All passages
N1 · AdvancedMedium passagePassage #410
2

ぶんいるときひょうじょうや、わらときひょうじょうまともことあるひとは、まずない

しゃしんビデオなればぜんわらおさめられることあるかもしれないが、そこうついるのはそれあって、いまうちがわからいるかんじょうかさものではないそのてんかがみならそれどうてきとらそうにもみえるしかしじっさいにはぶんわらいるときそのわらいるぶんかおとたんもはやわらつづけられなくてさっとわらさめてしまうものあるいるときおなある。(ちゅうりゃく

ぶんひょうじょうかくてきとらことには、そもそもあるほうしゃひょうじょうないてきとらことも、わたししゃしんたいうちがわからことできないじょうのうあるならしゃひょうじょうかいほんらいのうことということなるはずだが、わたしごろからひょうじょうかいのうとかこんなんとかほとんどおもしないげんわたししゃわずかひょうじょうへんにもびんかんあるし、そのひょうじょうかいだいすること人間関係にんげんかんけいほんぶんいる

ひょうじょうは、ほぼじんるいきょうつうあって、みょうひょうじょうべつじんしゅちがっても、それちがことまずないふくわらとかにがわらあるいはあいわらとかいったものだと、おなわらでもぶんあってちがことあるかもしれないが、てんけいてきひょうじょうかんまずちがそうだとすればるいとしてにんげんなかに、ひょうじょうとおひとどうしわかりメカニズムが、たんそんざいするものかんがねばならない

はま寿ひさしなん『「わたし」とはなにによる

Questions

0/3 answered
  1. 1いま内側から生きている感情と重なり合う表情について、筆者はどのように考えているか。
  2. 2他者の表情を理解することについて、筆者はどのように考えているか。
  3. 3筆者の考えに合うものはどれか。

