Grammar Info

N1 Lesson 3: 5/19

～たまで + だJust, Merely, Simply, Only

Structure

Verb［た］+ まで(1) + だ

(1)までのこと

Details

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    Standard

About ～たまでだ

In comparison to ～るまでだ, the grammar pattern expressing that 'one can only but (A)', ～たまでだ works in a similar way, with the past tense of the verb indicating that 'doing (A) was all it was'. This emphasis is usually translated as 'I simply (A)', or 'I only (A)', with nuance on the action not being something especially big.

Like ～るまでだ, ～たまでだ may be replaced with ～たまでのことだ, depending on what the speaker is trying to emphasize.

As this structure emphasizes that (A) is not a big deal, it will often be used in order to modestly highlight that one only did the bare minimum, and therefore praising them is unnecessary.

Caution

Both ～るまでだ and ～たまでだ are only used in reference to one's own personal actions, or the actions of a group they are affiliated with.

  • 彼(かれ)は私(わたし)が困(こま)っていたから、助(たす)けてくれたまでだ。
    Because I looked like I was in need, he merely helped me. (Unnatural Japanese)

Examples

--:--

    A：「助(たす)けてくれてありがとうございます！」
    B：「いや、当然(とうぜん)のことをしたまでのことです。」

    A: 'Thank you very much for helping me!'
    B: 'Not at all. It was just the obvious thing.'

    なんで怒(おこ)っているの？私(わたし)の意見(いけん)を言(い)ったまでのことだ。

    Why are you angry? I merely stated my opinion.

    A：「わぁ、日本語(にほんご)上手(じょうず)だね！」
    B：「ただ趣味(しゅみ)で勉強(べんきょう)してたまでのことで、まだまだだけどね。」

    A: 'Wow, your Japanese is good!'
    B: 'I was merely learning it as a hobby. I still have a ways to go.'

    僕(ぼく)はただ伝言(でんごん)を頼(たの)まれたから伝(つた)えたまでで、それは僕(ぼく)の考(かんが)えではないからね！

    Since I was just requested to have a word with you, that's merely all I did, it's not like they were my thoughts.

    真実(しんじつ)を話(はな)したまでのことなのに、なぜかクラスメイトから嘘(うそ)つきと言(い)われてしまいました。

    When I just told the truth, I was accused by my classmate of being a liar for some reason.

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