Structure
すなわち + Phrase
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一般
Rare Kanji
乃ち
About 即ち
In a similar way to つまり, 即ち is another grammar pattern in Japanese that is often translated as 'in other words'. It may also be translated as 'namely', or 'that is to say'. While 即ち is an adverb, it is often used as a conjunction, linking two sentences via some sort of reasoning.
- この人は私の妻のお母さんです。すなわち、義理の母です。This person is my wife's mother. In other words, my mother in law.
- 私はゲームしてお金を稼いでいます。すなわち、プロゲーマーです。I get paid for playing video games. In other words, I am a professional gamer.
Caution
The kanji used in 即ち simply means 'in concordance'. This shows that the nuance associated with 即ち is that of 'agreeance' or 'correspondence' to something else, while つまり is purely that of 'summarisation'.- この車はもう動かないです。すなわち廃車です。This car does not run anymore. In other words, it is a decommissioned car.
- 彼は僕の父の弟です。つまり叔父です。He is my father's brother. In other words, he is my uncle.
Synonyms
Examples
彼は私の母の弟の息子、すなわち従兄弟です。
He is my mother's brother's son. In other words, he is my cousin.
5割引きの商品とは、すなわち元の値段の半額ということだ。
A product that is 50% off is, in other words, half off.
1割 = 10%.
私は将来、子供たちに物事を教える職業に就きたいです。すなわち、学校の先生になりたいのです。
In the future, I'd like to take up the profession of teaching various things to kids. Namely, I'd like to become a school teacher.
日本の議会は二院制、すなわち衆議院と参議院です。
The Diet in Japan consists of two Houses, namely the House of Representatives and the House of Councilors.
彼女は私の弟の妻、すなわち義理の妹です。
She is my brother's wife, that is, my sister in law.
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即ち – Grammar Discussion
Most Recent Replies (3 in total)
mrthuvi
Is there a difference between 言わば and すなわち?
mrnoone
@mrthuvi
Hey and long time no see!Very good question!
They are quite similar, but if we look from a wider perspective 言わば is used to explain something by comparison or giving example. It is an actually conditional form of classic “to say” so it literally means “If I were to say…”. You can also think about it as an analog to English “speaking figuratively”. Often some metaphors follow It is very close to 例えば.即ち is simple rephrasing, “in other words”. It is closer to つまり and 要するに.
彼女はあたしのベストフレンドで言わば姉妹よ。
She is my best friend if I were to say we are (like) sisters.(Explaining to a friend who Son Goku from dragon ball is, by comparing him to Superman)
ドラゴンボールの孫悟空は言わば日本のスーパーマン。
If I were to say Son Goku is like Japanese Superman.(言わば is fairly formal expres...
testing
I’m a bit confused what that “Caution” block is trying to tell me. It says
and then, to show the difference it gives me
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