Study this passage

Vocabulary9 words
  • もはや
    • ·already; now
    • ·no longer; not any more
    N1
  • さっと
    • ·quickly (esp. actions)
    • ·suddenly (esp. wind, rain, etc.)
    N1
  • 他方たほう
    • ·one (esp. of two); the other; one way; the other way; one direction; the other direction; one side; the other side; one party; the other party
    • ·on the other hand
    N1
  • 日頃ひごろ
    • ·usually; habitually; always
    • ·for a long time
    N1
  • 敏感びんかん
    • ·sensitive; alert; aware; susceptible
    N1
  • 土台どだい
    • ·foundation; base; basis
    • ·from the beginning; from the outset; by nature
    N1
  • 成り立つなりたつAs it appears here: 成り立たせて
    • ·to consist of; to be made up of; to be composed of
    • ·to be concluded (e.g. of an agreement); to hold true (e.g. of a theory); to be valid
    • ·to be viable (of a business, lifestyle, etc.); to carry on; to keep going
    N1
  • 間違うまちがう
    • ·to be mistaken; to be incorrect; to be wrong
    • ·to make a mistake (in); to do incorrectly; to get wrong
    • ·to mistake (one thing with another); to confuse
    N1
  • 間違うまちがうAs it appears here: 間違わない
    • ·to be mistaken; to be incorrect; to be wrong
    • ·to make a mistake (in); to do incorrectly; to get wrong
    • ·to mistake (one thing with another); to confuse
    N1
Other levels75 words
  • 自分じぶん
    • ·myself; yourself; oneself; himself; herself
    • ·I; me
    • ·you
    N5
  • 見るみるAs it appears here: 見た
    • ·to see; to look; to watch; to view; to observe
    • ·to examine; to look over; to assess; to check; to judge
    • ·to look after; to attend to; to take care of; to keep an eye on
    • ·to experience; to meet with (misfortune, success, etc.)
    • ·to try ...; to have a go at ...; to give ... a try
    • ·to see (that) ...; to find (that) ...
    N5
  • ある
    • ·to be; to exist; to live
    • ·to have
    • ·to be located
    • ·to be equipped with
    • ·to happen; to come about
    • ·to exist (in a completed state); to be (something unchanged in its current state)
    N5
  • ひと
    • ·person; someone; somebody
    • ·human beings; mankind; man; people; humans
    • ·human (Homo sapiens)
    • ·(other) people; others
    • ·character; personality; nature
    • ·capable person; competent person; suitable person; right person
    • ·adult; grown-up
    • ·I; me; one
    N5
  • 写真しゃしん
    • ·photograph; photo; picture; photography
    • ·moving picture; movie
    N5
  • なるAs it appears here: なれば
    • ·to become; to get; to grow; to turn; to reach; to attain
    • ·to result in; to turn out; to end up; to prove (to be)
    • ·to consist of; to be composed of; to be made up of
    • ·to be completed; to be realized; to succeed; to be attained; to be accomplished
    • ·to change (into); to turn (into); to transform
    • ·to come (to do); to begin (to do); to grow (to do)
    • ·to come to; to amount to; to add up to; to make
    • ·to play (the part of); to act as
    • ·to be used for; to be useful for; to serve as
    • ·to be promoted
    • ·to do ...
    N5
  • そこ
    • ·there (place relatively near listener)
    • ·there (place just mentioned); that place
    • ·then (of some incident just spoken of); that (of point just raised)
    • ·you
    N5
  • それ
    • ·that; it
    • ·then; that point (in time); that time
    • ·there
    • ·you
    N5
  • いま
    • ·now; the present time; just now; soon; immediately
    • ·another; more
    N5
  • もの
    • ·thing; object; article; stuff; substance
    • ·one's things; possessions; property; belongings
    • ·things; something; anything; everything; nothing
    • ·quality
    • ·reason; the way of things
    • ·used to emphasize emotion, judgment, etc.; used to indicate a common occurrence in the past (after a verb in past tense); used to indicate a general tendency; used to indicate something that should happen
    • ·item classified as ...; item related to ...; work in the genre of ...
    • ·cause of ...; cause for ...
    • ·somehow; somewhat; for some reason
    • ·really; truly
    N5
  • その
    • ·that; the
    • ·part (as in "part two")
    • ·um ...; er ...; uh ...
    N5
  • しかし
    • ·however; but
    N5
  • 同じおなじ
    • ·same; identical; equal; alike; equivalent
    • ·anyway; in any case; if one must ...; if one has to ...; as long as ...
    N5
  • できるAs it appears here: できない
    • ·to be able to do; to be possible; to be permitted (to do)
    • ·to be good at; to do well; to be proficient (in); to be capable
    • ·to come into existence; to form; to appear; to come up (of a matter); to be born; to make (a friend); to get (a girlfriend, free time, etc.)
    • ·to be made; to be built; to be constructed; to be formed; to be established; to be set up
    • ·to be finished; to be completed; to be done; to be ready
    • ·to grow (of a crop); to be produced
