and shade to their life; there are therefore situations in which it is not even important which parts of subjective memory are factually true.
を問わずN2
Marks a factor as irrelevant to the result — "regardless of ~, irrespective of ~".
有名無名を問わず、さまざまな方に取材で話をうかがううちに、この過去という確固たる形を持たず動き続ける怪物にこそ人間は振り回されたり、あるいは歩き続けていくための滋養をもらったりするようだな、と思うようになっていった。
As I interviewed and listened to many different people, famous and unknown alike, I came to think that it is precisely this monster called the past—constantly moving and possessing no solid form—that tosses people about, yet at other times gives them the nourishment they need to keep moving forward.
あるいはN2
Presents an alternative or a possibility — 'or; or perhaps; alternatively'.
有名無名を問わず、さまざまな方に取材で話をうかがううちに、この過去という確固たる形を持たず動き続ける怪物にこそ人間は振り回されたり、あるいは歩き続けていくための滋養をもらったりするようだな、と思うようになっていった。
As I interviewed and listened to many different people, famous and unknown alike, I came to think that it is precisely this monster called the past—constantly moving and possessing no solid form—that tosses people about, yet at other times gives them the nourishment they need to keep moving forward.
的（てき）N3
A suffix turning a noun into a na-adjective meaning "relating to / -like / -ical" (一般的, 科学的).
何かと取材しつくされたような今の時代にも、乗った電車で横に座った、ぐらいの近くにいる普通の人たちの辿った過去、精神的な道のりを取材することには①可能性が残されている。
Even today, when it seems that virtually everything has already been thoroughly covered, there is still ①potential in interviewing ordinary people close enough to us to be someone sitting beside us on a train, and asking about the past they have lived through and the paths their minds have taken.
に対してN3
Marks the target or object an action is directed at, or sets up a contrast between two things, 'toward / with regard to / in contrast to'.
普通の人に対して、話題の人物と同じような方法でなるべく丁寧に話をうかがってみたけれど（そのうちの一部分は、これはある職業における普通の人たちへのインタビューとして、昨年発表した拙著「善き書店員」という本にまとめた）。
I tried to listen as carefully as possible to ordinary people, using much the same approach as I would with people in the public eye (some of those interviews, with ordinary people in a particular profession, were collected in my modest book “Good Bookstore Clerks,” published last year).
なるべくN3
An adverb meaning "as much as possible / if you can".
普通の人に対して、話題の人物と同じような方法でなるべく丁寧に話をうかがってみたけれど（そのうちの一部分は、これはある職業における普通の人たちへのインタビューとして、昨年発表した拙著「善き書店員」という本にまとめた）。
I tried to listen as carefully as possible to ordinary people, using much the same approach as I would with people in the public eye (some of those interviews, with ordinary people in a particular profession, were collected in my modest book “Good Bookstore Clerks,” published last year).
において/におけるN3
Formally marks the place, time, or domain in which something holds, 'in / at / regarding'.
普通の人に対して、話題の人物と同じような方法でなるべく丁寧に話をうかがってみたけれど（そのうちの一部分は、これはある職業における普通の人たちへのインタビューとして、昨年発表した拙著「善き書店員」という本にまとめた）。
I tried to listen as carefully as possible to ordinary people, using much the same approach as I would with people in the public eye (some of those interviews, with ordinary people in a particular profession, were collected in my modest book “Good Bookstore Clerks,” published last year).
としてN3
Marks the role, capacity, or status in which someone or something acts — "as (a doctor / a rule / etc.)".
普通の人に対して、話題の人物と同じような方法でなるべく丁寧に話をうかがってみたけれど（そのうちの一部分は、これはある職業における普通の人たちへのインタビューとして、昨年発表した拙著「善き書店員」という本にまとめた）。
I tried to listen as carefully as possible to ordinary people, using much the same approach as I would with people in the public eye (some of those interviews, with ordinary people in a particular profession, were collected in my modest book “Good Bookstore Clerks,” published last year).
というN33 times in this passage
Quotative marker plus 'say' that introduces a name, definition, or reported content — 'called', 'known as', 'that (one) says'.
普通の人に対して、話題の人物と同じような方法でなるべく丁寧に話をうかがってみたけれど（そのうちの一部分は、これはある職業における普通の人たちへのインタビューとして、昨年発表した拙著「善き書店員」という本にまとめた）。
I tried to listen as carefully as possible to ordinary people, using much the same approach as I would with people in the public eye (some of those interviews, with ordinary people in a particular profession, were collected in my modest book “Good Bookstore Clerks,” published last year).
むしろN3
Adverb overturning an expectation to present the following as the more fitting statement; "rather / if anything".
特殊な人物の発言よりむしろそんな普通の人たちの実感こそ、数十年後に振り返れば時代の証言にも聞こえるのではと思うようになっていった。
I gradually came to think that, rather than the remarks of exceptional figures, it is the genuine feelings of such ordinary people that, when looked back on several decades later, may sound like testimony to an era.
