Use context to distinguish three advanced grammar patterns.

The idea

反面 contrasts two sides of the same subject. Verb dictionary form plus 限り limits a judgment to what is known or observed. Negative verb stem plus ざるを得ない expresses an unavoidable action; する becomes せざるを得ない.

Examples

  • 計画けいかくは便利べんりである反面はんめん、費用ひようがかかります。The plan is convenient, but on the other hand it is expensive.
  • 彼かれは厳きびしい反面はんめん、部下ぶかの面倒めんどうをよく見みます。He is strict, but he also takes good care of his staff.
  • 説明せつめいを聞きく限かぎり、問題もんだいはなさそうです。As far as I can tell from the explanation, there seems to be no problem.
  • 私わたしが知しる限かぎり、彼女かのじょは出席しゅっせきします。As far as I know, she will attend.
  • 証拠しょうこを見みれば、彼かれの説明せつめいを疑うたがわざるを得えません。Seeing the evidence, I cannot help but doubt his explanation.
  • 電車でんしゃが止とまり、会議かいぎを延期えんきせざるを得えませんでした。The trains stopped, so we had no choice but to postpone the meeting.

Read-aloud uses a synthetic Japanese voice available on your device. Voice quality and availability vary; it does not assess your pronunciation.

Watch out

Do not choose on translation alone: check what precedes the blank and whether the following clause contrasts, limits evidence, or describes necessity.

Try it yourself

  1. 便利べんりである＿＿、費用ひようがかかります。（反面／限り／ざるを得ません）

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    反面

    反面 introduces the costly side in contrast to convenience.

  2. 私わたしが知しる＿＿、彼女かのじょは出席しゅっせきします。（限り／反面／ざるを得ません）

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    限り

    知る限り limits the claim to the speaker’s knowledge.

  3. 電車でんしゃが止とまり、会議かいぎを延期えんき＿＿でした。（せざるを得ません／する反面／する限り）

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    せざるを得ません

    せざるを得ませんでした expresses a forced postponement; する changes to せざる.

Use it today

Choose the form that fits both the sentence and its meaning, then explain your clue.