    • ·to be mature and well-balanced; to be of fine character
    • ·to be by nature; to be born ...
    • ·to become (sexually) involved (with); to become intimate (with); to take up (with someone)
    • ·to get pregnant
    N5
  • なる
    • ·to become; to get; to grow; to turn; to reach; to attain
    • ·to result in; to turn out; to end up; to prove (to be)
    • ·to consist of; to be composed of; to be made up of
    • ·to be completed; to be realized; to succeed; to be attained; to be accomplished
    • ·to change (into); to turn (into); to transform
    • ·to come (to do); to begin (to do); to grow (to do)
    • ·to come to; to amount to; to add up to; to make
    • ·to play (the part of); to act as
    • ·to be used for; to be useful for; to serve as
    • ·to be promoted
    • ·to do ...
    N5
  • するAs it appears here: しない
    • ·to do; to carry out; to perform
    • ·to cause to become; to make (into); to turn (into)
    • ·to serve as; to act as; to work as
    • ·to wear (clothes, a facial expression, etc.)
    • ·to judge as being; to view as being; to think of as; to treat as; to use as
    • ·to decide on; to choose
    • ·to be sensed (of a smell, noise, etc.)
    • ·to be (in a state, condition, etc.)
    • ·to be worth; to cost
    • ·to pass (of time); to elapse
    • ·to place, or raise, person A to a post or status B
    • ·to transform A to B; to make A into B; to exchange A for B
    • ·to make use of A for B; to view A as B; to handle A as if it were B
    • ·to feel A about B
    • ·verbalizing suffix (applies to nouns noted in this dictionary with the part of speech "vs")
    • ·creates a humble verb (after a noun prefixed with "o" or "go")
    • ·to be just about to; to be just starting to; to try to; to attempt to
    N5
  • する
    • ·to do; to carry out; to perform
    • ·to cause to become; to make (into); to turn (into)
    • ·to serve as; to act as; to work as
    • ·to wear (clothes, a facial expression, etc.)
    • ·to judge as being; to view as being; to think of as; to treat as; to use as
    • ·to decide on; to choose
    • ·to be sensed (of a smell, noise, etc.)
    • ·to be (in a state, condition, etc.)
    • ·to be worth; to cost
    • ·to pass (of time); to elapse
    • ·to place, or raise, person A to a post or status B
    • ·to transform A to B; to make A into B; to exchange A for B
    • ·to make use of A for B; to view A as B; to handle A as if it were B
    • ·to feel A about B
    • ·verbalizing suffix (applies to nouns noted in this dictionary with the part of speech "vs")
    • ·creates a humble verb (after a noun prefixed with "o" or "go")
    • ·to be just about to; to be just starting to; to try to; to attempt to
    N5
  • ちがうAs it appears here: ちがって
    • ·to differ (from); to be different; to be distinct; to be unlike; to vary; to disagree (with)
    • ·to be wrong; to be incorrect; to be mistaken
    • ·to become abnormal; to go wrong
    • ·isn't it?; wasn't it?
    N5
  • 読むよむAs it appears here: 読み
    • ·to read
    • ·to recite (e.g. a sutra); to chant
    • ·to predict; to guess; to forecast; to read (someone's thoughts); to see (e.g. into someone's heart); to divine
    • ·to pronounce; to read (e.g. a kanji)
    • ·to decipher; to read (a meter, graph, music, etc.); to tell (the time)
    • ·to count; to estimate
    • ·to read (a kanji) with its native Japanese reading
    N5
  • いうAs it appears here: いった
    • ·to say; to utter; to declare
    • ·to name; to call
    • ·to go (e.g. "the alarm went ping"); to make a noise
    N5
  • あるAs it appears here: あって
    • ·to be; to exist; to live
    • ·to have
    • ·to be located
    • ·to be equipped with
    • ·to happen; to come about
    • ·to exist (in a completed state); to be (something unchanged in its current state)
    N5
  • するAs it appears here: すれば
    • ·to do; to carry out; to perform
    • ·to cause to become; to make (into); to turn (into)
    • ·to serve as; to act as; to work as
    • ·to wear (clothes, a facial expression, etc.)
    • ·to judge as being; to view as being; to think of as; to treat as; to use as
    • ·to decide on; to choose
    • ·to be sensed (of a smell, noise, etc.)
    • ·to be (in a state, condition, etc.)
    • ·to be worth; to cost
    • ·to pass (of time); to elapse
    • ·to place, or raise, person A to a post or status B
    • ·to transform A to B; to make A into B; to exchange A for B
    • ·to make use of A for B; to view A as B; to handle A as if it were B
    • ·to feel A about B
    • ·verbalizing suffix (applies to nouns noted in this dictionary with the part of speech "vs")
    • ·creates a humble verb (after a noun prefixed with "o" or "go")
    • ·to be just about to; to be just starting to; to try to; to attempt to
    N5
  • なか