こそN32 times in this passage
Emphatic particle singling out the preceding word as precisely the right or decisive one — 'precisely, exactly, ...for sure.'
特殊な人物の発言よりむしろそんな普通の人たちの実感こそ、数十年後に振り返れば時代の証言にも聞こえるのではと思うようになっていった。
I gradually came to think that, rather than the remarks of exceptional figures, it is the genuine feelings of such ordinary people that, when looked back on several decades later, may sound like testimony to an era.
ようとするN3
Describes attempting to do something or being on the verge of doing it — 'try to…', 'be about to…'.
②有意義な取材が開拓されきったような空白の時代に、特別で極端な物語はもういいやという状況で隙間を見つけようとして、そこら辺にごろんと転がっている声の実りにたまたま気づかされたわけだ。
In an empty age when it seemed that all the ②meaningful territory for interviews had already been explored, I was looking for a gap, feeling that I had had enough of extraordinary and extreme stories, when I happened to notice the richness in voices lying around everywhere close at hand.
わけだN3
Presents a conclusion as the natural consequence of a stated reason — 'that's why', 'no wonder', 'so it means'.
②有意義な取材が開拓されきったような空白の時代に、特別で極端な物語はもういいやという状況で隙間を見つけようとして、そこら辺にごろんと転がっている声の実りにたまたま気づかされたわけだ。
In an empty age when it seemed that all the ②meaningful territory for interviews had already been explored, I was looking for a gap, feeling that I had had enough of extraordinary and extreme stories, when I happened to notice the richness in voices lying around everywhere close at hand.
つまりN3
Restates or sums up the preceding statement more plainly — 'in other words / that is to say'.
解釈は変化するから、同じ出来事への同じ人物の談話も十年前と今でかなり異なることもよくあり、つまり過去は人物の内面で揺れ動き続けていて、形を持たない怪物のようでもある。
Because interpretations change, the same person’s account of the same event can often differ considerably between ten years ago and today; in other words, the past keeps shifting within a person and resembles a monster with no fixed form.
ためにN32 times in this passage
marks a purpose ('in order to') or a cause ('because of / owing to').
過去の解釈は、本人が切実に感じているからこそ人生に陰影を与えるため、主観の記憶の何が真実かさえも重要ではない場面がある。
Because a person feels their interpretation of the past so deeply, it gives light and shade to their life; there are therefore situations in which it is not even important which parts of subjective memory are factually true.
さえN3
Emphatic particle citing an extreme case to imply all lesser ones hold — 'even (X does)'.
過去の解釈は、本人が切実に感じているからこそ人生に陰影を与えるため、主観の記憶の何が真実かさえも重要ではない場面がある。
Because a person feels their interpretation of the past so deeply, it gives light and shade to their life; there are therefore situations in which it is not even important which parts of subjective memory are factually true.
によって/によるN3
Marks means, cause, passive agent, or a factor something depends on; 'by (means of)', 'due to', 'depending on'.
（木村俊介「暮しの手帖」2014年6-7月号による）
(From Kimura Shunsuke, “Kurashi no Techo,” June–July 2014 issue)
ようだN46 times in this passage
Expresses conjecture or resemblance drawn from evidence, "it seems / looks like".
何かと取材しつくされたような今の時代にも、乗った電車で横に座った、ぐらいの近くにいる普通の人たちの辿った過去、精神的な道のりを取材することには①可能性が残されている。
Even today, when it seems that virtually everything has already been thoroughly covered, there is still ①potential in interviewing ordinary people close enough to us to be someone sitting beside us on a train, and asking about the past they have lived through and the paths their minds have taken.
〜てみるN4
Verb te-form plus 見る, doing something on a trial basis to see what happens — 'try ...ing'.
普通の人に対して、話題の人物と同じような方法でなるべく丁寧に話をうかがってみたけれど（そのうちの一部分は、これはある職業における普通の人たちへのインタビューとして、昨年発表した拙著「善き書店員」という本にまとめた）。
I tried to listen as carefully as possible to ordinary people, using much the same approach as I would with people in the public eye (some of those interviews, with ordinary people in a particular profession, were collected in my modest book “Good Bookstore Clerks,” published last year).
よりN4
Particle marking the standard in a comparison (also a starting point), "than / (more) than; from".
特殊な人物の発言よりむしろそんな普通の人たちの実感こそ、数十年後に振り返れば時代の証言にも聞こえるのではと思うようになっていった。
I gradually came to think that, rather than the remarks of exceptional figures, it is the genuine feelings of such ordinary people that, when looked back on several decades later, may sound like testimony to an era.
と思う（とおもう）N42 times in this passage
Quotative plus 'think', stating the speaker's opinion or guess — 'I think that'.