    • ·inside; interior
    • ·among; within
    • ·middle; center; centre
    • ·during; while; middle; midst; amid
    • ·interval; gap
    • ·mean; average
    • ·second (of three, e.g. sons, volumes); middle
    • ·medium grade; medium quality
    • ·red-light district
    N5
  • わかるAs it appears here: わかり
    • ·to understand; to comprehend; to grasp; to see; to get; to follow
    • ·to become clear; to be known; to be discovered; to be realized (realised); to be found out; to make sense
    • ·I know!; I think so too!
    N5
  • わたし
    • ·I; me
    N5
  • 泣くなくAs it appears here: 泣いて
    • ·to cry; to shed tears; to weep; to sob
    • ·to suffer (from); to be troubled (by); to face hardship
    • ·to accept (an unreasonable request, loss, etc.); to do reluctantly; to make sacrifices
    • ·to be not worth the name; to suffer (of a reputation); to be spoiled; to be put to shame
    • ·to lament; to bemoan; to bewail
    N4
  • 笑うわらうAs it appears here: 笑った
    • ·to laugh
    • ·to smile
    • ·to sneer; to ridicule
    • ·to be dumbfounded; to be flabbergasted
    N4
  • 生きるいきるAs it appears here: 生きて
    • ·to live; to exist
    • ·to make a living; to subsist
    • ·to be in effect; to be in use; to function
    • ·to come to life; to be enlivened
    • ·to be safe (in baseball, go, etc.)
    N4
  • てん
    • ·dot; spot; point; speck; mark
    • ·mark (in an exam, etc.); grade; score; points
    • ·point (in a game); score; goal; run
    • ·point
    • ·point; aspect; matter; detail; part; respect; way; viewpoint
    • ·(punctuation) mark (e.g. comma, period, decimal point); dot
    • ·"dot" stroke (in a Chinese character)
    • ·counter for points, marks, goals, etc.
    • ·counter for goods, items, articles of clothing, works of art, etc.
    N4
  • かがみ
    • ·mirror; looking-glass
    • ·barrel head
    • ·page added at the beginning of a document mentioning its purpose, date, author, etc.
    • ·mirror-shaped mochi
    N4
  • みえる
    • ·to be seen; to be visible; to be in sight
    • ·to look; to seem; to appear
    • ·to come
    N4
  • 笑うわらうAs it appears here: 笑って
    • ·to laugh
    • ·to smile
    • ·to sneer; to ridicule
    • ·to be dumbfounded; to be flabbergasted
    N4
  • 無理むり
    • ·unreasonable; unnatural; unjustifiable
    • ·impossible
    • ·forcible; forced; compulsory
    • ·excessive (work, etc.); immoderate
    • ·to work too hard; to try too hard
    • ·no way; not a chance; never; dream on
    • ·irrational
    N4
  • 生きるいきる
    • ·to live; to exist
    • ·to make a living; to subsist
    • ·to be in effect; to be in use; to function
    • ·to come to life; to be enlivened
    • ·to be safe (in baseball, go, etc.)
    N4
  • 以上いじょう
    • ·not less than ...; ... and over; ... and above; ... and upwards; ... or more
    • ·beyond (e.g. one's expectations); above; more than; further than
    • ·the above; the above-mentioned; the aforementioned; the foregoing
    • ·since ...; seeing that ...; now that ...; once ...
    • ·that's all; that is the end; the end
    N4
  • はず
    • ·should (be); bound (to be); expected (to be); must (be)
    • ·nock (of a bow)
    • ·nock (of an arrow)
    • ·nock-shaped grip (between thumb and forefinger)
    • ·wooden frame on the tip of the mast of a Japanese ship that prevents the hawser from falling out
    N4
  • ほとんど
    • ·almost; nearly; mostly; practically; virtually; basically; just about; all but
    • ·hardly; barely; scarcely; little
    • ·large majority; large proportion; greater part; most (of); almost all (of)
    N4
  • 文化ぶんか
    • ·culture; civilization; civilisation
    • ·Bunka era (1804.2.11-1818.4.22)
    N4
  • 考えるかんがえるAs it appears here: 考え
    • ·to think (about, of); to think over; to ponder; to contemplate; to reflect (on); to meditate (on)
    • ·to consider; to bear in mind; to allow for; to take into consideration
    • ·to think (that); to believe; to hold (a view); to judge; to conclude; to suspect
    • ·to intend (to do); to think of (doing); to plan
    • ·to predict; to anticipate; to expect; to imagine
    • ·to come up with; to think up; to contrive; to devise
    • ·to consider (as); to regard (as); to look on (as); to take; to view
    N4
  • とき
    • ·time; hour; moment
    • ·occasion; case
    • ·chance; opportunity; season
    • ·the times; the age; the day
    • ·tense
    N3
  • 表情ひょうじょう
    • ·facial expression; countenance
    • ·look; appearance; expression (vocal, etc.)
    N3
  • こと
    • ·thing; matter
    • ·incident; occurrence; event; something serious; trouble; crisis
    • ·circumstances; situation; state of affairs
    • ·work; business; affair
    • ·after an inflectable word, creates a noun phrase indicating something the speaker does not feel close to
    • ·nominalizing suffix
    • ·pretending to ...; playing make-believe ...
    • ·alias; also known as; otherwise known as; or
    • ·necessity; need
    • ·you should ...; I advise that you ...; it's important to ...
    N3
  • まず
    • ·first (of all); firstly; to begin with; before anything else
    • ·probably; most likely; almost certainly; virtually
    • ·more or less (satisfactory); on the whole; reasonably
    • ·anyway; at any rate; for now (at least); for the time being
    N3
  • 自然しぜん
    • ·nature
    • ·natural; spontaneous; automatic
    • ·naturally; spontaneously; automatically
    N3
  • 笑いわらい
    • ·laugh; laughter
    • ·smile
    • ·sneer
    • ·sex aids (e.g. dildos, pornographic books, erotic woodblock prints, etc.)
    N3
  • おさめるAs it appears here: おさめられる
    • ·to put (into); to put away (in); to put back (in); to keep (in); to store (in); to restore (to its place)
    • ·to include (in an anthology, catalogue, etc.); to contain; to publish (in); to capture (on film)
    • ·to achieve (results, success, etc.); to obtain; to get; to gain; to win; to make (a profit)
    • ·to pay (fees, taxes, etc.); to deliver; to supply
    • ·to accept (a gift or money)
    • ·to keep (within a limit)
    • ·to offer (to a shrine, deity, etc.); to dedicate
    • ·to subdue; to suppress; to settle
    • ·to finish; to conclude; to wind up; to bring to a close
    N3
  • 過去かこ
    • ·the past; bygone days
    • ·one's past (that one would prefer remained secret)
    • ·past (tense); preterit; preterite
    • ·previous life
    N3
  • 感情かんじょう
    • ·emotion; feeling; feelings; sentiment
    N3
  • 同時どうじ
    • ·same time
    • ·simultaneous; concurrent; synchronous
    N3
  • じっさい
    • ·reality; actuality; truth; fact; actual conditions
    • ·practice (as opposed to theory)
    • ·truly; really; indeed; actually
    • ·bhutakoti (limit of reality)
    N3
  • とたん
    • ·just (now, at the moment, etc.); just as; in the act of; as soon as; at the moment that
    N3
  • さめるAs it appears here: さめて
    • ·to wake; to wake up
    • ·to wear off (of drunkenness, anaesthesia, etc.); to regain consciousness; to sober up
    • ·to come to one's senses; to be disillusioned
    N3
  • 身体しんたい
    • ·body; physical system; (the) person
    N3
  • 理解りかい
    • ·understanding; comprehension; appreciation
    • ·sympathy
    N3
  • 困難こんなん
    • ·difficulty; hardship; trouble; distress
    • ·infeasibility; inability (to carry out)
    N3
  • わずか
    • ·a little; a few; small; slight; trifling; meagre; meager; narrow (margin)
    • ·only; just; merely; no more than
    N3
  • 変化へんか
    • ·change; variation; alteration; mutation; transition; transformation
    • ·variety; diversity
    • ·inflection; declension; conjugation
    • ·henka; (expl.) evasive sidestep at the beginning of a bout
    N3
  • 基本きほん
    • ·basics; fundamentals; basis; foundation
    N3
  • 部分ぶぶん
    • ·portion; section; part
    N3
  • ほぼ
    • ·almost; nearly; for the most part
    • ·roughly; approximately; about; around
    N3
  • 人類じんるい
    • ·mankind; humanity
    N3
  • 共通きょうつう
    • ·common; shared; mutual
    • ·to be common (to); to be shared (by)
    • ·-wide
    N3
  • 微妙びみょう
    • ·subtle; delicate; fine
    • ·difficult; complex; tricky; delicate (situation, position, etc.); close (e.g. decision)
    • ·doubtful; questionable; dicey
    • ·not great; iffy
    • ·slightly; somewhat; a little bit
    N3
  • 人種じんしゅ
    • ·race (of people)
    • ·type of person
    N3
  • あるいは
    • ·or; either ... or
    • ·maybe; perhaps; possibly
    • ·some ... and others ...; sometimes ... and at other times ...
    N3
    • ·difference; variation
    • ·difference
    N3
  • 人間にんげん
    • ·human being; human; person; man; mankind; humankind
    • ·character (of a person)
    N3
  • どうし
    • ·verb
    N3
  • 単位たんい
    • ·unit (e.g. meters, grams, etc.); denomination
    • ·unit (i.e. one comprised of many); group; whole
    • ·credit (in school, university, etc.); point
    • ·by the ...; in units of ...; in groups of ...; in amounts of ...; each ...; by ...; every...
    N3
  • 越えるこえるAs it appears here: 越えて
    • ·to cross over; to cross; to pass through; to pass over (out of); to go beyond; to go past
    • ·to exceed; to surpass; to be more (than)
    N3
  • 存在そんざい
    • ·existence; being; presence
    N3
  • 何かなにか
    • ·something; some; any
    • ·somehow; for some reason
    • ·(so) what (are you trying to say)?; what (do you mean)?
    N3
  • 映るうつるAs it appears here: 映って
    • ·to be reflected; to harmonize with (harmonise); to come out (photo); to be projected; to be displayed (on a screen)
    N2
  • ほんらい
    • ·originally; primarily
    • ·essentially; intrinsically; naturally; by nature; in (and of) itself
    • ·proper; rightful; legal; normal
    N2
  • 現にげんに
    • ·actually; really
    N2
Grammar1 patterns