特殊な人物の発言よりむしろそんな普通の人たちの実感こそ、数十年後に振り返れば時代の証言にも聞こえるのではと思うようになっていった。
I gradually came to think that, rather than the remarks of exceptional figures, it is the genuine feelings of such ordinary people that, when looked back on several decades later, may sound like testimony to an era.
ようになるN42 times in this passage
Expresses a gradual change reaching a new state or acquired ability, "come to / become able to".
特殊な人物の発言よりむしろそんな普通の人たちの実感こそ、数十年後に振り返れば時代の証言にも聞こえるのではと思うようになっていった。
I gradually came to think that, rather than the remarks of exceptional figures, it is the genuine feelings of such ordinary people that, when looked back on several decades later, may sound like testimony to an era.
〜ていくN42 times in this passage
Marks an action that continues/progresses onward from the present, or is done before moving away — 'to go on doing', 'to do and go'.
特殊な人物の発言よりむしろそんな普通の人たちの実感こそ、数十年後に振り返れば時代の証言にも聞こえるのではと思うようになっていった。
I gradually came to think that, rather than the remarks of exceptional figures, it is the genuine feelings of such ordinary people that, when looked back on several decades later, may sound like testimony to an era.
などN4
Lists one or more representative items and implies others of the same kind exist — 'and so on / etc. / such as'.
映像などで記録されていてさえ、人物の内面で起きた心の大事件みたいなものは捉えられなかったりもする。
Even when events have been recorded on film or by other means, major inner events that occurred within a person’s mind may still remain uncaptured.
みたいだN4
Expresses an impression or inference that something appears to be the case, "seems like / looks like".
映像などで記録されていてさえ、人物の内面で起きた心の大事件みたいなものは捉えられなかったりもする。
Even when events have been recorded on film or by other means, major inner events that occurred within a person’s mind may still remain uncaptured.
続ける（つづける）N43 times in this passage
Attaches to a verb stem to mean keep doing / continue doing the action ('keep ~ing').
解釈は変化するから、同じ出来事への同じ人物の談話も十年前と今でかなり異なることもよくあり、つまり過去は人物の内面で揺れ動き続けていて、形を持たない怪物のようでもある。
Because interpretations change, the same person’s account of the same event can often differ considerably between ten years ago and today; in other words, the past keeps shifting within a person and resembles a monster with no fixed form.
〜ているN54 times in this passage
Describes an action in progress or the state that remains after an action happened — “is doing” or “is in the state of having done”.
何かと取材しつくされたような今の時代にも、乗った電車で横に座った、ぐらいの近くにいる普通の人たちの辿った過去、精神的な道のりを取材することには①可能性が残されている。
Even today, when it seems that virtually everything has already been thoroughly covered, there is still ①potential in interviewing ordinary people close enough to us to be someone sitting beside us on a train, and asking about the past they have lived through and the paths their minds have taken.
けれどもN5
More formal contrastive conjunction linking two clauses — "but / however / although."
普通の人に対して、話題の人物と同じような方法でなるべく丁寧に話をうかがってみたけれど（そのうちの一部分は、これはある職業における普通の人たちへのインタビューとして、昨年発表した拙著「善き書店員」という本にまとめた）。
I tried to listen as carefully as possible to ordinary people, using much the same approach as I would with people in the public eye (some of those interviews, with ordinary people in a particular profession, were collected in my modest book “Good Bookstore Clerks,” published last year).
のでN5
Gives a reason or cause with a soft, objective/polite nuance — 'because / since'.
特殊な人物の発言よりむしろそんな普通の人たちの実感こそ、数十年後に振り返れば時代の証言にも聞こえるのではと思うようになっていった。
I gradually came to think that, rather than the remarks of exceptional figures, it is the genuine feelings of such ordinary people that, when looked back on several decades later, may sound like testimony to an era.
〜たり〜たりN53 times in this passage
Lists a few representative actions among others done at various times, 'do things like X and Y'.
映像などで記録されていてさえ、人物の内面で起きた心の大事件みたいなものは捉えられなかったりもする。
Even when events have been recorded on film or by other means, major inner events that occurred within a person’s mind may still remain uncaptured.
じゃない・ではないN5
Negates a noun or na-adjective with the copula, "is not / am not".
過去の解釈は、本人が切実に感じているからこそ人生に陰影を与えるため、主観の記憶の何が真実かさえも重要ではない場面がある。
Because a person feels their interpretation of the past so deeply, it gives light and shade to their life; there are therefore situations in which it is not even important which parts of subjective memory are factually true.
がありますN5
States the existence or possession of an inanimate thing, "there is / to have".
過去の解釈は、本人が切実に感じているからこそ人生に陰影を与えるため、主観の記憶の何が真実かさえも重要ではない場面がある。
Because a person feels their interpretation of the past so deeply, it gives light and shade to their life; there are therefore situations in which it is not even important which parts of subjective memory are factually true.
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