Example sentences are translated by AI.

  • もはやN1

    Adverb marking that a threshold or point of no return has passed — 'already, by now', or with a negative predicate 'no longer'.

    しかし、じっさいには自分が笑っているとき、その笑っている自分の顔を見たとたん、もはや笑いつづけられなくて、さっと笑いがさめてしまうものである。

    In reality, however, while you are laughing, the moment you see your own laughing face, you can no longer continue laughing, and the laughter instantly fades.

Other levels26 patterns
  • 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'.

    写真やビデオになれば、自然な笑いがおさめられることもあるかもしれないが、そこに映っているのは過去のそれであって、いま内側から生きている感情と重なり合うものではない

    A photograph or video may sometimes capture a natural smile, but what appears there belongs to the past and does not coincide with the emotion one is presently living from within.

  • は別としてN2

    Sets one thing aside as a separate matter in order to deal with the rest — 'setting X aside', 'apart from X'.

    表情は、ほぼ人類に共通であって、微妙な表情は別として、人種がちがっても、それを読み間違うことはまずない。

    Facial expressions are largely common to humanity, and apart from subtle expressions, we almost never misread them even across racial differences.

  • あるいはN2

    Presents an alternative or a possibility — 'or; or perhaps; alternatively'.

    含み笑いとか、苦笑い、あるいは愛想笑いとかいったものだと、同じく笑いでも文化差があって、読み間違うことがあるかもしれないが、典型的な表情に関してはまず間違わない。

    With such expressions as a suppressed smile, a wry smile, or a polite smile, cultural differences exist even though all are forms of smiling, so misinterpretation may occur; but typical expressions are almost never misread.

  • を通じて/を通してN2

    Marks the means or intermediary something happens through, or a span it holds throughout — 'through', 'via', 'throughout'.

    そうだとすれば類としての人間のなかに、表情を通して人どうしわかり合うメカニズムが、個の単位を越えて存在するものと考えねばならない。

    If that is so, we must assume that within humanity as a species there exists a mechanism, transcending the individual, through which people understand one another by means of facial expression.

  • ねばならないN2

    Formal, somewhat literary way of stating an obligation, "must / have to (do)".

    そうだとすれば類としての人間のなかに、表情を通して人どうしわかり合うメカニズムが、個の単位を越えて存在するものと考えねばならない

    If that is so, we must assume that within humanity as a species there exists a mechanism, transcending the individual, through which people understand one another by means of facial expression.

  • 的(てき)N33 times in this passage

    A suffix turning a noun into a na-adjective meaning "relating to / -like / -ical" (一般的, 科学的).

    その点、鏡ならばそれを同時的に捉えられそうにもみえる。

    In that respect, a mirror might seem capable of capturing one's expression at the very moment it occurs.

  • たとたんN3

    the instant one action finished, another (often unexpected) event occurred, 'the moment / as soon as ~'.

    しかし、じっさいには自分が笑っているとき、その笑っている自分の顔を見たとたん、もはや笑いつづけられなくて、さっと笑いがさめてしまうものである。

    In reality, however, while you are laughing, the moment you see your own laughing face, you can no longer continue laughing, and the laughter instantly fades.

  • というN3

    Quotative marker plus 'say' that introduces a name, definition, or reported content — 'called', 'known as', 'that (one) says'.

    ならば他者の表情の理解はほんらい不可能なことだということになるはずだが、私たちは日頃から、表情の理解が不可能だとか、困難だとか、ほとんど思いもしない。

    If so, understanding another person's expression ought in principle to be impossible, yet in daily life we hardly ever think of understanding facial expressions as impossible or even difficult.

  • たものだN3

    recalls a past habitual action with fondness or nostalgia, 'used to (do)'.

    含み笑いとか、苦笑い、あるいは愛想笑いとかいったものだと、同じく笑いでも文化差があって、読み間違うことがあるかもしれないが、典型的な表情に関してはまず間違わない。

    With such expressions as a suppressed smile, a wry smile, or a polite smile, cultural differences exist even though all are forms of smiling, so misinterpretation may occur; but typical expressions are almost never misread.

  • ことがあるN3

    After a plain verb, 'there are times when...'; after a past-tense verb (〜たことがある), 'have (ever) done, have the experience of'.

    含み笑いとか、苦笑い、あるいは愛想笑いとかいったものだと、同じく笑いでも文化差があって、読み間違うことがあるかもしれないが、典型的な表情に関してはまず間違わない。

    With such expressions as a suppressed smile, a wry smile, or a polite smile, cultural differences exist even though all are forms of smiling, so misinterpretation may occur; but typical expressions are almost never misread.

  • に関する/に関してN3

    Marks the topic that the following statement concerns or relates to; "regarding, concerning, about."

    含み笑いとか、苦笑い、あるいは愛想笑いとかいったものだと、同じく笑いでも文化差があって、読み間違うことがあるかもしれないが、典型的な表情に関してはまず間違わない。

    With such expressions as a suppressed smile, a wry smile, or a polite smile, cultural differences exist even though all are forms of smiling, so misinterpretation may occur; but typical expressions are almost never misread.

  • とすれば・としたら・とするとN3

    'If / supposing that…' — sets up a hypothesis and states what would follow from it.

    そうだとすれば類としての人間のなかに、表情を通して人どうしわかり合うメカニズムが、個の単位を越えて存在するものと考えねばならない。

    If that is so, we must assume that within humanity as a species there exists a mechanism, transcending the individual, through which people understand one another by means of facial expression.

  • としてN3

    Marks the role, capacity, or status in which someone or something acts — "as (a doctor / a rule / etc.)".

    そうだとすれば類としての人間のなかに、表情を通して人どうしわかり合うメカニズムが、個の単位を越えて存在するものと考えねばならない。

    If that is so, we must assume that within humanity as a species there exists a mechanism, transcending the individual, through which people understand one another by means of facial expression.

  • 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'.

    (浜田寿美男『「私」とは何か』による

    (From Hamada Sumio, “What Is the ‘Self’?”)

  • ときN44 times in this passage

    Marks the time at which something happens — "when X, Y."

    自分の泣いているときの表情や、笑ったときの表情をまともに見たことのある人は、まずない。

    Almost no one has ever properly seen their own expression while crying or laughing.

  • かもしれないN42 times in this passage

    Expresses possibility or conjecture — 'might', 'maybe', 'perhaps'.

    写真やビデオになれば、自然な笑いがおさめられることもあるかもしれないが、そこに映っているのは過去のそれであって、いま内側から生きている感情と重なり合うものではない。

    A photograph or video may sometimes capture a natural smile, but what appears there belongs to the past and does not coincide with the emotion one is presently living from within.

  • 〜てしまう / 〜ちゃうN4

    Verb te-form plus しまう, marking an action as fully completed or done regrettably/by accident — 'end up ...ing' / 'finish ...ing'; ちゃう/じゃう is the casual contraction.

    しかし、じっさいには自分が笑っているとき、その笑っている自分の顔を見たとたん、もはや笑いつづけられなくて、さっと笑いがさめてしまうものである。

    In reality, however, while you are laughing, the moment you see your own laughing face, you can no longer continue laughing, and the laughter instantly fades.

  • ことになるN4

    Expresses that something has been decided or comes about, often through external circumstances rather than the speaker's own will; 'it has been decided that / it turns out that.'

    ならば他者の表情の理解はほんらい不可能なことだということになるはずだが、私たちは日頃から、表情の理解が不可能だとか、困難だとか、ほとんど思いもしない。

    If so, understanding another person's expression ought in principle to be impossible, yet in daily life we hardly ever think of understanding facial expressions as impossible or even difficult.

  • はずだN4

    Expresses the speaker's reasoned confidence that something is or should be the case — 'should, ought to, is supposed to'.

    ならば他者の表情の理解はほんらい不可能なことだということになるはずだが、私たちは日頃から、表情の理解が不可能だとか、困難だとか、ほとんど思いもしない。

    If so, understanding another person's expression ought in principle to be impossible, yet in daily life we hardly ever think of understanding facial expressions as impossible or even difficult.

  • とか~とかN44 times in this passage

    Lists a few representative, non-exhaustive examples — 'things like X and Y', 'X, Y, and so on'.

    ならば他者の表情の理解はほんらい不可能なことだということになるはずだが、私たちは日頃から、表情の理解が不可能だとか、困難だとか、ほとんど思いもしない。

    If so, understanding another person's expression ought in principle to be impossible, yet in daily life we hardly ever think of understanding facial expressions as impossible or even difficult.

  • てもN4

    Concessive — 'even if / even though …'; the main clause holds regardless of the te-clause.

    表情は、ほぼ人類に共通であって、微妙な表情は別として、人種がちがっても、それを読み間違うことはまずない。

    Facial expressions are largely common to humanity, and apart from subtle expressions, we almost never misread them even across racial differences.

  • 〜ているN57 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”.

    自分の泣いているときの表情や、笑ったときの表情をまともに見たことのある人は、まずない。

    Almost no one has ever properly seen their own expression while crying or laughing.

  • しかしN5

    Contrastive conjunction joining two sentences, 'however / but'.

    しかし、じっさいには自分が笑っているとき、その笑っている自分の顔を見たとたん、もはや笑いつづけられなくて、さっと笑いがさめてしまうものである。

    In reality, however, while you are laughing, the moment you see your own laughing face, you can no longer continue laughing, and the laughter instantly fades.

  • がありますN52 times in this passage

    States the existence or possession of an inanimate thing, "there is / to have".

    自分の表情を視覚的に捉えることには、そもそも無理がある

    There is an inherent impossibility in visually apprehending one's own facial expression.

  • 〜ことができるN5

    States that someone is able to do something — “can do” / “is able to do”.

    他方、他者の表情を内的に捉えることも、私たちが他者の身体を内側から生きることができない以上、不可能である。

    On the other hand, grasping another person's expression from within is also impossible, because we cannot inhabit another person's body from the inside.

  • にするN5

    To decide on or turn something into a given state or choice, 'to make it ~ / to go with ~.'

    現に私たちは他者のわずかな表情の変化にも敏感であるし、その表情の理解を土台にすることで人間関係の基本部分を成り立たせている。

    In fact, we are sensitive even to slight changes in others' expressions, and the fundamental parts of human relationships are built on our understanding of them.

Share:

Comments